AS I HEARD IT … By Morton Gold

WELLS — While the Strafford Wind Symphony had to deal with music-loving bees last year, on July 2, the biggest challenges were unruly gusts of wind when it performed to the delight of several hundred people at the Hope Hobbs Gazebo.

Let it be said that this symphony – made up of music teachers, retired musicians and folks from multiple professions, along with a sprinkling of students – is one of the best of its kind that this reviewer has ever heard.

Indeed, it deserves to be described as a wind symphony rather than merely a band. It plays with excellent intonation, perfect cohesiveness and a quality that I can only describe as first-rate musicianship.

This quality is either there or it is not. It’s there, and can be credited to conductor Bruce Gatchell as well as to his assistant, Jeffrey Smith.

The performance of our National Anthem at the outset gave me much pleasure. Why?

Because it has been my unhappy experience to hear the anthem mangled untold times by singers who add notes and embellish phrases in the name of artistic license. Desecrating the flag, even though protected by law, would give offense to most people – doing the same to the anthem seems to be accepted. I think that we are the only country that would tolerate this sort of thing.

The program that followed contained an eclectic mix of music in a variety of styles. After the National Anthem, Gatchell handed the baton to Smith, who performed a spirited new work, “Bright Lights,” composed by Robert Sheldon. This was followed by an arrangement by Jay Bocook from the music of “The Force Awakens” by John Williams.

Concluding this set, Smith conducted the Spanish-flavored “El Cor.” Gatchell led the group in an arrangement of Gershwin’s “Summertime,” with Elaine Gatchell providing an artistic rendition of the solo.

A real novelty followed as three soloists played the xylophone. David Long, Julie Gretchen and Amanda Stark performed the solos of Norman Leyden’s “Serenade on a Picket Fence” with verve, and the ensemble played with what I could describe as joyful abandon.

An arrangement of Stephen Sondheim’s 1987 show “Into the Woods” followed. Baritone John Plummer provided the vocal solo to “The House I Live In” by Nick Zaricki. The words are as meaningful today as when they were written some 70-plus years ago.

The half was brought to a close with a medley from Frank Loesser’s “Guys and Dolls” arranged by Calvin Custer. The ensemble in this beautiful arrangement was particularly exceptional.

In the second half, the program continued with John Philip Sousa’s “Belle of Chicago” concert march. One should note that Gatchell (to his credit) chose to perform a march not frequently performed. For that, he deserves thanks. The balance in this performance was all that one could wish for. Bravo.

Smith took over the reins for a sensitive reading of “The Seal Lullaby” by Eric Whitacre, then Gatchell returned to lead a performance of symphonic dance No. 3 by Cliflton Williams.

Traditional selections rounded out the concert: ”Armed Forces Salute,” “Stars and Stripes Forever,” showtunes and Plummer’s return as vocalist in “Summer Wind” and “Night and Day.”

This was a musically challenging program given by a virtuoso group of musicians, and I counted myself fortunate to have experienced it.

— Morton Gold is a composer/ conductor, retired educator and an arts reviewer for the Journal Tribune.