Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
Image from here.On Thursday afternoon, November 1st, the Grammy-nominated wind quintet Imani Winds offered a demonstration of their instruments and the quintet to Elementary School students from Toby Farms school in Chester and the Swarthmore-Rutledge school district in the Lang Concert Hall.
The members of the quintet started playing a piece by flutist Valerie Coleman that she described to the audience as being African in style. As they played they gradually regrouped onstage and began their performance and demonstration. The hour was filled with short performances of pieces from a variety of musical styles from French scherzos and dance music to Afro-Cuban music.
In between the short performances each member of the quintet briefly introduced their instruments in a very lively and engaging way to the excited young students. The students learned that oboes and bassoons used double reeds whereas the clarinet used a single reed, and that although flutes are today often made of metal they used to be made out of wood and are therefore included in the woodwind family. When one student asked why a brass instrument was included in a woodwind quintet Jeff Scott, who plays the French horn in the quintet, said it was because it was the only instrument in the tenor range that could play softly enough to blend in with other woodwinds while still being able to play loudly.
The members of the quintet were constantly engaging the students who were obviously very interested and excited to be there, and who had a good time. They also performed musical feats for their audience. Oboist Toyin Spellman-Diaz played Mary Had a Little Lamb and the theme from the Harry Potter movies on command. And the afternoon concluded with everyone playing their highest and lowest note and a contest to see who could play the longest. Clarinetist Mariam Adam won that challenge by playing for 28 (rather long) counts.Be sure to check out Imani Winds this Sunday with Orchestra 2001 to be in on the fun!