The Redland Singers and the Greater Miami Symphonic Band in Combined Concert
Audio files and photos below
The Greater Miami Symphonic Band presents an annual holiday concert in the first week of Dec. The Redland Singers were guest artists for two of these concerts in 2000 and 2001. Several recordings were made of this rare collaboration of an 80-member symphonic band and a 16-member chorale. Take a listen if you want to hear what it sounds like when a chorale is accompanied by the following:
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twenty plus clarinets, which are the primary woodwind surplanting the missing violins.
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alto and bass clarinets, doing the work of violas and cellos.
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at least ten or twelve flutes and several piccolos
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throw in a few oboes and bassoons; there may even be an English horn and a contrabassoon.
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a resounding compliment of alto and tenor saxes, and at least one baritone sax, and rarely, a bass sax, which can plumb the depths of known notes in the universe.
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a healthy section each of trumpets, F horns and trombones, and one or two bass 'bones.
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tubas, euphoniums and baritone horns; maybe even an altonium (alto horn).
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Some bands add double basses to the ranks, the only "strings" commonly used.
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enough percussion and mallet instruments to recreate the war of 1812.
Audio Files
Christmas Music for Voices: A medley of sacred and secular christmas carols: this medley has the choir rather battling to be heard over the band but below, in "Welcome, Yule!" that balance problem was solved.
Welcome, Yule!: With the sound engineer having figured it out, one can hear a really fine collaboration between a professional chorale and a symphonic band, itself, a rare and valuable ensemble in our musical world. This complex, difficult and rangy song was just
right to exemplify the chorale's considerable abilities, and the balance between huge band and small chorus is excellent. This is what it's supposed to sound like when you have a symphonic band, and you bring in a dozen good singers and throw them all together.
Noël Nouvelet: The Redland Singers were graciously invited by the band to present several selections of our own. MR decided to bring along a couple of his "ancients" to show the band that they weren't the only ones who had weird instruments. Katie and John sing the
solos in this French carol, and MR plays the extended bass krummhorn, which attracted no little attention from the band members. They evidently had never laid eyes on such an artifact. Diane is at the keyboard.
I Saw Three Ships (arr. MR): This ancient English carol uses sailing vessels as metaphors.
Maritime activity was widespread and important to the survival of coastal folk in ancient Britain, therefore, the use of such symbolism was also prolific. The ships may represent
the "ships of the desert," that the Magi rode to see the Christchild. MR wrote the Galician pipes into this arrangement, which regaled both the huge audience and the band. The Redland Singers gave an excellent account of themselves, together in concert with all these fine musicians in the band.
Photos
Above, the GMSB and the Redland Singers take a bow. The 6' 7" guy with the alto sax is Norris Siert, who was our liaison and band president. The concerts were held in Gusman Hall on the Univ. of Miami campus.
The chorale sings with the band. Diane did have a piano part, but she got lost in the shadows with this photo.
Above is a current photo.