A Golden Score: ND band director's music will open the Olympic Games
By Helena Payne
News Writer
When the Olympic Games begin tonight in Sydney, Australia, Notre Dame band director Kenneth Dye will hold his breath. He will hear familiar sounds from the television as the Olympic Band plays his musical composition for the Parade of Athletes.
"If it goes well, it will be a feeling of relief," said Dye, who also serves as band director for the Olympic Games.
Dye composed and taught his music to a band of 2,000 young people of many nations for the opening ceremonies of the Games. His music consists of at least 36 pieces from the various countries of the band members and the athletes.
"It's amazing how they picked up on it," said Dye, who taught the band by reviewing videotaped rehearsals.
Language was never a barrier for Dye who said, "Music is the universal language."
Two years ago, Dye started the project, which included 18 months of music composition. In order to research the musical styles and traditions from the many countries, Dye collaborated with New York University ethnomusicologist Barry Spanier. Dye said that in addition to his work with Spanier, he used the Internet "extensively" and called people who were eager to assist him.
"Whenever you say the word Olympic, it has a universal appeal," said Dye.
After making more phone calls, Dye finally composed the music and had to go through the process of obtaining approval by an Olympic committee. This included receiving approval for style, content and the score until the committee finally approved the entire recording of the band piece.
After the final approval, Dye said, "It was like finishing a really big term paper or dissertation."
Though Dye has taken new leadership with the 2000 Olympics, he has had prior Olympic Games experience as the associate band director for the 1984 Olympic Band in Los Angeles.
This year, however, will be more than a slight change for Dye.
"It's borderline overwhelming, but so far, so good," Dye said.
The 2000 Games will have live music for the first time in history and the band will play a 90-minute piece for the Parade of Athletes and the 10-minute opening ceremonies music as opposed to only the 10 minutes of opening ceremonies music Dye directed in Los Angeles.
Dye believes the Sydney Olympics have taken even more of an international perspective than the Los Angeles Olympics.
Even with the excitement of the Games, Dye said he will remain in South Bend where he will direct the Notre Dame band for the Purdue football game.
"I'm expecting the band to do an outstanding job here at home," said Dye.
He said he expects band members to be committed enough to attend all practices, rehearsals, and performances and he needed to set that example by attending them as well — even if he misses the opening ceremonies of an athletic event that will likely get more attention and a larger crowd than any college football game.
Dye, in his third year at Notre Dame, is in his first year as the band director.
"It's going well, but I'm still learning," said Dye who has already witnessed changes in the band's rehearsals and performances along with the admittance of the first female in the Irish Guard.
According to Dye, although the Olympic band is not his most frequent topic of conversation, he has received support, especially at the campus post office where he was a regular customer.
"They see me coming," Dye said laughing.
At the post office he mailed music back and forth to many countries, some of which, Dye said, required the workers to check the names because there were so many little known countries that sent him mail.
However, Dye, now finished with his post office trips will be able to watch the television tonight, see his "really big term paper" come to life and possibly breathe a sigh of relief.
All News Stories for Friday, September 15, 2000
