Keene State College’s Redfern Arts Center welcomed performers from all over New England for the first biennial Low Brass Festival Day on Saturday, April 23. The festival was directed by Dr. John Hart who is the current Concert Band director in addition to being the KSC brass, woodwind, and percussion coordinator.
The performance began with a brass quintet made up of Keene State students that performed three pieces and were followed by two pieces by the Clinician Quartet, a group featuring Hart, euphonist Bente Illevold, tubist Dr. David Earll, and trombonist Avitsur. The three guest artists have made names for themselves through composing, conducting, performing, and educating within the world of Brass Instrumentation.
Following a short break, the tuba, trombone, and euphonium ensembles took the stage. To end the night, Hart conducted all performers in the Massed Festival Ensemble. Not only did he conduct on stage, he also conducted the audience in a sing-a-long of “Sweet Caroline” as the finale. Hart said that since the event was large-scaled, he put a lot of work in when it came to planning.
“This year’s preparations were much more extensive than usual…I have organized the Low Brass Day, which encompasses everything from marketing, advertising, and promoting the event, to hiring world-renowned artists and clinicians to work with the festival’s participants,” Hart said. “Everything you will see… is the result of countless hours of preparation and dedication to making Keene State a haven for brass instruments.”
Hart added, “Professor Seelan Manickam, the director of the Brass Ensemble and the coach of the brass quintets, has conducted rehearsals all semester long. The brass students have also put in countless hours practicing their instruments and learning the music.”
Part of the planning was choosing the repertoire and finding performers.
“Students can self-enroll in the various brass ensembles, with the guidance of their music faculty advisors and the brass faculty,” Hart said. “ In the case of the large brass ensemble, everyone enrolled performs at the concert and Professor Manickam selects the repertoire, with some input from the students. For the smaller quintets, students largely select their repertoire, explore new music together, and generally take a democratic approach…” Hart said Low Brass Festival Day was an opportunity for like-minded musicians to express themselves creatively.
“Every instrument family deserves to be celebrated… no two voices are exactly alike, no two instruments are exactly alike,” Hart said. “More importantly, we celebrate the people playing those instruments; people who have dedicated their lives to perfecting their relationship with their instrument, which in many ways is their voice, their primary means of artistic expression. We celebrate and honor their efforts and their achievements, and we validate their endeavors.”
Hart added, “To be musical, even simply listening and enjoying music, is one of the defining characteristics of being human, so each time you hear and enjoy live music, you’re exercising your birthright as a human being. If nothing else, we hope this concert will encourage audience members to keep seeking and supporting the performance of live music, which is such an essential part of our culture.”
Music Department faculty member Devaseelan Manickam was unavailable for an interview.
Benjamin Martins can be contacted at
bmartins@kscequinox.com
