EIN KLEINES-GROSSES
KONZERT NO.II
We would like to thank Alfred Reed class of 1972 for this great trip back to our youth. He not only preserved this album, but digitized it so that we may all enjoy it again. The synopsis of the making of the album and his memories of that night add to this wonderful piece of our past.
Remembrances of the Spring Concert
Ein Kleines-Grosses Konzert No. II of April 25, 1967
By William Alfred Reed (’72)
As I recall, Mr. John W. Robbins wanted to give the “annual” spring concerts a little pizzazz with a special name. Mr. Robbins was the Music Department Chairman, as well as director of all the instrumental groups. Perhaps he chose the German language in the tradition of the German classical composers and concertmasters. At any rate, the name of the 1967 concert became “Ein Kleines–Grosses Konzert No. II.” He told us that that it roughly meant concert of the little ones and the big ones. That was because of the 6-year span of the students in the music department: 7th grade through 12th grade. You can certainly tell the difference in experience levels as you listen to the record.
In those days, school concerts typically coincided with PTA meetings. It was a good way to get a good meeting attendance and concert crowd and kill two birds with one stone. Mr. Robbins told us, however, that this concert would be special in that we’d be making it into a record. I’m sure others may have a better recollection of all this, since I was a mere 7th grader at the time (but I stuck with it and eventually was in the marching/concert band and the orchestra). The record itself was produced by Houston Electronics Company, which was a recording studio no longer in business…gone the way of other Houston studios. I remember seeing the recording engineers in front of the stage with their big open reel recording machines and microphones.
Besides Mr. Robbins, the other music department leaders were Ms. Bette Lou Brown and Mr. Jack L. Novak who were choral instructors and directors. The marching band drum major (aka concert band) was Wallace Scott, and the concert choir president was Glenn Parrott. The choir’s pianist was freshman Susan Sutton.
Mr. Robbins wore a formal cutaway and a ruffled white shirt that night, as he did for all our concerts.
I’ll do my best to credit the record tracks. My memory isn’t perfect, and I welcome corrections!
Side One
1. Alma Mater (Hail to Thee O Madison), written by our own John W. Robbins. Performed by the Concert Choir and Concert Band.
2. Our First March. Beginning Strings
3. Once in Love with Amy. Junior Chorus
4. Theme and Variation. Beginning Band
5. Music from West Side story. Girls Chorus.
6. Adagio. Advanced Orchestra.
7. La Boomba. Intermediate Band (misspelled “Bommba” on the label).
8. This is My Country. Concert Choir
Side Two
1. Adoramus Te Christ. Concert Choir
2. Praise Ye The Lord. Concert Choir
3. Country Style. Concert Choir
4. Battle Hymn of the Republic.
5. American Folk Rhapsody. Concert Band
6. The Three Jets. Stage Band.
7. America the Beautiful. Combined Band and Choir. (Label says “From Sea to Shining Sea”)
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