San Jose Wind Symphony

Q.

What is a wind symphony, exactly?

A wind symphony is a collection of up to about 60 musicians who play instruments of four basic types:

1. Woodwinds—flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, saxophones and related instruments. These players sit in a semicircle directly in front of the conductor and make up about one-half of the wind symphony.

2. Brass—trumpets, horns, trombones, euphoniums, tubas, and similar instruments. These instruments are the loudest, so you'll see them at the back of the wind symphony.

3. Percussion—the drums, bells, and other fascinating paraphernalia that are struck, plucked, rubbed, etc. This includes the timpani, and on occasion, the piano. Some works use lots of different percussion; others may have a single musician playing the timpani, or no percussion at all. The percussion section is also found at the back of the orchestra.

4. Strings—harp, string bass and related instruments. This includes on occasion, the piano. The strings are a colorful addition to the wind orchestra and allow an expanded repertoire.

Q.

What if I don't know anything about classical music? Do I need to study beforehand?

There's no need to study. The music will speak for itself. Just come and enjoy! Over time, many frequent concert goers also find their enjoyment is deeper if they prepare for a concert. This can be simple, like reading the program notes beforehand; or it can be more involved, like listening to recordings of the music to be performed in the days before they attend a concert.

Q.

Why are the musicians onstage playing before the concert begins?

Just like basketball players taking shots and practicing moves before the game, musicians need to warm up their muscles and focus their concentration. This is fun to listen to and to watch. Some of them are working on the passages they need to polish up before the performance, with no regard for what anyone else is practicing. Pick out the flute or the trumpet playing a solo line over and over, and listen to how it changes. Does it get smoother? If the player stops in the middle and starts over, can you hear the reason why? (It's especially fun to recognize these solos later in the performance! Give a silent cheer for the player who nails the solo.)

Not all of the orchestra players practice onstage, of course. Just like the audience, everyone is doing his or her own thing. Some are talking; others are paging through their music. And some don't come onstage at all until a minute or two before the performance. But at concert time, everyone is in place and ready to start.

Q.

Why do the musicians wear formal black clothes?

This is a long tradition that started a few centuries ago. Sometimes, these days, musicians dress a little more casually. But they still try to look uniform, so that the audience can concentrate on the music. Soloists are the exception: they often dress differently, because they are the focus of attention.

Q.

Why do all the musicians tune to the clarinet?

The penetrating tone of the clarient is easy for all players to hear, and its ability to sustain pitch is very secure. The oboe plays the note "B flat," for the woodwinds and brass and those players make sure their "B flat" is exactly on the same pitch as the clarinet's. The clarinet then plays the note “A" for the string bass, who makes sure that their "A" is exactly on the same pitch as the clarinet's. This ensures that they all are in agreement about the tuning before the concert starts.

Q.

Why does the conductor leave after every piece of music?

This provides the conductor a little breather—a chance to collect his/her thoughts before starting the next piece. If the applause is very enthusiastic, the conductor will come onstage again, bow, and perhaps recognize some musicians who played important solos in the piece. He may depart again once or twice before moving on to the next piece on the program. The conductor also leaves to give a chance for a change of music and so the percussion section can reset for the next piece.

Q.

Why don't the musicians smile while they play?

Look closely and you'll see that some of them do! But in general, they are concentrating deeply, just like outfielders waiting for the fly ball or pitchers winding up to a curve ball. They're "in the zone." After the music is over, you may see them smiling broadly. If it was a concerto, and they liked the soloist's playing, they won't just smile—the players will tap their legs with their hands as a sign of appreciation. Some may even applaud.