Notes from the Concord Band

Since 1959..................P.O. Box 302, Concord MA 01742............Published Semi-annually

Fall 1996 Newsletter

Previous Issues of Notes:

Fall Concert Saturday, October 26

Malcom Arnold's mastery of orchestration is evident throughout the score of English Dances, a four movement suite which was completed by Arnold in 1951. This past year, the Concord Band performed his Prelude, Siciliano, and Rondo. Arnold's beautiful folk-like melodies in the English Dances are delightful and sure to charm our audience. The first half of the concert will close with a performance of Dimitri Shostakovitch's Folk Dances, a work in one movement filled with the joy and exuberance of the Russian people.

Scenes from La Boheme is a brand new work for concert band dedicated to the memory of William D. Revelli, former Director of Bands at the University of Michigan. To honor his former teacher, composer Jerry Bilik had asked Revelli to name his favorite musical work so that he could turn it into a concert setting for band. Revelli responded that he especially loved Mimi's aria from the last act of Puccini's La Boheme. Revelli had an opportunity to hear Bilik's new score recorded by the US Army Band several weeks before he died.

Guest trumpeter Natalo Paella will be featured in the Sachse Concertino in E♭, composed in 1871 for E♭ trumpet and brass band. The Concord Band will be performing the piece in its original form, employing only brass instruments. The full Band will accompany Paella in the Concertino for Trumpet and Band by Frank Erickson.

The concert will close with a performance of John Barnes Chance's exciting Incantation and Dance. The Concord Band has performed several of Chance's compositions for band in the past under the direction of Music Director Emeritus, Bill Toland, including the well known Variations on a Korean Folk Song.

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Trumpeter Natalo Paella to Perform with the Concord Band

For 26 years, Mr. Paella was principal trumpet at the Boston Colonial Theater, playing for such musicals as A Chorus Line, Porgy and Bess, Man of La Mancha, Annie, and many others. He has played back-up for Sammy Davis, Jr., Lena Horne, Rosemary Clooney, Sergio Franchi, Jack Jones, and the stars of the Lawrence Welk show under the direction of Myron Floren.

Until his retirement as Professor Emeritus, he was a full professor at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, specializing in Studio Trumpet, Brass Pedagogy, Brass Ensembles, and Studio Jazz Orchestra. He attended the Eastman School of Music and the US Navy School of Music, and was a scholarship student in the Berkshire Tanglewood Orchestra. He earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Louisiana State University and a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory.

With the Concord Band, Mr. Paella will be performing the Sachse Concertino for E♭ trumpet and brass band and Concertino for Band by Frank Erickson. With any luck, the audience may be able to prompt an encore or two out of him!

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Summer of '96: Almost Perfect!

Highlights of the 1996 season included guest performances by jazz great Phil Wilson, vocalist Linda Nigro, and the winners of the 1996 Concord Band Young Artist Competition, flutist, Denise Gaz, and percussionist, Tim Moore. (See related story.) Our own members, saxophonists Dick O'Connor and Gerry Kriedberg also made solo appearances with the Band.

The Band enjoyed another extremely successful season at its summer home at Fruitlands Museums, performing before large and appreciative audiences at this most beautiful setting. On the Fourth of July, even though the skies had been threatening most of the day, the Band members and their families enjoyed a picnic at Fruitlands between the annual Picnic in the Park in Concord and the evening concert at Fruitlands.

For the second year, the Band performed at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, where former Governor and Presidential candidate Michael Dukakis was in the audience. A former trumpet player in the Brookline High School Band under the direction of John Corley (now of MIT), Mr. Dukakis reported that he was extremely impressed with the Band's performance.

During the final week of the season, the Band performed at Payson Park in Belmont, home town of the Band's Music Director, Bill McManus. Vocalist Linda Nigro of Hudson joined with the Band in this concert to the great delight of the audience. Linda, who sang three Gershwin standards with the Band, had also sung with the Band at Fruitlands earlier in the season. The Band has already been invited to return to the Payson Park Music Festival next year.

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Young Artist Competition

Although the original intention of the Concord Band Board of Directors was to name a single winner, the audition committee, which included Board member and oboist, Susan Console, Music Director Bill McManus and french horn player, Kathryn Troup, was unable to choose only a single winner.

Denise, a 16 year-old sophomore, performed Baroque and Blue from Claude Bolling's Suite for flute and Jazz Trio, arranged for band by Robert O'Brien.

Timothy Moore, also 16 and a sophomore, performed Peter Tanner's composition for marimba and concert band entitled Concert Piece.

Denise and Tim joined forces (with each other and the band) for a delightful performance of Leyden's Serenade for a Picket Fence.

The Concord Band Young Artist Competition, which was made possible through a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, was such a success that the Concord Band Board has decided to make it an annual event. Plans are now under way for the second annual competition, which will be held early in 1997.

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Very Long Range Planning

In addition to annual giving, the Band welcomes special gifts which may have significant tax planning benefits to the donor. Among the types of gifts that might be considered are the following:

• gifts of appreciated, marketable property, such as publicly traded stock
• bequests or other legacies left in a will
• memorial funds, often established to receive gifts in memory of a departed loved one in lieu of funeral flowers
• "planned giving" of substantial sums, through trust funds or other contingent instruments

"Say, Dan," asked a long-time Band supporter, "what's the official name of the Concord Band?"

"The Concord Band Association, A Non-Profit Trust," I replied. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm revising my will," he replied.

"I see," said I. "Thank you for thinking about the Band."

"Don't plan on spending the money any time too soon!" he cautioned.

That brief interchange reminded me that its time to revise my will — it's been almost twenty years since the last revision and my circumstances have changed substantially since then. I'll be remembering the Band in my will ("and to The Concord Band, which always wanted to be remembered in my will: Hi guys!"). Or maybe make the Band the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. All kidding aside, why don't you give serious consideration to including the Band in your very long range plans. So much for the hereafter; the Band also needs your financial support now to be able to continue to provide the community with the best in concert band music. Please send your contribution to the Concord Band, Box 302, Concord, MA 01742.

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It's Time to Make Your Concord Band Holiday Pops Reservations

What better way to celebrate the holiday season than to enjoy an evening of great music and fun in the festive 51 Walden holiday atmosphere. Concord Band Holiday Pops is a tradition in Concord and sells out early. Plan a great evening out with your friends and neighbors and the Concord Band. Table seating is available at $12 per person ($48 for a table of four; $72 for a table of six) and includes beverages and snacks. Don't be disappointed—make your reservations today! Reservations can be phoned in to (508) 897-9969.

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Coming Events

FALL CONCERT Saturday, October 26, 51 Walden, Concord 8:15 PM.

HOLIDAY POPS Friday and Saturday, December 13 and 14.

For reservations, or call (508) 897-9969.

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