The [fill in the blank] ensemble reinvented?

The New York Times has an interesting article, titled “The String Quartet Reinvented,” about David Harrington’s (violinist and founder of the Kronos Quartet) role in broadening the stylistic oeuvre of string quartets and reinventing this type of ensemble. In addition to reminding me that some of my favorite groups are chamber groups and small ensembles such as the Kronos Quartet, Ethel, SO Percussion, and the many configurations of Bang on a Can, the article provoked a resurfacing of a question I often contemplate:

To what extent have ensembles in schools been reinvented or broadened?

I recently had the pleasure of working with some phenomenal high school musicians in the Symphonic Band at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference (TMEA). At the invitation of my colleague Gary Hill, who was the conductor and clinician for the Symphonic Band, and with the assistance of SoundTree, I brought a variety of electronic instruments and effects processors such as Kaossilators, a KAOSS Pad, a WAVEDRUM, and an HPD-15 drum pad with the goal of having students use the electronic instruments/devices in conjunction with their instruments to create improvised interludes that incorporated aspects of the music on their program. The students who volunteered to take on this task formed two groups. With only about an hour (plus an extra couple of minutes here and there) of time to engage with the instruments, structure their improvised interludes, and practice playing together each group rose to the occassion. Their structured improvised interludes were played live at the concert between works on the program.

The first group consisted of two percussionists playing the electronic drum pads, three students playing trumpet, two students playing tuba, a student playing trombone, two students playing Kaossilators, a student playing alto clarinet and another student using a microphone and the KAOSS pad to process the alto clarinet’s sound. The second group consisted of a saxophone quartet and a student controlling a microphone, selecting which saxophones to amplify, and processing their sound with a Kaoss Pad. What would you call these groups? One might have referred to them as chamber groups, small ensembles, electro-acoustic ensembles, digital-acoustic hybrid ensembles etc. Whatever their name, just as in other types of ensembles they drew upon their musicianship, technique, and listening skills.

In addition to the presence of electronics in these small groups the symphonic band performed Rusty Air in Carolina by composer Mason Bates that integrated the use of a laptop, drum pad controller, and electronic music. Mason Bates performed along with the band with the electronics as an integral part of the work. The music was fabulous and I highly recommend checking out his work if you are unfamiliar with it.

I left the TMEA experience confident with the idea that students can perform and create music in ensembles that incorporate both electric and acoustic instruments. How many of these types of ensembles exist in schools, however?

In 2005 I wondered if anyone included the use of laptops in their ensembles. I still wonder to what extent school music programs are providing opportunities for students to perform and create music in varied ensemble configurations that include diverse acoustic and electronic instrumentation and even laptops?

Reinventing and broadening ensembles need not include electronics or computers.

I was pleasantly suprised several months ago when I attended a school concert in Arizona and learned that the “band” included students who played the tabla; electric and acoustic guitars; keyboards; a variety of wind, percussion, and string instruments and sang. Additionally it seems an increasing number of schools include varied ensembles that perform popular music in garageband-like configurations.

Might we reinvent, broaden or modify ensembles in our schools? Might we commission or have students create music for new or expanded ensembles?

Might there be an article in the New York Times some day about the reinvention of the school ensemble?