Nutley High School Instrumental Spring Concert

NHS Jazz Lab

Ghost Town

by Kanye West

arr. NHS Jazz Lab

Program Notes:

Each year, the NHS Jazz Lab is tasked with a class project to arrange a tune of their choice. This year, the class narrowed down a broad list to the pop tune Ghost Town by Kanye West. The students have made all the choices & musical decisions from what instruments would be played & used, the chord progressions, the style & what the form would be. This tune will feature all of the members of the group in a variety of ways.

Ghost Town is a hip-hop track, which is often noted for its rock elements. The song includes a sample of "Take Me for a Little While", written by Trade Martin, & performed by the Royal Jesters, within its leading bass, drum & keys combination. The opening of the track features a sample of "Someday", as performed by Shirley Ann Lee. Guitars are included within the song, which some writers viewed as psychedelic (the NHS Jazz Lab has opted for synthesizer). In particular, "Ghost Town" has been noted for taking rock influence from Kid Cudi's work.

NHS Concert Band

Conducted by Mr. Ryan Hudson

Air for Band

by Frank Erickson

Program Notes:

Air for Band was written early in Frank Erickson's career. In 1951 he published his first piece, Little Suite for Band. Air for Band is a lovely & expressive work composed in 1956. In the tradition of the Air (an English style of song popular in the late 16th & early 17th centuries), this work is a simple binary form which was quite common in the Baroque era.

Adrenaline Engines

by Randall Standridge

Program Notes:

Thundering percussion, driving rhythms, memorable melodies & frenetic energy are unrelenting in this rip-roaring sonic adventure. Meter changes enhance the pace while dynamics & expression add character to the music.

NHS Jazz Lab

Misty

by Erroll Garner

Featuring Dorian Wylde

Program Notes:

Misty is a jazz standard written in 1954 by pianist Erroll Garner. Originally composed as an instrumental, which followed the traditional 32-bar format was first recorded for Garner's 1955 album Contrasts. He said he developed the melody on a long flight, inspired by the view of clouds & thoughts of his wife. The tune was later paired with lyrics by Johnny Burke & became the signature song of Johnny Mathis, appearing on his 1959 album Heavenly & reaching number 12 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart later that year. Misty quickly became a popular jazz standard & hundreds of instrumental interpretations have been recorded since. In addition to instrumental interpretations, there have also been many other recordings, including versions by such artists as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald & Sarah Vaughan.

A Night in Tunisia

by John "Dizzy" Gillespie & John Paparelli

Program Notes:

A Night in Tunisia is a musical composition written by Dizzy Gillespie circa 1941-2, while Gillespie was playing with the Benny Carter Band. This tune has become a jazz standard across the world. It is also known as Interlude, under which title it was recorded (with lyrics) by Sarah Vaughan & Anita O'Day. Gillespie himself called the tune Interlude & says, "some genius decided to call it 'Night in Tunisia'". In January 2004, The Recording Academy added the Dizzy Gillespie & his Sextet’s 1946 Victor recording to its Grammy Hall of Fame. A Night in Tunisia was one of the signature pieces of Gillespie's bebop big band, & he also played it with his small groups.

NHS String Orchestra

Brahms Interlude from Rhapsody in B Minor, Op 79 No.1

by Johannes Brahms

arr. Deborah Baker Monday

Program Notes:

Embedded in Brahms' fiery Rhapsody in B Minor, Op. 79, No. 1 is a beautiful interlude, which is a charming selection in itself. With melodies passed among all instruments & harmonized in parallel 3rds & 6ths. This interlude center in the key of G major, but like most Brahms' compositions there is a movement to other tonalities to create a musical momentum with an undulating current in the accompaniment that drives the piece to its dynamic extremes.

Finale From Symphony No. 5

by Ludwig van Beethoven

arr. Deborah Baker Monday

Program Notes:

Beethoven's 5th Symphony was the first performed in 1808 & was described as one of the most important works of the time. The 4th & final movement is in C major, which is very unexpected for a piece that began in C minor. However Beethoven himself said "Joy follows sorrow, sunshine - rain"

The Abduction from the Seraglio

by Mozart

arr. Jamin Hoffman

Program Notes:

From the comic opera filled with pirates, Turkish princes, kidnapping & daring rescues, Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio is the piece of music that generated the (possibly fictional) "too many notes" story. It is written in the Turkish "janissary" style, a style of music that fascinated Europe at the time.

NHS Wind Ensemble

Variations on a Korean Folk Song

by John Barnes Chance

Soloists: Roger Dieterle - Temple Blocks; Paul Cerruto - Trumpet; Dorian Wylde - Trumpet; Justin Wrege - Trumpet; Ben Coulson - Snare Drum; Alyanna Maglaqui - Vibraphone

(please hold applause until end of piece)

Program Notes:

A very deservedly popular composition consisting of five contrasting variations on a lyrical Korean folk song. Stated first in unison by the woodwinds, the material is brilliantly explored & developed, & the use of Oriental harmonies is tastefully controlled. The percussion section is used extensively, both rhythmically & melodically.

Sòlas Ané

(Gaelic: Yesterday's Joy)

by Samuel R. Hazo

Program Notes:

Since Irish melodies translate so well to wind band Hazo couldn't pass up the opportunity. All of the themes in Sòlas Ané are original. Their creation was during one of the few times he sat down at the piano & actually came away with ideas. The main themes is introduced in A-flat at the beginning of the piece, then its second statement with full ensemble moves to E-flat. Following the first two appearances of the theme in a choral setting, the piece breaks into a jig in the middle section. The upper woodwinds introduce a new theme while the percussion lays the foundation with two syncopated rhythms playing off to each other. Simultaneously, the bass instruments are playing a minor key piper's drone & the middle instruments are playing the original chorale theme, now serving as a counter melody/harmony. Part two of the jig turns into a major based recapitulation. This time the upper woodwinds still play the jig while the rest of the ensemble plays the chordal harmony that accompanied the original theme. Following a bridge that moves the piece to F major, the main theme is brought back, this time with an alternate ending that concludes the piece. "Sòlas" & "Ané" are two Gaelic words meaning Joy (Sòlas) & Yesterday/Yesteryear ().

Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual

by Robert W. Smith

Soloists: Roger Dieterle - Congas; Isabella Gustoso - Piccolo; Andrew Orr - Bass Clarinet; Caroline Ritacco - Flute; Solana Villanueva - Bassoon; Sean Santos - Euphonium; Alyanna Maglaqui - Cowbells; Aidan Scarpelli - French Horn

Program Notes:

Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual is based on the primitive folk music of Western Africa. Inspired by the recording & research of Mr. Stephen Jay, the work features traditional ceremonial music for dance & entertainment as well as dynamic percussive invocations & historical songs.

African musicians feel that they bring life to their instruments just as God gives life to the musicians. As a result, individual instruments are believed to possess consciousness & are treated with the same respect & reverence given to an honored living person. The drum, the featured section in this work, is considered a sacred object as well as a musical instrument. It is believed to be endowed with a mysterious power, which has been incomprehensible to the many missionaries & early travelers on the African continent. As one listens, the mind experiences a wide range of emotions including joy, fear, hope & grief.

Honor Society Inductions

2021-2022 NHS Music Ensembles

On behalf of the students & staff, we would like to thank you for your continued support of the Nutley Music Program! Without your support, none of this would be possible!

Honor Band Ensemble Members 2021-2022

The College of New Jersey Honors Festival

Jacob Caney - Clarinet & Ethan Ramos - Mallet Percussion

North Jersey Area Band

Symphonic Band:

Jacob Caney - Clarinet (7th Chair)

Wind Ensemble:

Dorian Wylde - Trumpet (5th Chair)

Ethan Ramos - Mallet Percussion (2nd Chair)

Ben Coulson - Battery Percussion (1st Chair)

North Jersey School Music Association Region I Honor Band

Wind Ensemble:

Ethan Ramos - Mallet Percussion (1st Chair)

North Jersey School Music Association Jr. Region I Honor Band

Concert Band:

Alekaii Rosado - Tuba (1st Chair)

Save the date!

NMBA & FONS Joint General Membership Meeting

Thursday, May 12, 2022

7:00 P.M. (please enter through secure entrance on New Street) - NHS Room 100

NMBA Café Night

Saturday, May 14, 2022

6:00 P.M. (NHS gymnasium)

Memorial Day Parade Rehearsal (Marching Band)

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

3:00-4:00 P.M. (NHS - Room 100)

NHS Art Show

Performance by NHS Jazz Lab

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

6:00-8:00 P.M. (NHS Auxiliary Gym)

NMBA 47th Annual Music Awards Dinner

Thursday, May 26, 2022

7:00 P.M.

The Barnyard & Carriage House - Totowa, NJ

Memorial Day Parade (Marching Band)

Monday, May 30, 2022

NEF Sip & Savor Fundraising Event

Performance by NHS Jazz Lab

Thursday, June 16, 2022 @ The Kingsland Manor

Click this link for more details!

Nutley High School Graduation

ALL Band & Orchestra students are REQUIRED to perform

Thursday, June 23, 2022

10:00 A.M. (Park Oval)

Marching Band Home Camp

Wednesday, August 17 - Friday, August 19, 2022

Marching Band Away Camp (Camp Canadensis)

Sunday, August 21 - Thursday, August 25, 2022