A Brief History and Reflections on KLEZMER Music

contributed by Bill Brasile* 

Klezmer is “music of uncontrollable joy fused with irrevocable pathos. Echoing the sounds of its long-lost homeland of Eastern Europe, it mirrors and interweaves with the musical kaleidoscope of its new home in America.” (Inna Barmash, Why Klezmer? - http://www.princeton.edu/~klez/klezmer.shtml).

Virginia Grand Military Band - Concert dedicated to the memory of Gordon Bowie

contributed by Marlin Strand

I went to the February 18 concert of the very excellent Virginia Grand Military Band thanks to the courtesy tickets they provided to members of MVCB. I was very impressed with their mistake-free performance and intonation that was so precise that overtones swirled through the auditorium at Hayfield High School in Alexandria. Gordon had been a member of the band for several years and they presented his composition “Current Events” as part of their program.

Airmen of Note Free Concert March 22

Free concert by the US Air Force Airmen of Note jazz ensemble.  March 22 7pm - Damascus High School, 25921 Ridge Road, Damascus, MD

Factors Influencing Membership and Stability in Adult Amateur Bands - GW Bowie

Extracts from the Gordon Bowie Paper” (1990)

AN OVERVIEW OF FACTORS INFLUENCING MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT AND STABILITY IN AMERICAN ADULT AMATEUR BANDS

Edited By Marlin Strand

with a special emphasis on Band Leadership and its impact on

Success, Growth and Sustainment of the Community Band

There are numerous success stories in the band movement, but many community bands flourish briefly, and then decline in the face of personnel pressures.  Traditional bands that have survived through the years and maintained the valuable and artistic repertoire of the adult band (distinct from the educational repertoire) need to adapt and grow as times change if they are not to dwindle and perish.  Because society as a whole no longer places a premium on adult band membership, the key issue is attracting and retaining enough of the right players to allow a band to perpetuate its special activities.

Gordon Bowie and Band Leaders: Excerpts from RB Hall Dissertation

Gordon Bowie and Band Leaders: Snippets from his Dissertation on RB Hall – 1993

(The editor’s comments are in italics; M. Strand, Feb.2012)

RB Hall lived during the heyday of town bands. Every town had a band of some kind, and larger towns and cities often had several competing bands. These bands needed instructors, as well as fresh music to play. Before the advent of instrumental music education in the schools, participation in a community band was the primary means of learning to play a band instrument. Oftentimes Itinerant music teacher were professional bandsman who offered private lessons on all instruments and rehearsed the town band and other musical groups. The role is an honored one:

Big Band Bash - Ellington & Basie

Paul Nisson provided links to these videos as inspiration for 'Big Band Bash'

Bye Bye Birdie - Feb 25, 26

Amanda McCurry, Tom Nixon, Ric Okin, and Kelly Wagner will be in the pit band for Congregation Har Shalom's production of Bye Bye Birdie, Feb, 25 and 26.  Information >   Tickets >