Springfield Community Band’s children’s concert delights the young at heart

A crowd of eager listeners from infants to octogenarians filled the grassy Common on the evening of July 31 to hear the Springfield Community Band perform works ranging from traditional marches to a classical masterpiece composed with kids in mind.

www.vermontjournal.com

Springfield Community Band’s children’s concert delights the young at heart BY KAREN ENGDAHL, The Shopper August 8, 2018 SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – A crowd of eager listeners from infants to octogenarians filled the grassy Common on the evening of July 31 to hear the Springfield Community Band perform works ranging from traditional marches to a classical masterpiece composed with kids in mind. community band Bass player Ninja Turtle Tom Mintun and flutist Butterfly Sherry Wilumitis. Photo by Karen Engdahl. Band members wore colorful costumes to celebrate the occasion and included such characters as Harry Potter, a Holstein cow, a Teenage Mutant Ninja turtle, several members of the VonTrapp family of “Sound of Music” fame, and a beautiful butterfly. Led by Fritz Wendlandt (in full Leiderhosen), they kicked off the evening with the famous “Washington Post March.” Emcee Pat Ankuda informed the audience that the march had been composed to honor the winner of an 1889 essay contest held by the Washington Post newspaper. The band played the march with gusto and was able to reprise the piece a little later when Ankuda invited children forward to serve as guest “conductors.” Featured as soloist in a medley of “Sound of Music” hits was soprano Grace Thompson whose lovely voice captivated the audience. After the medley Ankuda helped quell any restlessness by inviting children of all ages to join in the “Hokey Pokey.” community band Narrator for “Peter and the Wolf,” Eleanor Konings, in costume. Photo by Karen Engdahl. A highlight of the concert was the performance of Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf.” In 1936, Sergei Prokofiev was commissioned by Natalya Sats, the director of the Central Children’s Theatre in Moscow, to write a musical symphony for children. The intent was to introduce children to the individual instruments of the orchestra by using a narrator to describe characters as musicians provided “illustrations.” The work debuted at a children’s concert in the main hall of the Moscow Conservatory with the Moscow Philharmonic May 2, 1936. The American premiere took place in March 1938, with Prokofiev himself conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall with Richard Hale narrating. Springfield’s narrator, teenager Eleanor Konings, explained that she likes to think of herself as a “storyteller.” Her flawless execution of the role brought the music to life. Konings has also performed the role with the Upper Valley Community Band. The Springfield Community Band’s final concert for the season was Tuesday, Aug. 7 at the Hartness House Inn in Springfield. More information about the band is available on their Facebook page.