No rest for the maestro
By Jennifer Colton - Argus Observer
Friday, April 20, 2007 1:02 PM PDT
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| Composer Dr. Frances McBeth leads the Fruitland High School Concert Band through a rehearsal of ‘Chant and Jubilo’ Thursday in the new band room at the high school. McBeth, Arkansas, who composed the piece, is in Idaho working with the FHS band and the University Symphonic Winds at Boise State University. |
Fruitland - Entwined together by staccato woodwinds, flowing brass and pulsing timpani, the sounds of “Chant and Jubilo” vibrated into the hallway of the new music building at Fruitland High School Thursday morning.
The players, from trombone to flute, were the members of the Fruitland High School Concert Band, but rather than leading the practice from his typical front-and-center position, FHS band teacher and conductor Joel Williams took a seat at the side of the room.
In his place before the band stood guest conductor Dr. Francis McBeth — a retired professor of music, resident composer and chairman of the theory-composition department at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark. — and the composer of “Chant and Jubilo.”
“The band is playing one of his pieces of music, so it’s a special treat for him to work with the students,” Williams said of the visit. “He’s an internationally famous composer and band director.”
McBeth worked with the high school band on his piece as well as other works the band will perform this year. He also answered questions of local band directors who attended the session.
“He’s going to talk about inspiration, advice on how he’s been successful,” Williams said of McBeth’s visit.
McBeth travels all over the country to work with bands of all levels, and his recent sojourn into Idaho came at the urging of Marcellus Brown, director of the University Symphonic Winds and the Treasure Valley Concert Band at Boise State University, Williams said. The university group is also performing one of McBeth’s works: “Of Sailors and Whales.”
Performances of both “Of Sailors and Whales” — a five-movement piece chronicling characters of Melville’s Moby Dick — and “Chant and Jubilo” — a study in the change of mood forcing different sections of the band to work together — will take place during the Boise State University Symphonic Winds spring concert. McBeth will conduct the concert, starting at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Morrison Center Main Hall in Boise. The FHS Concert Band and the All-Star Junior High/Middle School Band will also be guest performers during the program. Tickets are available — $5 general admission, $3 for seniors and free for students — by calling (208) 426-3980.
