Staff Writer
Sunday at the Caribou Performing Arts Center, the Caribou High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Vaughn McLaughlin, presented an Evening at the Wind Symphony.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
The Caribou High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble, directed by Vaughn McLaughlin, presented an Evening at the Wind Symphony, which included a guest appearance by Sen. Susan Collins narrating the second half of the concert during the performance of “Lincoln Portrait.”
The special event was highlighted by Sen. Susan Collins making a guest appearance, assuming the role of narrator in the second half of the concert when the symphonic band members played the music of Aaron Copland/transcribed by Walter Beeler, “Lincoln Portrait.”
As band members filed back onto the stage, taking their seats for the highly anticipated performance, McLaughlin introduced Sen. Collins to the audience, thanking her for re-arranging her schedule to be able to participate in the evening’s concert.
Sen. Collins briefly addressed the band members, McLaughlin and the audience, commenting on the honor of being asked to take part in this special concert which was dedicated to the honor of the 200th birthday of President Lincoln and Caribou’s 150th.
Sen. Collins read a letter from President Barack Obama directed to the CHS band and the city of Caribou congratulating both on being part of the country’s history, via individuals and the culture of this area. The framed letter was presented to the band director.
The evening’s concert opened with “The Flight of the Bumble-bee,” symphony number 2, “The Odyssey.”
This performance was done in four movements, “The Iliad, “The Winds of Poseidon, “The Isle of Calypso” and “Ithaca.” The symphonic piece follows Odysseus through battle in the city of Troy, raging fires, his weakness regarding the powers of Poseidon and the Sirens, whose singing was said to lure sailors to their deaths upon the rocks.
In the third movement, “The Isle of Calypso.” Odysseus is faced with staying with Calypso who promises him immortality or returning to his beloved Penelope. In the final movement, Odysseus sails for his homeland, once again facing the wrath of Poseidon.
Throughout this entire piece, the Caribou High School Wind Symphonic Ensemble musicians, re-enforced once again, just how much talent the youth of Caribou have. If anyone in the audience had familiarized themselves with the story behind this symphony performance (which was provided within the program), all one had to do was listen, with eyes closed and through the wonderful music and creative sounds, one could easily pictures the battles, the wheels on the warrior horse being rolled into the city of Troy, the crackling of the raging fire (courtesy of band members crinkling paper), the raging winds and waves of the sea and the tempting notes of promises on the Isle of Calypso.
In the second half of the evening, prior to “Lincoln Portrait,” with Sen. Collins, the musicians presented Variations on ‘America,’ by Charles Ives. This piece filled the CPAC auditorium with a wonderful variety of the popular song combining peaceful, to crisp military marching beats to whimsical notes, all connecting in perfectly clear notes, courtesy of the young musicians right down to the final rim-shot.
If the evening’s performance hadn’t already run the emotional course from battle to pride, the final piece certainly struck just the right note. With the 40-piece ensemble taking deep breaths, the thunder outside was nothing to the thunder inside the auditorium as the stirring notes of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” resounded throughout.
Truly — a classy performance all around.
Members of the Caribou Middle and High School choruses, alumni were also participants in the production. All proceeds from the concert were to benefit the Caribou Music Building Fund.
It’s Caribou’s 150th Birthday — Be a part of it! The CHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble certainly was.
