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The Concord Band Box 302, Concord, MA 01742 Tel: 978-897-9969 |
Notes from the Concord Band |
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Since 1959..................P.O. Box 302, Concord MA 01742............Published Semi-annually Fall 1997 NewsletterPrevious Issues of Notes:
Concord Band Premieres Commissioned Work with Lowell FlavorTo recognize the 50th anniversary of the publication of Lowell author Jack Kerouac's On The Road as well as the 75th anniversary of the author's birth, the Concord Band has commissioned Professor Daniel P. Lutz to compose a new work for concert band. The new work, Dichotomy...Impressions of Kerouac, will be given its premiere performance at the Concord Band's 1997 Fall Concert on November 1st at 51 Walden in Concord. This commission was funded in part by a grant from the Lowell Cultural Council.Professor Lutz, whose compositions include numerous concert band and orchestral works, pieces for jazz ensemble, theatre, corporate video, commercial radio and television, is a faculty member of the performance department of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell College of Fine Arts. For more than seventeen years, he has directed various collegiate and professional musical ensembles throughout Massachusetts and the United States. For more than ten years he has been presenting clinics on composition and music performance in this country and abroad. In 1996, the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Northeast Junior District Band premiered his composition Northeast Fanfare at Gordon College. Professor Lutz is a resident of Weymouth.
FALL CONCERT Saturday, November 1The Concord Band will open its 1997-98 season under the baton of Music Director, Dr. William G. McManus, on November 1 at 8:15 at its permanent home, 51 Walden in Concord. The Concert will have a decidedly patriotic flavor as the Concord Band performs works by American composers, including several patriotic compositions never before performed by the band.The concert will open with an exciting composition by Robert Jager entitled Esprit de Corps. Dedicating this work to the United States Marine Corps, Jager based the main melody of this work on the Marine Hymn. Composer Robert Russell Bennett's classic work, Suite of Old American Dances, is one of the featured presentations of the concert. This five movement suite, which includes such dances as "Cake Walk" and "Western One-step," seeks to capture the mood of a Saturday night barn dance. The first half of the concert will close with Richard Franco Goldman's patriotic march, Chimes of Liberty. Opening the second half of the concert will be Sousa's George Washington Bicentennial March. The Band will then perform Pastorale, a work by Clifton Williams never before performed by the Concord Band. The highlight of the concert will be the world premiere of a new work commissioned by the Concord Band by composer Daniel P. Lutz entitled Dichotomy...Impressions of Kerouac. In keeping with the patriotic mood of the concert, the Band will close the concert with Thomas Knox's American Pageant. This will be the first time the Concord Band has performed this exciting work, which is sure to bring the concert to a rousing finale. A reception following the concert will permit the audience to meet Professor Lutz. New CD Release: A Winter FestivalJust in time for holiday gift giving, the Concord Band will release its first CD, a compilation of digital recordings of Holiday Pops performances from the past several years. The CD is titled A Winter Festival, taken from Overture to a Winter Festival, commissioned in 1994 to honor the retirement of Music Director Emeritus, William M. Toland. The CD will be dedicated in memory of Barbara and Ralph Cataldo, long time members and supporters of the Concord Band. Both Music Director Dr. William G. McManus, and Director Emeritus Toland conduct selections on the CD. Among the pieces will be the premiere performance of Overture, two Leroy Anderson favorites, A Christmas Festival and Sleigh Ride, three collections of Chanukah melodies, Victor Herbert's March of the Toys, a Christmas sing-along, and the powerful Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed. A Winter Festival, priced at $15, will be available for purchase at the Band's Holiday Pops concerts on December 12th and 13th and through members of the Band beginning in November.It's Time to Make Your Concord Band Holiday Pops ReservationsBe sure to make your reservations early for the Concord Band's annual Holiday Pops concerts, to be held at 51 Walden on December 12th and 13th. What better way to celebrate the holiday season than to enjoy an evening of great music and fun in a festive holiday atmosphere? 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. Holiday Pops is a Concord tradition and sells out early. Don't be disappointed — make your reservation today! Reservations can be phoned in to (978) 897-9969.Dedication and Hard Work is All It TakesThe Concord Band is receiving more and more attention locally and across the country for its unique combination of characteristics — organization, concert schedule, facilities, performance quality, extremely low personnel turnover, commissioning program, budget — that make us the community band that others would like to emulate. How did this come about? Dedication and hard work.Most of us give a lot of credit to Music Director Emeritus Bill Toland and his able succesor, Music Director Dr. Bill McManus. In addition to leadership of the kind that our Music Directors have provided, credit must be given to the Band's Board of Directors for making it happen. The seven-member Board's responsibilities are many, ranging from publicity to fund raising, from policy to budgeting. The Board meets monthly; its members spend many hours between meetings carrying out their assignments. Listed below are members of the Concord Band who have served on our Board over the past 20 years or so. We apologize to anyone we've left out. As established by the Band's bylaws, only Band members may serve on the Board.
Current members shown in italics
1997 Summer Season Draws Enthusiastic CrowdsIn spite of several rained out concerts, the Concord Band enjoyed another very successful summer season playing to large crowds at the Band's summer home at Fruitlands Museums in Harvard as well as at concerts in Concord, Hudson, Belmont, and South Boston. Following the Band's final summer concert at Marine Park in South Boston, the members enjoyed a great party at the Boston Harbor Yacht Club organized by Barbara Weiblen of the Band's flute section.
Concord Band Seeks Young Artist EntrantsNow in its third year, the Concord Band Young Artist Competition hopes to attract many talented high school musicians to audition for the opportunity to perform with the Concord Band at the Band's Winter Concert in March. Supported by grants from the Concord Cultural Council, three outstanding musicians from local high schools have performed with the Band as winners of this young artist competition.In 1996, flutist Denise Gaz from Belmont High School and percussionist Timothy Moore from Billerica High School were the winners of the Band's first Young Artist Competition. They delighted audiences with performances at 51 Walden and Fruitlands Museums in Harvard. Last year, Bass Trombonist Linda Yeo, from Lex ington High School, was selected as the 1997 Young Artist of the Year. The competition is open to area high school students who play woodwind, brass, or percussion instruments. Students interested in participating in this year's Young Artist Competition are invited to submit a cassette tape recording of either this year's MMEA District audition piece or the All-State audition piece to the Concord Band Young Artist Auditions Committee. The tapes will be reviewed by the committee and finalists selected for a live audition. For more information about the competition or to receive application materials, please contact Dr. William McManus at Belmont High School (617-484-6099). Upcoming EventsConcerts held at the Center for Performing Arts, 51 Walden, Concord.For tickets call (978) 897-9969. 
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