“Gertie the Dinosaur,” a 1914 animated short film, was brought back to life in Cochran Chapel on Friday night. The Academy Concert Band performed a lively soundtrack to accompany the classic animation for their final concert of the year.
The band accompaniment, arranged by Vincent Monaco, Instructor in Music and the conductor of the Academy Concert Band, matched the exuberant mood of the cartoon. The band held a steady rhythm, mirroring Gertie’s lumbering gait.
“My favorite piece was ‘Gertie the Dinosaur.’ I enjoyed playing this piece because it was different from our usual repertoire of marches and more ballad like pieces. Also, I think having the cartoon really added to the feeling of the music. It gave background to the song,” said Michaela Hagler ’16, a trumpet player.
In addition to “Gertie the Dinosaur,” the Academy Band also played “Voyage,” composed by Maita Eyzaguirre ’14. The piece was written for the Senior Soloist Competition, which gives Seniors an opportunity to have a piece performed by an Andover ensemble.
The piece started slowly, with smooth transitioning chords, before speeding up with sharp, precise beats and rhythms. The climax repeated a sharp, dissonant motif to bring a sense of urgency. Finally, the piece dropped back to a slow, smooth tempo and ended with a reminiscent tone.
“[‘Voyage’] presented them with challenges. Because it was written by a student and [Eyzaguirre] was at most of the rehearsals, the whole color and mentality of the whole experience was different because not only was I conducting the band and controlling things, she was also there to tell me whether or not I was getting what she wanted from the band, and I think the band responded really well to having a student there,” said Monaco.
“As the title suggests, the piece depicts a voyage. It starts off with an ominously slow section that poses a questions, showing the reservations one may have before embarking on a voyage. The piece then speeds up into a tumultuous journey that brings us to a piccolo and flute solo. This section, located in the middle of the piece represents the uncertainty upon arrival. However, this section transitions into a much happier and hopeful section, which represents the hopefulness of new beginnings,” said Eyzaguirre.
L’Inseime Di Martedi Sera, a smaller wind ensemble, also performed several pieces, including “Emperor Waltz” by Johann Strauss, Jr.
The piece ranged from a slow, quiet tempo to a fast, majestic speed, all the while maintaining a steady waltz rhythm. The fast portions of the piece emphasized a sharp, clean notes to maintain an imperial atmosphere, while the slower portions blended the instruments to create a unified sound.
“I liked playing [‘Emperor Waltz’] because the horn part was much different from all the other parts and it stood out, especially when we played in the Chapel,” said Emma Kelley ’17.
In addition to the performances, two awards were presented to Seniors playing with the Band. The first award, the Fuller Concert Band Prize for citizenship and contributions to the band, was awarded to Jonathan Arone ’14. The second award, the Basset Wads Huff Prize for excellence in playing, was awarded to Jessica Gammon ’14.
