As the fall semester winds down, the Edward E. MacTaggart Music Department will present its second series of concerts, bringing even more music to the Marietta community at large. After a brief respite, the department’s four active ensembles will return to the public eye this November and early December.
The Band Rehearsal Hall continues to house musicians preparing for upcoming programs, including the Marietta College Symphonic Band. Under the direction of Shirelle Barnett, the ensemble rehearses on Mondays at 6:30 p.m., studying both traditional and contemporary instrumental repertoire alike.
The Symphonic Band differs from the College’s other ensembles as it involves instrumentalists at varied stages of their musical journeys. Composed of grade-school students from local districts, college students and older community members, Barnett noted the challenge of finding pieces that meet the ensemble members at their respective levels.
“The spectrum of experience between our older and younger members is very, very wide,” Barnett said. “But it’s an opportunity to perform difficult repertoire both with technically talented members and with those who wouldn’t have the chance to play it otherwise.”
Since the ensemble returned to campus last fall, it has experienced significant growth, with steadier attendance and diversified instrumentation. Barnett noted that the expansion of the saxophone and percussion sections, along with increased technical strength in the clarinet section, has broadened repertoire options.
The program will feature classic band literature, with pieces including Gustav Holst’s “First Suite in E-Flat for Military Band” and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Flourish for Wind Band.” However, the program also includes modern compositions, like Eric Whitacre’s “October” and John Mackey’s “Lightning Field.”
“The biggest challenge is finding something that everyone in the ensemble will enjoy,” said Barnett. “I try to find works that are both artful and educational — pieces in contrasting styles that every instrumentalist in bands should know, from marches to standard favorites, so everyone can find at least one or two pieces they enjoy playing.”
The Marietta College Symphonic Band will perform on Monday, Nov. 17, at the Marietta High School Auditorium, located at 115 Davis Ave. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Attendees may park in the high school’s rear overflow/event parking lot, located between the main building and the auditorium.
The Band Rehearsal Hall also hosts the Rock and Jazz Ensemble, which is preparing for a program unlike any it has presented before. In collaboration with the Marietta College Esports team, the ensemble will perform arrangements from popular video game soundtracks accompanied by live gameplay.
Director Eli Chambers, inspired by the wave of ensembles interpreting video game soundtracks, spent about three months researching and transcribing selections from the sandbox game “Minecraft” for adaptation by the Rock and Jazz Ensemble. Chambers noted the difficulties of staying true to the feel of such a popular soundtrack while reimagining it for his musicians.
“Minecraft’s soundtrack has a wealth of music that is very slow and ethereal, so I gravitated to tracks with more active melodies and discernible pulses,” Chambers said. “Daniel Rosenfeld, also known as C418, used mostly synthesizers and digital instrumentation to write and record the original score, and trying to be accurate to those sounds with mostly non-electric instruments took a lot of planning, research, and trial-and-error.”
The concert will open with the Rock and Jazz Ensemble performing alone. After a brief intermission, the gameplay element will be introduced, with members of the Esports team playing on a projected “Minecraft” server. The players’ actions will influence both the order and the manner in which the ensemble plays certain tracks, including dynamics and tempo markings.
“C418’s music is an integral part of Minecraft’s immersive experience, so anyone who has spent time playing the game has a genuine emotional connection to it,” said Chambers. “Because of this, I have the hope of changing audience members’ minds on jazz — some people might come in otherwise thinking that the style ‘isn’t for them’, and I hope to prove that train of thought wrong.”
The Rock and Jazz Ensemble’s program, “The Music of Minecraft (and Other Selections),” will take place Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Gathering Place, located at 175 N Seventh St. Attendees may park in the Marietta College Police Department lot and in the parking lot adjacent to Hermann Fine Arts Center.
The College’s choirs, despite a quick turnaround from their prior performance, have continued rehearsing for their annual “Christmas with the Choirs” concert. Although repertoire is naturally limited for the holiday season, director Scott Rieder has made an effort to balance familiarity with other works.
“What audience members get out of Christmas concerts is a feeling of belonging — knowing that they know the music. You have to choose some material they know,” he said. “Otherwise, I choose pieces that speak to the choir members or bring new elements to traditional works.”
Rosephanye Powell’s arrangement “Keep Yo’ Lamps” exemplifies Rieder’s approach. Though based on a traditional spiritual, it calls for djembe drum accompaniment, performed by percussionists from Marietta High School. Eric Whitacre’s “Glow,” a choir favorite in years past, is also in the program, and embodies the warmth amid winter’s chill.
In addition to their program, the choirs will sing three traditional hymns. Printed programs will include the lyrics, and the audience is encouraged to sing along.
“Christmas with the Choirs” will take place Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, located at 318 Front St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. There is limited parking onsite; street parking on Front St. is available.
Vocalists have also rehearsed outside regular class times. Beginning the Monday after Labor Day, community members and students met in the choir room to prepare for their rendition of George Frederic Handel’s “Messiah”, marking the work’s 99th annual presentation in Marietta.
The Marietta College Oratorio Chorus — founded by then-Assistant Professor of Music Gerald Hamilton — began the “Messiah” tradition in fall 1926. Nearly 100 years later, the chorus continues under the direction of Dr. H.G. Young III, professor of music at West Virginia University.
“The Oratorio Chorus is all volunteers — no compensation, except for their enjoyment of the music,” Dr. Young explained. “The instrumentalists that accompany us, however, are a professional group that are paid for their involvement. We only rehearse with them once the day of the performance, so my job is to just keep the choir moving until then.”
As in previous years, the chorus is performing selections from the full libretto, including a chorus that has not been performed in recent seasons. Dr. Young noted its difficulty but said that the vocalists were doing great with it.
Soloists include soprano Debra Rentz, mezzo-soprano Quessa Brown, tenor Dr. Daniel Stein and bass Robert Morris. Rentz and Brown are new to the ensemble this year, while Dr. Stein and Morris returned after serving as soloists in last year’s program as well.
The 99th performance of Handel’s “Messiah” will take place Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, 506 4th St. The performance begins at 7 p.m. Limited parking is available onsite, with street parking on 4th St.
Although fall programming concludes with Oratorio Chorus’ performance of “Messiah,” the spring semester will include more events, with three ensembles returning to the stage. To learn more about the Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music and upcoming events, contact department chair Merewyn Weinkauf at mb001@marietta.edu, or visit marietta.edu/music-department.