Family Weekend Concert

This year's SNC Family Weekend included a vast majority of events, coinciding with St. Norbert College's first SNC Day. One of the many events that happened Saturday, Sept. 19 was the Family Weekend Concert in Walter Theatre. Moms and dads were able to explore the realm of music their sons and daughters had been practicing these first weeks of school, as the Wind Ensemble, Chamber Singers, Women's Choir, Men's Chorus and Jazz Ensemble treated them with their musical talents. The Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Frederick Schmidt, tipped off the evening with a piece entitled "Knight's Arrival." The song was specifically written for St. Norbert College's Wind Ensemble. The warlike drumming sounds catch the audience's attention right off the bat, engaging them for their next selection.

"Moon by Light" captured the audience's attention by having one of the band members read Psalm 121, which the piece is based on. The words help paint a picture in the minds of people while listening to the music. The song starts off light and airy, but it grows more dramatic as it continues. The Wind Ensemble performed "Velocity" for their last piece. Velocity is the rapidity of motion or operation and the swiftness of a movement, and this would describe exactly how this piece was performed. It started off loudly, and then retreated to a softer side, all while keeping its swirling momentum and movement.

Next, the Chamber Singers, directed by Dr. Sarah Parks and accompanied by Mrs. Elaine Moss (as were the other choirs), took the stage with "I Have Longed" which had a beautiful harmony. I enjoyed watching the Chamber Singers because of their open faces and smiles. They actually appear to enjoy singing! I found myself surprisingly impressed with the alto section in "I Have Longed for Thy Saving Health." Having sung alto in the past, I know it can be difficult to keep the right pitch. However, they remained on key and sounded strong. The Chamber Singers ended with "Worthy to Be Praised" which starts with a beautiful, rich tune and then switches over into a Gospel sing-along. The staccato beat stayed strong, even as several soloists came forward to enhance the song with their voices. There was no absolute way one could sit still through this piece.

The Women's Choir, also directed by Parks, sang "Mercy Seat," which Parks described as a "folksy" or "untrained" song. The song started off with a solo act and then jumped into a duet, followed by six other soloists. Ultimately these women's voices blended well with the rest of the women's choir. I feel that women's voices work very well for this piece, and the Women's Choir did the song justice. "Maria Mater" interested me because it was light and airy compared to other versions I have heard of "Maria Mater," and I sure appreciated the change in melody.

The Men's Chorus, directed by Dr. Michael Rosewall, performed "May God Grant You Peace," a soothing piece that wishes nothing but the best to fellow friends. Their final piece, "St. Norbert Rouser & Alma Mater," represents the school song. The lyrics and the way in which the men sang them revved the audience up. Pride for St. Norbert shown through greatly by these young men's vocal talents.

Finally the Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dr. Eric High, received their opportunity to show off their expertise. The first piece "Bye Bye Blackbird" drew the attention toward the piano, while the bass and drums kept a steady beat. This piece really sucked in the interest of the people. Once the people were drawn in, "'Round Midnight" played a role in setting people at ease. This is a calm jazz piece, right before hitting my favorite Jazz Ensemble piece, "Nostalgia in Times Square." This song forces me to remember a time when jazz was king, as I simply could not stop tapping my foot to the strong beat. The music really got me going!

Parks made a comment at the beginning of her singers' performance that her singers had been mature, professional and eager to learn. While this describes her students, it also refers to all of the musicians who performed at the Family Weekend Concert. These musicians executed their performances accurately and the audience could easily see the time and effort put into their different pieces. I can say with great certainty that many friends and family will look forward to seeing a performance like this next year!