43
Lloyd travels from ‘Bach to Beatles’
Photo
Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Doug Pullen’s April 3 presentation promised a journey from “Bach to Beatles.” The musician indeed ended his presentation with the Fab Four, and a group of Lloyd students and music teacher Debby Fabian (left) offered tambourine accompaniment during Pullen’s medley.
Photo
Neighbors | Sarah Foor .During his visit to Lloyd on April 3, instrumentalist Doug Pullen talked about the invention of the saxophone and its inventor, Adolphe Sax. Pullen explained that early saxophone had a mouth piece similar to a trumpet, and had Lloyd students listen to the difference in sound the instrument made with the brass mouth piece.
By SARAH FOOR
With only a saxophone in hand, Doug Pullen used music to travel back to the 1600s and to the current day during his visit to Lloyd Elementary on April 3.
Pullen’s presentation, named “Bach to Beatles,” explored musical history and the importance of the saxophone in the current musical landscape.
The sax soloist began with Pachebel’s “Canon in D+” and Mourets’ “Fanfare” and urged Lloyd students to explore their imaginations.
“These tunes are probably familiar even if you don’t know the names. I want you to think back to the 1600s as I play these selections and think of big European castles, palace gates, and kings and queens,” Pullen said.
Each of Pullen’s musical melodies explored a different time period and even varying parts of the world. The instrumentalist showed how rhythms and arrangements in particular countries can make the same piece of music unique, by playing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in the musical style of Scotland, Jamaica, China and central Africa.
Pullen discussed the invention of the saxophone by Adolphe Sax and the many dangerous mishaps the inventor suffered along his journey to create the instrument.
The musician participated in a question-and-answer session with the Lloyd students. One student asked why the saxophone was Pullen’s favorite.
“I’ve played other instruments, but I’ve spent about 52 years of my life focusing on saxophones. They’re such a versatile instrument and I think they’re one of the most important sounds in music in the last century,” Pullen explained.
The saxophonist proved his point with a medley of modern songs that included “In the Mood,” “Careless Whispers,” as well as the theme songs from the “Pink Panther” and “The Simpsons.” The show ended with the Beatles and a group of Lloyd students and music teacher Debby Fabian helped keep the beat on tambourines as Pullen played a mix of favorites from the rock legends.