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* Official *
Durfee High School
Music Department

Durfee High Marching Band

360 Elsbree Street
Fall River, Massachusetts 02720-7230
Music Department Tel. (508) 675-8185
School Tel. (508)675-8100 * Fax (508)675-8186
Visit the high school website at: http://www.durfeehigh.com


Introduction

The Durfee Music Department consists of these following groups:
1) Concert/Marching Band, *Matthew McMullen*
2) Jazz Ensemble, * Matthew McMullen*
3) Orchestra, *Judith Bento*
4) String Orchestra, *Judith Bento*
5) Chorus, *Jane Fiore-Bigelow*


What Is What?
Concert Band contains instruments from the wind, brass, & percussion family. Most members in Concert Band are also members of the Marching Band. This group plays a variety of songs by composers such as Eric Whitacre, Robert W. Smith & Aaron Copland. The Concert Band performs at the Christmas & Spring Concerts.

Marching Band consists of the same basic instruments from Concert Band, but also includes Drum Majors & Colorguard. You must audition to be a part of these groups. The Marching Band has won various top awards and ratings at in & out of state competitions.

Jazz Ensemble is a group that plays jazz songs. It is also known as a Stage Band. There are 4 main sections to the Stage Band. There are the saxophone, trumpets, trombones, and the rhythm section (also known as the percussion section.) The rhythm section consists of a drummer, pianist, bassist & a guitarist. We have a few flute players, but they are not allowed to compete with us. That is because a traditional Jazz Ensemble doesn't have flutes. There are also vocalists that perform a few songs with the Jazz Band. There are two parts to our Jazz Ensemble. There is the full band and the competition band. To be a part of the competition band, you must audition for it. There can be so many members in each section for the competiton part of it.

Orchestra is a group that has strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion in one group. This is usually known as Full Orchestra. The majority of the instruments in this group are the string players. The string sections are the violins, violas, cellos & string bass (a.k.a. double bass.) The other sections are the flutes, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, saxophones, & percussion. I believe you do not have to audition for this group.

String Orchestra is a group that consits of only the strings. Ocassionally, there will be solos and /or accompiaments from non-string members. Most string players in full orchestra are also in string orchestra.



When Do These Groups Meet?
Three out of the four groups meet during Block C. Orchestra meets three times a week. Members with an appropriate instrument can take Jazz Ensemble twice a week to make a 5 day week. If you don't play an instrument appropriate for Jazz Ensemble, you may take String Orchestra which meets twice a week also. Concert/Marching Band meets during Block D. You can take it 5 days a week, 3 or 2 days a week to have it fit accordingly to your schedule. The marching season is from late August when Band Camp starts and the season runs through early December. Then we switch over to concert season. We pick up marching in late February again.



Performances
In order to recieve full credit at the end of the year, all members must attend two concerts: the Christmas Concert in December, and the Spring Concert in May. An exception may be for members who only join for half the year (one semester) and depending on which semester, he or she may not have to perform in 2 concerts. Besides doing two mandatory concerts, there are also outside performances. For Marching Band they perform at various events such as Fall River Celebrates America, Music Town Festival in Somerset, home football games & area parades. They do not perform at the 2 concerts. Concert Band does perform at the two concerts, but rarely have outside performances because most members perform with the Marching Band. For Jazz Ensemble, we are the only group that does not perform for Christmas. We don't play Christmas Songs because of the type of music group we are. We do give a "Christmas" concert at the Food Court in the Swansea Mall in mid December. We do play at the spring concert with Orchestra & String Orchestra. Jazz Ensemble may also go on tour around the city like performing at local schools and businesses. Orchestra performs at both concerts and we also go on tour around the city to local schools and businesses.



Note
Currently there is no information about Chorus here. Right now I am just concentrating on the groups that I am in myself. Once I get information about Chorus, I will be posting the information up. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy your stay here!



Here's an easier address to remember for this site:
http://DHSMusic.cjb.net


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