Editing Frederick Fennell (section)

==Eastman Wind Ensemble==

While Fennell was recuperating from [[hepatitis]] for six weeks in 1952, the idea for a new, smaller type of symphonic band occurred to him:  scaling the typical concert band down to the size of the wind section of a [[symphony orchestra]], allowing for greater clarity and better intonation. He recruited nearly 40 players in May 1952 for this, explaining, “I chose the best students in the school, the best solo performers and the best ensemble players." On September 20, 1952, he conducted the first rehearsal for this new Eastman Wind Ensemble, and its first concert at Eastman's Kilbourn Hall on February 8, 1953. Desiring expanded repertoire, he wrote to nearly 400 composers around the world commissioning appropriate compositions for the new group. The first three composers to respond were [[Percy Grainger]], [[Vincent Persichetti]] and [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]]. {{citation needed|  date=October 2014}}