Summer of Many Styles

Contributed by Len Morse

Being musicians, we realize that we each have busy, non-musical lives outside of the Montgomery Village Community Band. We engage in various activities to keep our lives moving, hopefully in the directions we want: jobs, family, relationships, finances, friends, and other facets of human existence come together when we’re not at a MVCB rehearsal or performance venue.

As for the musical highlights of my summer, the academy (see below) was by far the highlight of my year, so it will take up most of this article.

Musician's Dictionary

contributed by Marlin Strand


AGENT: a character who resents performers getting 90% of his salary.
ARRANGER: a guy who writes to support a bad habit or "other" arrangements
BALLET: an art form for people with eating disorders
BANDSTAND: the area furthest away from an electrical outlet
BIG BAND: nowadays, an aggregation consisting of two musicians.
BROADWAY PIT JOB: a prison sentence disguised as a gig.

The Trombone King - Halloween, 2008

In October, 2008, Gordon performed Karl King's 'The Trombone King'.  Enjoy!

'Ghost of the Band Room' Explained

The Bangor Band regularly rehearsed in the top floor of what is now known as The Isaac Farrar Mansion (166 Union St/ 17 2nd St, Bangor) from the 1920s or early 1930s until the building was purchased by the YWCA in the 1970s.  During those years the house was known as Symphony House and was originally a project of the Bangor Symphony and later the site of a music teaching school known as The Northern Conservatory of Music.

Prior to the Symphony's acquisition of the mansion, the Farrar family had a tragic death on the top floor of the mansion, said to have been their daughter's suicide by hanging.   The rooms on the top floor were said to be haunted by her ghost.  The rear door and kitchen area were also haunted by a poltergeist of a small boy who would mischievously rattle and rearrange the coat hangers, lamps and chairs in the rear area, with no explanation.

Conductor's Corner - New Season Welcome!

September 22, 2011

It was great to see everybody last night, and to get into the band season once again. I’m grateful to Len for taking the first two rehearsals, and getting so much good learning started on our pieces. Likewise I am grateful for all the help and pitching in that has made it possible to get the season off to a good start in my absence.

The Music Man - Nov. 18-27

Trouble's coming to River City.  The Potomac Theater Company presents Meredith Willson's  The Music Man November 18, 19, & 20 and November 25, 26, & 27, 2011 (Friday and Saturdays at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm).  Our own Tom Nixon is in the pit.

Thank You from the Bangor Band

The Montgomery Village Community Band recently made a donation to the Bangor Band for 'the Potato Project' in order to acquire copies of the marches of George E. Jennings and received this Thank You:

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

For your viewing and listening pleasure, here's an online video clip  (YouTube) of Disney's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."   If you haven't seen this classic recently, I'm sure that seeing it again will enhance your musical experience of playing Paul Dukas' music with the band.  It's 11 minutes of pure delight.  Enjoy!  

Presidential Address - Fall, 2011

- from John King

I want to welcome everyone to another season of great music-making with the Montgomery Village Community Band. I look forward to serving again as president. More importantly, I'm thrilled that we will continue to have the pleasure to play under the baton of Dr. Gordon Bowie and assistant conductor Len Morse.

Clarinet Flood (a limerick)

Clarinet Flood

Potato Man went off to the wood,
to cut, chop and saw like he should.
To heat his rude home,
in those mountains alone,
And put up Oak cords if he could.

Throughout the long day he did sweat;
even his earlobe was wet.
He strained and he strove,
the wood he did hove,
and the logs were right sized and all set.