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We at the Oswego High School Band Department are saddened by the current social injustices faced by the African American community, which are only the most recent in hundreds of years of inequality and persecution. We stand with our African American students, families, community, and people of all color and denounce racism in all of its forms. As musicians, we have the special ability to unite and heal through our music. With that in mind, we would like to share this recording of Come Sunday, by African American composer Omar Thomas. The Wind Symphony, our top band, was working extremely hard on this piece before the shutdown and was planning on performing it at the end of the year concerts as well as at graduation. This work is significant not only in that there are very few African American composers for concert band currently, but in the message of the work itself.
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“Come Sunday is a two-movement tribute to the Hammond organ’s central role in black worship services. The first movement, "Testimony", follows the Hammond organ as it readies the congregation’s hearts, minds, and spirits to receive The Word via a magical union of Bach, blues, jazz and R&B. The second movement, "Shout!", is a virtuosic celebration-the frenzied and joyous climatic moments when The Spirit has taken over the service.
The title is a direct nod to Duke Ellington, who held an inspired love for classical music and allowed it to influence his own work in a multitude of ways. To all the black musicians in wind ensemble who were given opportunity after opportunity to celebrate everyone else’s music but our own-I see you and I am you. This one’s for the culture!” -Omar Thomas |
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Some of our seniors got together, social distancing style of course, to make some music and have some fun.
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Like most events, our annual Band Bandquet was cancelled this year. We have tons of deserving kids though, so check out the video to see this year's awards!!!
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Usually at our last concerts of the year, we recognize our seniors on four years of musical accomplishments and great memories. Even though our concerts were cancelled, we could not let these students go without saying goodbye.
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