Rehearsal Monday at White Plains
We received a confirmation from White Plains HS in the nick of time, just before the close of business yesterday. This Monday’s rehearsal will be on stage at White Plains HS. Use the side entry, right off the parking lot, to enter the auditorium.
The rehearsal plan is posted. The evening is Maslanka-heavy, as you can imagine. You do not need to bring a stand, but having a spare handy is always a good idea because of the size of our group.
Absences
Reminder: Please use this link (also found on the home page) to record absences as soon as possible, so Katherine can call and confirm a sub for you. Last minute emergencies aside, please fill out the form as soon as possible, and keep absences to a minimum. More than two absences in a cycle causes issues for our mutual progress. If you accrue more than two absences, please expect a call from Katherine and/or Curt.
Lastly, please use the link above, and only that link. The form has morphed a bit over the years, and this current link is the only one to use. Thank you.
The State of the Band
The board has heard requests to share information about the financial health of the ensemble. Plans are being made to make a presentation to the members at the beginning of next season, once the books for 2025-2026 are finalized. Look for this in September.
Brunswick School Friday music newsletter
Peter Holsberg, band director at the Brunswick School in Greenwich, hosted Morris Northcutt last November for one of the two master classes he gave while he was in the area. Peter, a trumpet player, added me to his weekly Friday newsletter distribution list after we visited. Peter packs a whole lot of listening into these newsletters, titled “A Little Music for a Friday,” and I’ve been enjoying them over the past months.
To my surprise, Peter including a mention of WSW this past Friday, and kindly noted our May 9 concert. We are mentioned near the beginning of his message. Enjoy!
Hello Friends:
For those on break I hope you have had a great first week. I went to Houston to see family and it was really awesome. Especially the warm weather, of course it went up to 80 in NYC while I was gone! Now it is time for A Little Music for a Friday.A local treasure is the Westchester Symphonic Winds. I asked the music director, the esteemed Wind conductor Curt Ebersole for some music for the Friday music and he sent along some links, first and foremost the WSW YouTube channel. He went on to say “As far as videos for ‘first timers,’ I would recommend The Man and the Echo (our commission project with Viet Cuong, world premiere last May) or Catapult by Jay Kennedy (New York Premiere).” Enjoy this outstanding wind ensemble, their next concert is in Tarrytown on May 9.One of my favorite artists of all time is the great Frank Sinatra. Of course Ol’ Blue Eyes has had many hits over the years and his style changed as well. The young light tenor turned into a more husky baritone. He was an amazing entertainer and musician. Here are some selections from the Chairman of the Board. That’s Life, I’ve Got You Under My Skin with Count Basie, New York, New York Live. Sinatra recorded many songs from the great American songbook but some lesser known gems like The Night We Called it a Day. Here are a couple from his early years that show how much his voice changed over the years Hello Young Lovers from the King and I, Azure Te, and with the great Tommy Dorsey on I’ll Never Smile Again.One musician who Frank really supported was Sammy Davis, Jr. Sammy was one of the greatest performers ever. I’ve Gotta Be Me was one of his signature songs as well as Mr. Bojangles. Here he is tap dancing, an amazing performer.Here is Sarah’s Friday Music:
For two days, beautiful, sunny spring days were a reality. Now that the weather is slightly drearier, I want my Spotify to reflect my ideal springtime. Our winter has been so long.
This spring’s anthems are two Harry Styles songs off his new incredible album “Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally,” the nostalgic sounding American Girls and the sentimental Coming Up Roses. I am excited for MUNA’s new album, and their single Dancing On The Wall promises great sounds. These next few songs are from a playlist I made called “rare glimpses of sunshine in geneseo,” which I would play during the rare sunny drives in college. I return to the song There’s Still A Light In The House by Valley every spring, with its cheery melody and sense of optimism. Peaches by In The Valley Below reminds me of open studios, painting to my hearts content and seeing the sun stream in. Kali Uchis’ telepatía, with its dreamy synths, never fails to remind me of spring. A lot of people know Dr. Dog for a major viral hit, but I also love Nellie for a spring drive.
This week marked the anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest American composers, Samuel Barber. Barber is well known for his Adagio for Strings (in my opinion one of the most beautiful things ever composed) but some other works that merit listening are his School for Scandal Overture and Second Essay for Orchestra.
My friend Ms. Salemme says the friday music must always have a blues and here is Roy Hargrove with Blues for Mr. Hill.
I recently watched the series Love and Death on Netflix and they had some classic 70’s and early 80’s music. Check out Disco Inferno by the Trammps, Forever in blue Jeans by Neil Diamond (which I found out yesterday after thinking he was saying Reverend Blue Jeans, My Sharona by the Knack, Take a chance on me by Abba, You make me feel like dancing by Leo Sayer, and Queen of hearts by Juice Newton.
Nina Simone also sang the title song Don’t let me be understood. Check out Feeling Good, a live recording of I Wish I would know how it would feel to be free, and the classic African American spiritual Sinnerman.
For today’s 80’s music of the week here is Dead or Alive with You spin me round., Depeche Mode with Just can’t get enough, and The Cure with Just like heaven.
Thanks for listening, stay safe, and have a great weekend!
Best,
Peter