Memories from Band Chalet

Here are some photos from NUS Wind Symphony Band Chalet 2010. Photos courtesy of Yi Huang and Joycelin.

Memories from Da Capo 2010

Here are some pictures from our last concert, Da Capo 2010!

Da Capo 2010

The time of the year has arrive. The NUS Wind Symphony will once again be presenting to you our annual concert: Da Capo.

The theme of this concert is European, and we will be featuring a host of music from different cultures. From the feisty Spanish rhythms of "El Camino Real" to the catchy tempo of the Irish "Riverdance", the band will have you tapping and swaying to the music. The Wind Symphony will also be playing "A Grand Grand Overture" by Malcolm Arnold, well-known for being one of music's most celebrated practical joke. With an added cast of three vacuum cleaners and a floor polisher, we promise a night of grandiose mayhem and unexpected hilarity. So join us as we bring you on a whirlwind tour of European culture, music and experiences that you will never forget.

Resident Conductor

Associate Professor Ho Hwee Long

Repertoire

El Camino Real by Alfred Reed

Riverdance by Bill Whelan

A Grand Grand Overture by Malcolm Arnold

A Tribute to Harry James arr. by Sammy Nestico

Carmen Fantasy by Georges Bizet

A Music for a Festival by Philip Sparkes

Legend: Of Ireland and Lore by Robert W. Smith

Cry of the Celts by Michael Flatley

Poet and Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppe

For Tickets, contact Justin at 91594043 or email justinteo@nus.edu.sg

or email us at nus.wind.symphony@gmail.com TODAY!!!

Da Capo - Italian for "from the beginning" - is a concert series initiated on October 2006 with the sole aim of showcasingthe talents of the incoming batch of freshmen. With this concert, we hope to inspire and nuture the coming generations of musicians.

ExxonMobil Campus Concerts, Little Treats for Everyone

We will be presenting our quartets this Saturday (28 August) at NLB Plaza from 6pm-7pm.

This concert is brought to you free by ExxonMobil. Do drop by!

NUS Wind Symphony Orientation Day 2010

Come down for a day of fun and interaction during our Orientation Day!

When: 21 August 2010, Saturday
Time: 10am onwards (full day)
Venue: West Coast Park

NUSWS Welcome Tea 2010

Welcome back to a new semester in NUS!

To all ex-school band members, do come down for our Welcome Tea! Experience playing with us in a university band under the baton of our resident conductor, Associate Professor Ho Hwee Long!

Refreshment will be served after practice!

Date: 12 August 2010 (Thursday)

Time: 7pm

Venue: CFA Studios Auditorium!

(Opposite Yusof Ishak House. There will be directional signs from the bus stop.)

Contact Person: Jeffrey (HP: 81718119)

Contact Email: nus.wind.symphony@gmail.com

See you there!

NUSWS at NUS Matriculation Fair 2010

To all students matriculating into NUS this August 2010, WELCOME to NUS!!!

If you were previously from a school band, do drop by NUS Wind Symphony's booth to sign up! Goodies will be given upon sign up! The booths are on the second level (MPSH 2).

NUS Wind Symphony booth will be open everyday on 22, 23, 26 and 27 July from 9am to 5pm.

Our booth is booth E2. Please refer to the floorplan below.

See you there!

Big Carnival @ marina bay

Join us this Sunday, 18 July at The Promontory@Marina Bay as we present to you some of the most popular video game music as part of the 'Big Carnival@marina bay'!

Time: 8pm-9pm

Venue: The Promontory@Marina Bay

Price: Free

Refer to the above hyperlink for more details!

Programme highlights
Themes from:

• Halo
• Myst III
• Tetris
• ...and many more!

University Band Festival 2010

Nanyang Technological University Symphonic Band

National Institute of Education Symphonic Band

National University of Singapore Wind Symphony

present

University Band Festival 2010

Conducted by
Assoc. Prof. Ho Hwee Long
Mr. Takehiro Oura

10 June 2010

7.30pm (with a 20 mins intermission)

Esplanade Concert Hall
S$15 (Available from any performing members from the bands)

For any enquiries, please contact Ms Emily Goh at 91431989 or through e-mail at unibandfest2010@ntusb.com.

To celebrate the spirit of musicianship at tertiary level, the three varsity bands have come together for the very first time showcasing an evening of exciting and dynamic programme. Featuring Puccini’s famed work Turandot, all time favourite “Morning, Noon & Night Overture” by Franz von Suppe and also premiering in Singapore Satoshi Yagisawa’s new work Poem “Northern Mother Earth—Praise for all Living Things”. Be prepared for a musical journey of opera, marches and impressionistic music.

Programme includes
Poem “Northern Mother Earth – Praise for all living things” by Satoshi Yagisawa
GR Selection arr. by Masamicz Amano
Morning, Noon & Night Overture by Franz von Suppe

InTempo ’10

InTempo ’10
presented by the NUS Wind Symphony
conducted by our Resident Conductor and Music Director
Associate Professor Ho Hwee Long
and our Assistant Conductor - Mr Ian Lum
along with our Student Conductor - Mr Goh Wee Juay

27 March 2010 - Saturday
7:30pm (With a 20 mins intermission)
Victoria Concert Hall
$12 (Stall), $15 (Circle)
For tickets, please contact Yi Huang (9637 0127) or Kristen (9437 4737), or reach us at nus.wind.symphony@gmail.com

The InTempo concert series was initiated in 1974, and stands as the longest running band concert series in Singapore. Unsurprisingly, the InTempo concert series commands a profound degree of repute, prestige and recognition in Singapore’s band scene.

For InTempo ’10, the wind orchestra will take on works bearing a Russian theme. Join us as we showcase the immense music prowess of one of Russia’s most celebrated composers, Dmitri Shostakovich. From his historically-significant and era-defining Symphony No. 5, the subtle political message in Festive Overture, to his immaculate references of his other works in Jazz Suite No. 2 – the music capabilities of Shostakovich is impossible to overlook. The works of two members of “The Five” will also be featured – Alexander Borodin’s score to the opera, Prince Igor, and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. The latter, based upon stories from the famed anthology, One Thousand and One Nights (often known as Arabian Nights) is arguably the best known expression of Russian musical orientalism, and undoubtedly his best known work. Listen out for his undisputed flair in inventing a sophisticated cachet of orchestral effects.

"RSVP" at the corresponding facebook event page!


Concert Repertoire

Russlan and Ludmilla, Overture
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka, arr. Mark h. Hindsley

Russian Christmas Music
Alfred Reed

Scheherazade - Part II. The Story of The Kalandar Prince
N. Rimsky Korsakov, arr. Mark H. Hindsley

Suite from Caucasian Sketches
M. Ippolitov Ivanov, arr. Dan Goffrey

Symphony No. 5 – Finale, Opus 47
Dmitri Shostakovich, arr. Jay Bocook

- - - Intermission - - -

Percussion Ensemble

Jazz Suite no. 2
Dmitri Shostakovich, arr. Johan de Meij

Ballet Music from the Opera “Prince Igor”
Alexander Borodin

Festive Overture, Op 96
Dmitri Shostakovich, arr. Donald Hunsberger

Da Capo 2009 Sponsors

The NUS Wind Symphony would like to express its heartfelt appreciation to the following sponsors for their kind support of Da Capo 2009!

_________________________________________________________

We would also like to thank Greenridge Florist for graciously sponsoring the wonderful flower bouquets!

Tel No.: 6779 5190

Website: http://greenridgeflorist.wordpress.com/

Da Capo 2009

|Da Capo 2009 |
| 23 October 2009 – Friday |
| 7:30pm (with a 20 minutes Intermission) |
| Victoria Concert Hall |
| $12 – Stall | $15 – Circle |

| For tickets, please contact Yi Huang (9637 0127) or Kristen (94374737) |

Following the success of its performance at the Esplanade Concert Hall, the NUS Wind Symphony will be presenting Da Capo 2009 at the Victoria Concert Hall on the 23rd of October. Expanding on the concept of popular classics, musical favourities and contemporary standards, Da Capo 2009 looks set to be a night filled with heart-wrenching tunes, show-stopping moments, and several motifs that define the music landscape.

Concert Repertoire

Curtain Up!

Alfred Reed

宇宙戦艦ヤマトSpace Battleship Yamato

Hiroshi Miyakawa, arr. By Akira Miyagawa

The Phantom of the Opera
Andrew Lloyd Webber, arr. by Johan de Meij
("Angel of Music", "Music of the Night", "Notes", "Think of Me", "All I Ask of You", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again")

Symphonic Dance Music from West Side Story
Leonard Bernstein, Transcribed by Ian Polster
(“Scherzo”, “Mambo”, “Cha-cha”, “Fugue”)

An American in Paris
George Gershwin, arr. by Naohiro Iwai

- - - Intermission - - -

In the Miller Mood
Various, arr. by Warren Barker
("In the Mood", "Moonlight Serenade", "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo", "Serenade in Blue", "Little Brown Jug", "At Last", "Anvil Chorus")

もののけ姫, Princess Mononoke

Music by Jo Hisaishi, Arr. By Takashi Hoshide

Tintin – Prisoners of the Sun
Dirk Brossé, arr. by Johan de Meij

翼をください Tsubasa Wo Kudasai (Please Give Me Wings)
Music by Kunihiko Murai, Words by Michio Yamagami, arr. by Akira Miyagawa

NB: Concert Repertoire updated, in concert order

Yesterday, Once More - Beautiful Sunday @ Esplanade

What? "Yesterday, Once More", as part of "Esplanade Presents - Beautiful Sunday" concert series.. the concert is free!

When? 13 September 2009, 3 to 4pm, its free!

Where? Esplanade Concert Hall..

Who? anyone and everyone.. the concert series is for members of the public.. and its free!

Price? did i mention that its free?

Details? The concert is part of the "Beautiful Sunday" concert series held monthly at the Esplanade Concert Hall. For the month of September, the NUS Wind Symphony will be presenting “Yesterday, Once More”, offering members of the public an opportunity to revisit the tunes and familiar favourities of yesteryears.

Immerse yourselves in memories of yesteryears, and join us by humming along to two pop gems from the Beatles – "Yesterday" and "Hey Jude", and well-known Japanese folk song “Tsubasa Wo Kudasai” (Please Give Me Wings) originally released by Akai Tori in 1971. Satisfy your hunger for nostalgia by listening out for the lush sounds of “An American in Paris” – an attempt to depict the buzz of Paris in the 1920s. Be further enthralled by the relaxing sounds of swing and jazz characteristics of the 1930s and 1940s ("In The Miller Mood"). The concert won’t be complete without selections from two landmark musicals – “West Side Story” and “The Phantom of the Opera”.

More information? to receive future information from us, simply become a fan of nusws on facebook! click on the "become a fan" icon at the sidebar to become a fan!.. for more information or to "rsvp", refer to the related facebook event.. we hope to see you there!

Concert Repertoire

West Side Story
Music by Leonard Bernstein, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, arr. by W.J. Duthoit
("I Feel Pretty", "Maria", "Something's Coming", "Tonight", "One Hand, One Heart", "Cool", "America")

Tsubasa Wo Kudasai (Please Give Me Wings)
Music by Kunihiko Murai, Words by Michio Yamagami, arr. by Akira Miyagawa

The Phantom of the Opera
Andrew Lloyd Webber, arr. by Johan de Meij
("Angel of Music", "Music of the Night", "Notes", "Think of Me", "All I Ask of You", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again")
(conducted by our Assistant Conductor, Mr Ian Lum)

Yesterday & Hey Jude
John Lennon & Paul McCartney, arr. by Naohiro Iwai

In the Miller Mood
Various, arr. by Warren Barker
("In the Mood", "Moonlight Serenade", "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo", "Serenade in Blue", "Little Brown Jug", "At Last", "Anvil Chorus")

An American in Paris
George Gershwin, arr. by Naohiro Iwai

Bandit O 2009

The date: the following Saturday after our welcome tea.

The instructions were simple: come in yellow and bring sunblock.

In a nutshell, our very first Band Orientation - titled Bandit O 2009 was successfully held on the 22nd of August. It was an extremely fun day filled with loads of fun and many thrilling games. And I sincerely hope that none of you guys kenna sun burn.. haha..

The orientation was organized to help the freshies integrate better into the band.. but as it turns out.. the senior pretty much had a rolling good time as well! Hope the freshies were not embarrassed by our (childish) misdeeds! We are all still young at heart *big grin*

We then filled our hungry stomachs with some really nice–but extremely sinful–BBQ food!

Pictures paint a thousands words.. So instead of boring you guys with a 5,000 words write-up, shall leave you guys with some pictures for us to remember the day that West Coast Park was flooded by a sea of yellow musical fellows! More pictures @facebook! =)

Welcome Tea 2009

What? The NUS Wind Symphony will be having our annual Welcome Tea on the 13th August, 6:45pm, at the NUS Centre for The Arts (CFA) Auditorium.

Where? We are located directly opposite the Yusof Ishak House (ie if u r taking bus, alight at YIH!) + right next to Raffles Hall. Various directional signs will be put up! keep a look out for them!

Who? We welcome all NUS students (doesn't matter if you are year one or not!) with prior band experience to join us! Do come down for a night of music-making and fun! its time to rekindle your passion for music!

Doubts? If you have any burning question(s), or foresee that you will get lost on that day itself, feel free to contact either Chuan Xin (93874733) or Benson (97504395). We hope to see you there!

NUSWS : Pillow Fights & Celebration

JOIN US IN THE FUN OF PILLOW FIGHTS!

Venue

CFA Studio

Dress Code

Only Pajamas Allowed!

Things you can bring

1) Pillows

2) Slippers

3) Bolsters

4) Sleeping Bags

InTempo 2009

Date: 21 March 2009 (Saturday)

Time: 1930 HRS

Venue: University Cultural Centre Hall, National University of Singapore

Ticket: $12 (Free Seating)

Music Direction & Resident Conductor: Assoc. Prof. Ho Hwee Long

Programme:

Chorale and Shaker Dance - John P. Zdechilik

Puszta - Jan Van der Roost

Hymn to the Infinite Sky - Satoshi Yagisawa

Vesuvius - Frank Ticheli

-Intermission-

Amazonia - Jan Van der Roost

Pinocchio - Alex Poelman

Fantasy Variations - James Barnes

Light Cavalry Overture - Franz von Suppé

For tickets, please contact Susanna (9339 0733) or Wai Yip (8112 4941) or email nus.wind.symphony@gmail.com

Remembering Our Captain Planet~

-This entry has been materialized in dedication to an extremely special conductor & his wind symphony-   In remembrance of:
how he told us funny jokes (could be factual though)~
- Richard Strauss said this: Never look at the brasses encouragingly…it does a lot of damage~ [Merry Wives of Windsor]
- they always say how do you make two oboes play in tune? kill one~ [Soaring over the Ridges]
- & everybody hears the trumpets because they’re at the top… … …because you’ve always got to make trumpets feel better~ [Poema Alpestra]
- I think you have to make me very fat…then I can conduct this very nicely~ [Finlandia]
- everytime something changes it feels better…it’s psychological! [Planet Earth]
- now you can hear more mistakes when last time I was the only one suffering~ [Planet Earth]
- it’s also in their character… … …have you ever wondered why trumpets (trumpeters) and trombones (trombonists) play trumpets and trombones? because they are showy people~ [Extreme Makeover]


how he gave us advice in humorous manners~
- even if you miss 20 bars…be professional about it~ [Planet Earth]
- and the rest of you with nothing to do…by sitting down…you’re part of the music…& I tell you, this is one of the hardest things to do – to be a statue~ & the moral of the story – stillness is power~ [Planet Earth]
- counting is an important part of this piece…don’t get lost…this piece is about not getting lost~[Planet Earth]
- you hit the B flat on concert day it’s worth one million dollars~ [Planet Earth]
- play like you’re happy being 40 years old~
- patience is the hallmark of all ensembles~ we have to be patient~ [Pictures At An Exhibition]
- rests are the hardest things to play in the universe~
- practice faking it until it sounds convincing~ [Extreme Makeover]
- listen~ studies have shown that you can’t listen while you talk~
- you can miss notes…but you can’t mess things up~ [Extreme Makeover]
- never mind…repent…practice…and get on~ [Extreme Makeover]


how he re-created our identities~
- we're sound engineers~ [Merry Wives of Windsor]
- we’ve gotta be a three thousand dollar home theatre entertainment system~ [King Cotton]


how he helped us better convey musicality to others~

- you must paint the picture in the audience’s minds~ [Cartoon]
- 400 years dynamic contrast…it still works today~ [Cartoon]
- it’s not about how fast…how slow…how loud…how soft…it’s about how interesting~ [Finlandia]
- projection is sending a musical thought to the end of the hall~ [Planet Earth]
- you don’t have to play louder…but think fiercer~ [Planet Earth]
- the excitement doesn’t have to come from tempo…it can come from attitude~ [Extreme Makeover]


how he expressed meaningful musical thoughts~

- if you are stuck at the notes you can never get up to the artistry~ [Merry Wives of Windsor]
- the strength of the ensemble is as strong as its weakest player~ [Merry Wives of Windsor]
- intonation is a matter of conscience~ [Poema Alpestra]
- sound defies silence like life defies death~ [Poema Alpestra]
- music is like life…it’s always changing~ [Planet Earth]
- music is between the notes…phrase it~ [Children's March]
- the key to artistic freedom is lots of discipline~ [Children’s March]
- don’t practice~ perform~ [Extreme Makeover]


how he introduced musical concepts to us~

- this is matrical displacement! [Planet Earth]
- even though it’s one line…there’re two voices~ this is called compound melody~ [Children’s March]
- a melodic metamorphosis~ [Extreme Makeover]


how he taught us ways for better musical expression~
- every time the phrase starts…give definition to the first note~ this is articulation discipline~ [Merry Wives of Windsor]
- the first note is more an impulse of will~ [Folk Song Suite]
- to show tenuto…create the illusion of length~ [Folk Song Suite]
- when you crescendo…you really do more~ when you diminuendo…you really do less~ [Folk Song Suite]
- look less on the music…focus more on the togetherness~ [Cartoon]
- a good army practice hygiene…you need to release together~ good release means start silence together~ [Planet Earth]
- keep the sound round…we need to sound rich…but not forced~ [Planet Earth]


how he brought emotions into the music~

- this is the promise of reaching…play this with a sense of hope~ [Poema Alpestra]
- let yourself be vulnerable…play from the inside of your heart~ [Finlandia]
- everyone must be still…only then can your inner voice speak~ there’s too much noise on the outside~ ["GR" Selection]


how he incorporated ideas into music-making~

- (to the flutes) together like a horse whip! [Silver Screen]
- horns! think horizontally! [Silver Screen]
- music must always go somewhere…make sure your notes go somewhere~ [Merry Wives of Windsor]
- let all the colours match! & play microscopically clean! [Merry Wives of Windsor]
- we need to play with an architecture of dynamics~ [Merry Wives of Windsor]
- clarinets…endeavor to play together with the woodblock~ woodblock…endeavor to play together with the clarinets~ [Cartoon]
- every phrase needs to go somewhere~ but where? [Finlandia]
- for every piece the band needs to sound different~ [Finlandia]
- we need a sense of line; musical line~ as if every note is precious~ [Finlandia]
- If you keep hanging onto something…it means something~ [Poema Alpestra]
- this is a divine state…you’re at the top of the mountain~ [Poema Alpestra]
- you reach the mountain peak! [Poema Alpestra]
- before you play you must have the concept in your head~ [Cartoon]
- Jacob said…you have two instruments~ one in your hand…and one in your head~ [Cartoon]
- if this melody is chicken…you’ve got to cook it in different ways~ [Children’s March]
- we have overall sound but we bring out different colors…that’s what makes it more interesting~ [Crescent & Stars]
- (to euphos) you need to play…you need to probe in depth…you need to find your centre~ [Finlandia]
- for every pitch you must think before you play~ [Planet Earth]
- you just think about the music and the notes will come! [Planet Earth]
- remove the edge from the tone as far as possible~ [Planet Earth]
- play as if there’s a bubble on top of you~ don’t you burst the bubble~ [King Cotton]
- you have to play like a soloist…with the awareness of what’s going on around you~ [King Cotton]
- if you only run through…you don’t know the details~ if you only do the details…you don’t know what house you’re building~ [Extreme Makeover]
- imagine you’re an apple~ you know where the seeds are? play from there~ [Extreme Makeover]


how he gave us useful reminders during rehearsals~
- don't rush the staccatos…it's a disease! [Merry Wives of Windsor]
- everytime you repeat it…it must be for a purpose…it must get better~ [Merry Wives of Windsor]
- don't get too loud too quickly or the architecture of music will be lost~
- it’s always tempting to practice the parts you can play~ [Silver Screen]
- don’t accept anything that is less than good~ [Poema Alpestra]
- no matter how tired you are…mind over body~ [Poema Alpestra]
- if you think of the notes in between…it will become much cleaner~ [Folk Song Suite]
- when you have the melody…don’t fight for supremacy~ [Folk Song Suite]
- don’t look at the score…I’ll cue you~ you know we like to seek comfort in the score? [Bahn Frei]
- the moral of the story is if Ashkenazi practices with a metronome…so should we~ [Planet Earth]
- make sure you don’t breathe when your neighbor is breathing…that’s all you need to do~ [Planet Earth]
- trumpets and trombones…never get into that nuclear bomb effect~


how he always made nice comments about composers~

- the note G in a minor scale is a note of sorrow~ 40 years of western music have proven that this note is the note of sorrow and indeed cesarini has used it in the beginning~ [Poema Alpestra]
- this piece really need a lot of microscopic work here… … …intelligent composer~ [Cartoon]
- (about Grainger) have you googled him? very handsome! [Children’s March]
- Johan de Meij just writes very well~ it’s the way he writes…he makes it sound impressive~ [Extreme Makeover]


how he amused us while commenting on our playing~

- (to flute solo) you need to be seductive…this movement has many sounds~ [Cartoon]
- (to saxophones) you were all together but on the wrong beat~ amazing…it’s team spirit~ that was good unity~ [Cartoon]
- trumpets…the color is right…keep it up…just that the rhythm is wrong~ [Planet Earth]
- eupho I bless you on the high notes~ [Children’s March]
- clarinets you have no problem with the rhythm…you have every problem with the notes [Extreme Makeover]


how he liked to summarize his advices into point forms~

[Intempo 2007]
3 things…we must be:
1) anti-bad tone
2) anti-bad tuning
3) anti-bad articulation

----------------------------------------------

[InTempo 2008]

Remember P-E-S:
Projection
Excellence (sense of excellence)
Spirit

4 things to take note of:
1) Dynamics
2) Clarity
3) Style
4) Tempo

3 secrets:

1st secret: air
2nd secret: less mouthpiece pressure
3rd secret: drop your tongue (resonate inside your head)

The 5 commandments / the 5 ‘P’s:
Thou shall be Present
Thou shall be Puntual
Thou shall have a Pencil during rehearsals
Thou shall Practise before rehearsals…not during rehearsals
Thou shall be Passionate about music

The 3 types of release:
1) a clean release [the tone shape is a vertical line]
2) a tapered release [the tone shape is rounded]
3) an intense release [swell]

----------------------------------------------

[Da Capo 2008]
Every note has got to have:
1) a clear attack
2) a clear sustain
3) a clear release

3 things to remember during the concert:
1) watch
2) respond
3) play with a beautiful sound (don’t blast!)


how he provided us with encouragement~
- (about glaring/blaming) I’ll never do that if my musicians come in wrongly…because I know you don’t mean it~ [Planet Earth]
- this orchestra has an increasing desire to do well~
- it’s encouraging by this mere fact that you want to do well~


how he gave us reassurance before our concerts~

- play in good spirit!
- nobody wants to make mistakes~
- live performances are meant to have mistakes~
- professionals make mistakes…professionals miss notes…it’s part and parcel of a musician’s life~ - don’t get so performance-oriented until you want to kill your friends~
- I think the process is much more important~
- I think Intempo will be a wonderful blast…but please don’t blast k?


& how he showered us with his sincere compliments~

- I do think you are a good band and I sincerely believe it~
- have pride of a fine orchestra…because you are one~




A smile is an inexpensive way to add value to your words. -Mr. Leonard Tan

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

=)

The Last Day

Good Luck for the concert!