Band-o-rama bonanza to hit Hill

Preview

"Band-O-Rama"

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Hill Auditorium

By Jim Schiff

Daily Arts Writer

With the crash of a cymbal and the call of the trumpet, the U's top

bands will envelop Hill Auditorium in some spectacular sounds on Saturday night. Long part of Michigan's tradition of musical excellence, the concert, symphony, and marching bands are ready to strut their stuff. This year's Band-O-Rama is something of a milestone with the recent addition of William M. Campbell to the School of Music faculty. A professor of trumpet, Campbell has previously spent 7 years in Italy playing in the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. After teaching at the University of Kansas and performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, he became a faculty member at Ohio State University in 1996. His recent move to Ann Arbor has been an extremely positive experience for Campbell thus far.

"I've been blown away by the school of music...it is such a privilege to be associated with it," he said. The highlight of the Symphony Band's performance is Campbell's solo in "Concerto for Trumpet," by Alexander Arutunian. The piece is known to have a great deal of energy and excitement throughout, and also features solos from the clarinet and euphonium. "The music is very approachable for the audience," Campbell said. "It's the kind of piece the audience can whistle as they leave the hall."

The Symphony Band, conducted by H. Robert Reynolds, will also perform the Overture to "Candide" and Profanation from "Jeremiah, Symphony No. 1" by Leonard Bernstein. Certainly a central figure in the U's instrumental program is Dr. James R. Tapia, a co-conductor of the Concert Band and the director of Marching Band. Also under the direction of Scott D. Teeple, the Concert band will perform

Variations on "America" by Charles Ives, "Passacaglia" by Ron Nelson, and "National Emblem March" by Eugene Bagley. Tapia finds that "America" in particular has "a sense about it of great depth...it has a true understanding of musical craft in making people smile or frown."

Last but certainly not least, the Michigan Marching Band will leap from the football field to the stage. According to Tapia, the band finds this transition beneficial because the sound can be more dominant in an enclosed environment. "When in Hill auditorium, the sound is permeating every fiber of your body," he said.

The Marching Band will perform the popular "M Fanfare," "Hail to the Victors," "Let's Go Blue," as well as highlights from their half time shows, including Billy Joel, cartoon music, and Olympic fanfares.

"Band-O-Rama" is the incredible result of several months of hard work from the U's top musical groups. With some expressive works from the Concert and Symphony Bands, and a rousing good time from the Marching Band, "Band-O-Rama" is sure to satisfy your musical taste buds.