Trumpets were stacked higher and higher as the last musicianpretended a strain in lifting his piccolo trumpet onto the top. Thethree men holding their instruments swayed to one side, thenanother as Chinese acrobat music played in the background. Arrivingat Emens auditorium Saturday night, the audience expected to see amusical performance featuring the Dallas Brass. What they received,was a comedic troupe chock full of information and instrumentaltalent.
"They're very entertaining.When you can combine that technicaltalent with entertainment, you're going to be a hit with theaudience," audience member Chris Bennett said.
Dallas Brass, a six-member brass and percussion group, performedwith the Muncie Symphony Orchestra in their fourth annualFisher-Shafer Pops Concert. The ensemble, founded by Michael Levinein 1983, played pieces ranging from classical to Beatles Medleys toswing and rag. In between songs, Levine gave the audienceinformation about the instruments and the history of certainmusical eras. There were also a couple of comedic breaks like thetrumpet stack.
"Should I be concerned that that got more applause than anypiece we've played so far?" Levine asked.
A group member also ran up and down the aisles of the auditoriumpassing out business cards and many songs included random dancingand solos. One song required all six members to sit in a line onstools and create music by hitting their thighs, chests and headswith their hands.�
"Should I mention that this took us seven and a half months tolearn?" Levine said.
Audience members came for many reasons, including season ticketsto the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and a like for music.
"I brought my grandson to expose him to music. He's starting toplay the trombone," John Dondes said.�
The Muncie Symphony Orchestra was joined by the Muncie CentralSelect Choir and the Muncie Southside Singers, to accompany DallasBrass in their Tribute to Irving Berlin.
"What George Washington is to our nation. What Babe Ruth is tobaseball.� Iriving Berlin is to music in America," Levinesaid.�
Although the audience had trouble hearing the choir, the fourensembles did a rendition of "God Bless America."
"It's patriotic and we're singing in unison so it's prettyeasy," ninth grader Tanya Beckman said. "We practiced today and itsounds really good."
The audience gave a standing ovation, bringing the Dallas Brassback for two encore songs. They walked through the auditoriumplaying swing music that had everyone clapping again.
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