What: International Military Band Concert
Where: Royal Theatre
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $18, Royal box office, 250-386-6121
When one thinks of military bands, krumping isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.
Krumping is a style of hip-hop-influenced street dance that originated in the streets of South Central Los Angeles. Tremendously energetic, it’s widely viewed as a non-violent alternative to gang violence.
On Friday, Victoria’s Naden Band hosts a joint military band concert at the Royal Theatre. One of the most challenging pieces on the program is a composition titled Krump, said Lt. Matthew Clark, Naden Band’s director, who’s conducting the performance.
Krump was created by Scott McAllister. He’s an American composer who writes music for concert bands, sometimes with an unorthodox, contemporary twist. His X Concerto (arranged for piano, wind ensemble or orchestra) is influenced by grunge bands such as Alice in Chains and Nirvana. Black Dog, for clarinet and wind ensemble, takes its name and inspiration from a Led Zeppelin song.
And then there’s Krump, which McAllister describes as “fast as fiery music” intended to emulate the passion and energy of urban dance.
Alternating between fast and slow passages, the piece is rhythmically tricky, Clark says. And it’s unusual. For instance, Krump requires that a “big cymbal” be attached to the bass drum. “So when the drummer hits it, it makes this really obnoxious, vibrating sound. It sounds like the back end of a car, you know, with the bass [sound system],” Clark said.
Friday’s International Military Band Concert features not only the 35-member Naden band, but members of Vancouver’s Band of the 15th Field Regiment and the Navy Band Northwest from Silverdale, Washington. The out-of-town recruits will swell the ensemble to about 50 members.
The concert’s diverse program includes Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat Major, Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov, Marche Militaire Francaise by Camille Saint-Saens and a movement from Symphony No. 1, The Lord of the Rings by Johan de Meij.
Founded in 1992, the annual International Military Band Concerts traditionally feature musicians from Canada, the U.S. and other countries. This is the second time it has been hosted by the Naden Band.
It’s a busy time for this Royal Canadian Navy ensemble, one of only two regular-force naval bands in the country. The Naden Band just finishing recording two discs: Portraits of Excellence and Snapshots of Excellence.
In July, the Naden Band will record once again. It’s collaborating on an album of original music by Vancouver composer Robert Buckley. Buckley has composed extensively for film and TV, as well as the FIFA World Cup and the Calgary Olympics.
Clark says Buckley approached him after being impressed by the Naden Band last year at a Ladner music festival.
“It’s significant. I’m a big fan of Canadian music, Canadian content. And to have such a heavyweight like that, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” he said.
Clark took over as Naden Band director in 2011. A conductor and euphonium player, he originally intended to become a music teacher after studying at the University of Toronto. He first became a military musician with a reserve band in Ottawa in the summer months. In 1997, he successfully auditioned as a euphonium player for the regular forces.
Friday’s concert helps celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Naden Band. Another major Naden anniversary event is a concert Sept. 11 at the Royal Theatre, featuring current and past members.
The Naden Band plays more than 200 concerts (in various configurations) annually. Clark says he enjoys the fact the ensemble participates in a wide diversity of events
“We can go from playing a very ritzy ball at Government House for the lieutenant-governor to playing standup gigs on the shoreline outside Chemainus.”
