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That Good Old Summer Band


My summer band performed two concerts this past weekend--actually we performed the same concert twice--once on Saturday at a street festival meant to commemorate my town's early connection to a canal that ran through Ohio in the 1800s and then again on Monday at a lovely park.

We didn't do too badly. Our conductor, Fred, pops veins when someone plays during a rest--you don't want to be that person--and it happened once or twice. One of the trombones misplayed, and the look of death he earned was chilling. It wasn't as chilling as the tick that crawled all over my page two of Light Cavalry, though. It ended up smashed to bits beneath my chair, the bastard.


We also played Joplin's The Entertainer, Harlem Nocturne, In Storm and Sunshine, the allegro vivace from Dance of the Hours, Gershwin's They Can't Take That Away from Me with a vocal soloist, a John Williams medley with some lovely horn parts, a Sousa march, God of Our Fathers, and a Ray Charles medley.

Next up in June is a concert of movie music. Those always have plenty of interesting horn parts. We'll see--what I know for sure is that we'll be playing Minnie the Moocher with a vocal soloist, and the arrangement has the band singing "hi de hi de hi de hi," and "skoo-di-ee voo skoo-di-ee voo skoo-di-ee skoo-di-ee skoo-di-ee voo." (ten useless points if you can name the movie this is from). I can think of more interesting movie music, but maybe I'm just being a stick in the mud.

Now, I'm afraid I will be spending the rest of the day planning my own movie music concert with some of my favorite. The horn-heavy theme from Silverado is at the top of the list. Got any requests?

Comments

Gina said…
We once went to a concert that had all John Williams scores, combined with a large screen playing excerpts from the movies. It sucked, I have to say.
10:29 AM
peahen said…
Love your music posts, Robyn. Maybe if we had a strict conductor like yours rather than the easy-going one we have, I'd concentrate a bit harder. I love that film, by the way - "it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses"!
1:00 PM
Sassy Sundry said…
Sounds like a great show, bastard tick or no.

Great picture.
3:11 PM
alphabet soup said…
Sounds like a great concert, pity I live so far away.

Ms Soup
11:28 PM
dive said…
Woohoo! Cab Calloway! Spiffy, Robyn.
You should all put on porkpie hats and Wayfarer shades for that one.
4:56 AM
dive said…
As for movie music …
A friend told me of her local school marching band in Iowa doing a medley of songs from South Park The Movie.
They are great, stirring pieces of music (brilliantly written pastiches), but with song titles like (please excuse the asterisks) "Shut your f***ing face, uncle-f***er", hilariously inappropriate to play in front of their parents.
Probably best to stick with the Blues Brothers.
7:07 AM
Scout said…
Gina, is that because you don't like John Williams or because the band sucked?

Peahen, I think I'd like to play in your band. Let's switch, although I haven't played trumpet since I was 15.

Sassy, the picture is pretty true to character, I'm afraid. A local bar/restaurant stays open late on Thursdays to accommodate the gang after rehearsals.

Alphabet Soup, it is fun at least.

Dive, seriously!? South Park for a school band? That would never be allowed here, and as a protective type parents, I have to say I'm glad. Poo to the director in Iowa.
8:30 AM
dive said…
I say "Hoorah" for the director in Iowa.
Get hold of the DVD and listen to those tunes. They are fantastic for marching music (as long as you leave out the words), and of course all the main musical melodies come together in "Blame Canada" so they are ideal for a medley.
Also there's a Michael Mc.Donald song (Eyes Of A Child) he sings over the credits at the end which may amuse you (or at least dent your opinion of him) hee hee.
8:52 AM
Scout said…
hee hee, Dive. I'll have a listen with an open mind. I know a band director who designed an entire marching show around contemporary worship music, which makes no sense at all for a marching band. but you can say the same thing--"as long as you leave out the words."
8:54 AM
dive said…
Absolutely.
Good music is good music.
8:58 AM
peahen said…
I'm very happy here, Robyn, but there's a seat for you in the band if you want to come over. If you don't fancy the cornet, then a tenor horn would be closest to the french horn. New faces are always welcome, as our new website says (shameless plug!)
12:52 PM
Neponset River Bridge Dig said…
That looks like one thirsty tuba player there Robyn. Who is that guy - is he a relative of yours?

Got me on the movie music question I wanted to say dirty old moocher but I don't think that's a movie.

Sounds like your band is spit and polished for the Summer season.
4:05 PM
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