Spartan Spectacular is . . . spectacular

by James Andersen

Music filled the Breslin Center as Michigan State’s music department produced Spartan Spectacular, a night of musical performances that featured several MSU bands.

During the almost two-hour show, the bands delighted the crowd of MSU fans, alumni and students with a variety of musical genres, ranging from classical to jazz to swing music. Musical selections ranged from the quiet “Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare” to the lighthearted “Dance of the Jesters” to the loud sounds of the MSU drumline.

MSU Jazz Band played “Eye of the Hurricane” and“Don’t Git Sassy.” Each song featured soloists on a variety of instruments including trombone, trumpet and saxophone. The lively songs provided a nice complement to the quieter classical songs.

Along with the students, the show also featured several MSU professors who displayed their musical talent. Molly Fillmore, an assistant professor of voice for the MSU School of Music, joined fellow music professors Ron Newman and Joseph Luloff in performing a medley of hits from composer George Gershwin. They started with an upbeat “Clap Your Hands,” continued with a slower “Of Thee I Sing” and
finished with the popular “I’ve Got Rhythm.”

Piano professor Panayis Lyras performed Chopin’s “Polonaise in A-flat major.” The piece started off very slow and melodic, and later changed to a louder more dynamic tone. Lyras received quite a loud ovation from the crowd for his performance.

One of the more popular performances was the MSU drumline. As they entered the floor in darkness, it sounded as though a cavalry was approaching. The drumline performed “The Series,” which the Marching
Band often performs as they approach Spartan Stadium on game day. The crowd cheered for the drum line several times during their performance and gave them a loud ovation when they finished.

Though the crowd seemed to enjoy the whole show, the clear favorite was the final act, the Spartan Marching Band, which filed in from all entrances to the Breslin Center Floor. The audience cheered and clapped along as the band launched into the “Eat ‘em Up” cheer and proceeded to perform for about 40 minutes.

The Marching Band performed several karaoke medleys of songs they’ve performed at past halftime shows during football games this year. Their selections included Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” Garth Brooks’s“I’ve Got Friends (in low places), and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The band’s performance of Benny Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing” drew a standing ovation from the crowd. The song was preformed
earlier that day at the football game by the MSU alumni band and MSU Marching Band.

The show ended with the MSU Alma Mater and fight song. Spectators sang and clapped along as the Marching Band played and sang “MSU Shadows” and followed with the fight song, which had everyone, young and old singing along.

“The marching band seems to get better every year, and they have so much energy,” said Sue Winkel, a Lansing resident, and a 1970 graduate of MSU. Winkel’s husband Delton agreed, but added that he liked the drumline as well. Delton, a 1969 MSU graduate, was a drummer in the Activities Band during his time at MSU. The couple was attending Spartan Spectacular for the second time, and enjoyed watching their nephew Ben Kremkow, an MSU freshman and a trombone player in the Marching Band.

Michael Johnson, a sophomore at Mason High School said he liked the show and that the marching band was his favorite part.

Performers found the night to be very enjoyable as well. Erika Provenzano, a music education sophomore, says that it was very exhilarating to be able to perform in front of so many people. “It was exciting, and the standing ovation was nice,” she said. Provenzano, who plays the mellophone in the
Marching Band, says that she attended this event last year and thought it was cool so she joined the marching band this year. Her aunt came all the way from Fort Myers, Florida to see the Marching Band perform.

The Spartan Spectacular Show has been part of MSU’s homecoming festivities since 1971.