Music
Small Instrumental Ensembles
Early Music Ensemble
Dr. John Benoit, Director
The Early Music Ensemble performs music written prior to 1700 on instruments that were in use at the time the music was composed. Recent performances have featured the recorders, sackbuts, violin, cello, organ and guitar.
The Simpson College music department received a grant from the Fred Maytag Family Foundation to fund the purchase of a set of sackbuts commissioned from a Dutch historical instrument manufacturer. A sackbut is a reproduction of a Renaissance trombone. This purchase has allowed the quartet to perform Renaissance music on period instruments.
Musical Samples:
(Please note, opens in a new window - may take a while to download)
- Dufay: Je sui aussi (14th-century), rec. 2006
- Anonymous-Germany: Heth sold ein meskin om wim (c. 1520), rec. 2004
- Cadéac: Our Father, God Celestial (c. 1540), rec. 2006
- Mainerio: Putta nera ballo furlano (1578), rec. 2004
- Anonymous-England: Nutmegs & Ginger(c. 1595), rec. 2005
- Tarditi: Pange lingua gloriosi (1650), rec. 2005
Flute Choir
The Flute Choir is a group that explores the repertoire of music arranged for the flute choir. With the full range of the bass flute to the piccolo, exciting sounds are produced. Students in the group include flute majors and non-majors.
Full Throttle Saxophone Quartet
Dr. Dave Camwell, Director
The Full Throttle Saxophone Quartet is comprised of saxophone majors, minors, and non-music majors. This group focuses on beginning core repertoire and the various roles within the quartet. Directed by Dr. Dave Camwell, this group performs several times each semester in master class and convocations.
Epic Fusion Saxophone Quartet
Dr. Dave Camwell, Director
The Epic Fusion Saxophone Quartet is an ensemble of saxophonists that is dedicated to the exploration and performance of a wide range of music. Under the direction of saxophone professor Dave Camwell, the ensemble has placed anemphasis upon learning the standard quartet repertoire such as the great music of Glazunow, Rivier, Desenclos, Bozza, Pierne, Francaix and Dubois. To supplement these originals, a diverse repertoire of transcriptions from the music of Gershwin, Byrd, Grainger, Bach and Haydn (to name a few) provide for interesting and varied concert literature as well as a marvelous insight in to the music of history’s greats.
The Epic Fusion Saxophone Quartet strives to uphold the highest of musical standards in chamber music performance. The group plans to perform throughout the college campus as well as the wider community.
Student Director
Contact Simpson College
800-362-2454 (toll-free)
or
515-961-6251 (locally)
Admissions:
800-362-1624 (toll-free)
or
515-961-1624 (locally)
Admissions office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mon through Fri
