Huntington Beach Concert Band

This Sunday at the Nixon Library, I enjoyed an American Salute by the Huntington Beach Concert Band, consisting of all volunteers and conducted by Tom Ridley. They performed Fanfare for the Common Man, Americans Way, American Patrol, Shannondoah's Simple Gifts, American Salute, Amazing Grace, New York 1927, 76 Trombones and a couple other songs. Having a condutor present gave me a chance to view his patterns of motion. I watched the downward motion of his hand and then watched to see if he swung his hand out or straight back up. I sat in the back so that I could copy his motion as I tapped my foot to the beat trying hard to match the beat and figure out the meter. I need more listening work :) New York 1927 was one of my favorite songs performed. It really seemed like you were in the 1920's. It had a quick tempo at the beginning and slowed down in the middle with low long notes and high instruments playing the melody. The tempo picked up again with the drums playing forte and other instruments playing in such a way that I could invision a busy street with cars, trucks and people. Another favorite was Shannondoah's Simple Gifts. It started out slow (lento) like a lazy river, with water dripping off of the trees. Instruments copied each other and gradually increased in sound(crescendo) and speed (allegro) which made me think I was passing a waterfall as I was floating down the river. The music slowed again and ended with long low notes. I enjoyed this concert very much. The music lifted me and others around me, I saw plenty of toe tappin' :)