Band FinalSalute to American JazzSalute to American Jazz is a collection of 4 songs. It features some of the most famously known pieces of jazz music composed in the 1900s. The song starts off with a variation of A Night in Tunisia, and then goes to the actual song. The song was written by John Dizzy Gillespie. This song was written in 1942. The song is a jazz standard and has a famous melody. Many instruments have a feature soli and melody in this song . In addition, it has a Latin rhythm which was different from the usual jazz pieces. He was inspired by the Cuban trumpeter Mario Bauza. This song also gave way to bebop, a newer form of jazz. In the song, the tempo is fast and the key is D-minor. The next song is St. Louis Blues.The song was written by W.C. Handy and published in 1914. W.C. Handy was the father of the blues. The song was inspired when the writer met with someone who's husband passed away. This gave the song a blues feel. In addition, the song is a repeated melody of a main tune which goes like' My man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea. This line is repeated frequently with different variations. The song is the most famous blues song of all time. It features syncopated melodies from different parts of the band of this mournful tragedy of a woman and the loss of her husband. Being a blues song, the rhythms are scattered and mournful, yet telling and pleasing.The song has had 100s of different variations of it sung by many of the most famous artists ever, which adds to its universal nature. The next song is It Don't Mean a Thing by Duke Ellington. The song was released in 1932. It was the first to use the term swing, which is a small change in the melody throughout a song. Duke Ellington was also called a prophet as this song led way to the swing era. It has been adopted by many renowned jazz singers and instrumentalists, including Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. The song itself is in minor and at the end, becomes major tone. It is mostly in E minor key. The saxophone and trumpet appear to have a melody in this song, with the trombones playing a counter melody. The lyrics It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing are arguably some of the most famous of all time and represent the typical jazz musician's mentality. The next song is Birdland of the band Weather Report. The song was written by Joe Zawinul in 1977. Joe Zawinul was an Austrian jazz keyboardist. This song was a tribute to a New York Jazz Club that Joe Zawinul was inspired by. It especially honored Charlie Parker, the saxophone playing bird. In the instrumental version, the synthesizer plays a huge role, along with the saxophone and trumpet who have the main melodies. The song has multiple melodies and is a complex jazz piece. The song is a combination of many previous forms of jazz, hence the name jazz fusion. This song is a tribute to some of the most famous jazz compositions and standards, and holds a wide collection of jazz styles from bebop to blues to swing to fusion.

The Best of Journey

Another song played in the concert was the Best of Journey. Journey was a rock band created in 1973 that disbanded in 1987 and rejoined in 1995. The band is still present today with a very different set of members than it had at its start. Led by Steve Perry in the 80s, four of their most famous songs are featured in this collection. The first song is Don't Stop Believing. which was released in 1981. Don't Stop Believing was initially was not popular and failed to receive any real popularity until today. However, after its appearance on modern T.V. Shows like Glee, it has gained tremendous acclaim. The song has been widely performed by the Glee Cast, after which it became hugely popular. Steve Perry is credited with tremendous vocal range and power in this song, and the keyboard melody is one of the most famous in history. The story of the song is about a couple born and raised in South Detroit. The song's structure is instrumental, first verse, instrumental, second verse, first pre-chorus, instrumental, third verse, second pre-chorus, instrumental,and only at the very end is there a full chorus. The structure of this song is very different from most others as it only features a main chorus at the end, unlike most others. It is in the key of E-major. The next song in this collection is Separate Worlds(Worlds Apart). which was released in 1983.The song is extremely heavy rock. It was written when 2 of the band members were struggling in life. The song itself features mainly vocals and keyboard in the original and in this instrumental version, features a trumpet melody. The song has been criticized heavily for its video, and has been named as having one of the worst accompanying videos of all time. Next, Open Arms was played which was released in 1983. This song is a power ballad, a story about a man asking for forgiveness to his lover. The song was written by Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain, and is well-known for its lyrical and relatively soft and peaceful rock. In the instrumental version, the flutes have a main melody, after which they are followed by a crescendo until an ending saxophone solo. The song is in the D-key. The final song played is Anyway You Want it which was released in 1980. In the original version, the song is heavily based on the guitar riff and the powerful vocals. The song was inspired by a band Thin Lizzy who Journey spent a lot of time with. The basic structure of the song included a back and forth switch between guitar and vocals. Even in the version which was played in the concert, the same pattern is prevalent. Different instruments have the melody and it goes back-and-forth between the various instruments. Almost all the instruments have a main melody in this final closer. It is in the G-key. This is a tribute to one of the most famous rock bands in America. Although they never reached the top in the 80s, when these songs were released, they gradually became extremely famous. Many of their songs appeared in movies and Glee, which ultimately made them famous. Steve Perry is credited as one of the best singers of all time and made this band what it is.

The Beatles:1964!

Next, The Beatles-1964! was played. It is a band consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. This is a collection of a few of the songs the Beatles released in this year. These songs in this collection were also included in their World Tour of that year. In this mix, the first song was I Want to Hold Your Hand.This song was released in late 1963, and reached number one on Billboard top 100 early 1964. This song was the first Beatles' song to reach number one in the U.S. This song was written almost to specifically appeal to American listeners. This song is a typical upbeat pop song and a very generic one in terms of lyrics or sound. The song is in G-key, and many chords are present throughout the song. The trumpets have the main melody and the remainder of the band has a da-da for the majority of the piece. There is a big ritard and the next song is And I Love Her. Released in July of 1964, The song became very popular as well, becoming the 2nd most covered Beatles song. The song was inspired by Jane Asher. In the original, Paul McCartney wrote and sang the entire song. In the band version, the euphonium and french horn have solis in the first part, and then there is a saxophone and flute solo for the remainder of the song. The dynamics are very soft, around mezzo piano. The song is once again, heavily based on chords. The type of song is a ballad, and the song switches keys throughout. The entire mood of the piece changes and the tempo increases, the dynamics become loud, and there is the third song, Twist and Shout. This song is very unique as the Beatles did not originally write it. It was written in 1961 by 2 people, Phil Medley and Bert Berns. John Lennon wrote and sang the Beatles' version with a severe cough. It became a hit, and then, the Beatles took the original song idea and did their own version on it. It is most famous for its tremendous vocal and instrumental energy. It reached the top charts with much ease. Most of the instruments have a major part, and in the first part of it, the trumpets have a melody, and the rest of the band has another. Both sides go back and forth, until the entire band has a unison melody for the remainder of the song. This collection is about the Beatle's and some of their most famous hits in the year of 1964. This is a tribute of their many styles, from upbeat to melodic, and their tremendous popularity, as one of the most famous rock bands of all time.

Michael Jackson:Through the Years

After this, Michael Jackson: Through the Years was played. This piece is a collection of 5 of Michael Jackson's works arranged in chronological order of when he performed them. He was the most famous pop singer of all time and released a few of the best selling song of all time. Before becoming a legendary singer, he was part of a family child band, the Jackson 5 that also received some fame and was a lead singer in that as well. Some songs from this collection are from his time there as well. First, a theme from Man in the Mirror is played, before transitioning into I Want You Back. It is an R&B song and was first performed in 1969. After a bass clarinet solo, the song goes into a main melody played by different instruments each time, after which the entire band plays a common melody. The song is in A-flat major. Next, I'll Be There is played. This was not originally written by the Jackson 5, but was performed by them in 1970. It became an instant #1 hit single, and started the rise of Michael Jackson. The song's amazing melody was its best point. It starts off with a saxophone/clarinet solo duet of the main theme and then goes on to combine multiple instruments playing the same theme with variances. The tempo is very slow, and the song starts off piano and builts up to a mf before dying off. It is in F-major. The next song is much different, Rock With You. It was written by Rod Temperton and sung by Michael Jackson in 1979.This was himself performing, unlike the first 2 songs. This song reached #1 and was one of the most famous works of his. It is a melodic ballad while having great energy. Starting off slow with a softer flute melody, it progresses into combining the entire band in a forte. This song was one that ultimately sealed Michael Jackson's famous career. Following this was the most famous song of all time, Thriller. It was released in 1982, and in one year became the best selling album of all time. Most critics agree this was one of the most influential works of all time.The song is a mix of rock, disco, funk, pop, and other styles, as well as supernatural elements giving it a universal appeal, and a reason to its fame. The song's melody features lower woodwinds and brass, and is heavily accented. The entire band plays the melody from the song, after joining in, led by the trumpets. It is in the Key of C-Sharp. The final song is Man in the Mirror. It was released in 1988 and became #1 on the charts. This song was heavily praised for its message, melody, and vocals. It was not written by Michael Jackson, but by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett. The song was dedicated to a Japanese boy, Yoshiaki Ogiwara who was killed. When Michael Jackson was facing many issues, he wrote this to the entire world. The band plays different chords and melodies together for majority of the song. It's extremely melodic nature signifies the message it gives- look at yourself and change yourself so the world is better. All in all, these 5 songs showcase the length and success of Michael Jackson's career. Many of today's songs are based off of Michael Jackson's works and the influence from them.

Solas Ane

Solas Ane was also a song played. This is composed by Samuel Hazo, and is adapted from Gaelic melodies. Samuel Hazo has composed many works and is well-known for many of his award-winning compositions. The name means Yesterday's Joy. The song features piccolo and flute solos at the beginning, a low and dim background going into the grace-noted melodies by the flute/piccolo parts. The song gradually builds up until the middle, when the tone changes. The saxophone has a counter-melody, and the other sections separate melodies as well. At this stage, the dynamics have reached a fortissimo. After a ritard, the song goes back into a wistful melody, with a french horn feature. The band plays a soft melody, until another buildup near the end, when the trumpets have a melody and the tempo changes to the one at the start of the song. After switching to a woodwind chorus, the song dies down and ends. A unique feature of this song is the emphasis on the percussion The percussion plays forte fortissimo in most of their parts and are even given main parts in the song at the climax. This is unique as it contrasts from the style the remainder of the band plays in. Articulations are given a great emphasis as well. This song is harmonic and puts emphasis in the chords and tones achieved from the instruments and their combinations of sounds.