61st Season Begins with "Carnival of the Animals"

Fall 2019 Concert Poster

It feels like only yesterday that we celebrated our 60th anniversary year with great success-two commissions and world premieres, past commissions by Warren Barker, Stephen Bulla, and James Curnow, five guest artists, a new "Cabaret'' ambiance and mood lighting for Spring Pops at 51 Walden, a special "Patriots' Day" concert at 51 Walden, and my 10th anniversary as Music Director and Conductor. This past year has been a wonderful tribute to the Concord Band and its distinguished and rich history.

The Fall Concert of our 61st season will be held at 8 PM on Saturday, October 26, at 51 Walden, and will feature symphonic band masterpieces, beloved orchestral transcriptions, and short and quirky marches and march-like gems. The theme "Carnival of the Animals" will salute music that features the animal kingdom in all of its splendor, beauty, power, and might.

Manatee Lyric Overture by Robert Sheldon is a robust, spirited and sonorous overture that uses the opening measures as the thematic material throughout the entire composition.

The traditional upbeat and lively Italian folk dance Tarantella, masterfully arranged by Alfred Reed, authentically captures the spirit and flavor of the familiar and beloved 14th century dance.

W. Francis McBeth penned the band masterwork Of Sailors and Whales, drawing inspiration for its five scenes from Herman Melville's Moby Dick. The five movements are entitled "Ishmael," "Queequeg," "Father Mapple," "Ahab," and "The White Whale." The narration that precedes each movement was devised by Lewis J. Buckley, Conductor Laureate of the US Coast Guard Band and MetWinds.

Aaron Copland extracted a mini-suite from his ballet score Rodeo to be used specifically for concert performance and titled it Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo. The fourth episode, "Hoe Down," has been superbly transcribed for band by Mark Rogers, Director of Publications for Southern Music Company.

Famous circus bandmaster Karl L. King wrote The Walking Frog at a time when numerous musical styles were prevalent, including marches, two steps, and ragtime. The Walking Frog is a two-step and a favorite musical addition to "back in the day" circus bands.

The Carnival of the Animals by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns is a musical suite full of humor and pure fun. Arranged for band as a concert suite by British composer and arranger Geoffrey Brand, the movements included are "Introduction and Royal March of the Lions," "The Elephant," "The Cuckooo Far Off in the Wood," "Fossils," "The Swan," and "Finale." Accompanying each movement are humorous verses written by Ogden Nash in 1949, to be read by Concord Band principle bassoonist and announcer Nat Hefferman.

John Williams is one of the most prominent and recognizable composer of music for film and concert stage, and his score for the movie Jurassic Park is truly iconic. Jurassic Park Soundtrack Highlights masterfully arranged by Paul Lavender includes two most prominent themes, "Journey to Island" featuring a noble trumpet fanfare, and the reflective "Theme from Jurassic Park."

Mother Goose March by J. P. Sousa was one of his seldom performed marches and contains a number of nursery songs including "Down in the Meadow," "There Is a Man in Our Town," "Come All Ye Young Maids," ''I'se Come to See Miss Jennie Jones," "Little Jack Homer," and "Our Dear Doctor."

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James O'Dell is Music Director of the Concord Band, and Associate Dean of  Academic Operations at the Boston Conservatory.

Concert Poster: Carnival of the Animals

2019 Fall Concert Poster

Your very own award-winning Concord Band returns to the stage at 51 Walden on Saturday, 10/26, at 8 p.m. for this free concert ushering in it's 61st Season. This musical menagerie features great works for the symphonic concert band, including Manatee Lyric Overture, Of Sailors and Whales and Carnival of the Animals. The Walking Frog and Mother Goose also make an appearance. The evening would not be complete without musical highlights from the soundtrack of Jurassic Park.

This concert is designed for families of all ages and is a free event! Donations are always welcome, of course, and keep these concerts local. The Concord Band—Celebrating 61 years of great music-making!

Save the Dates!

2019-2020 Season Postcard

As the Concord Band begins its 61st Season, we're preparing a concert series you won't want to miss! Look for our colorful season schedule card included with the Fall 2019 issue of our newsletter, Notes from the Concord Band. If you would like to receive a season card for your bulletin board or 'fridge, sign up for our free newsletter by following this link.

Minute Man National Historical Parks 60th Anniversary Concert Video

As 2019 is also the 60th Anniversary of the Concord Band, the park and the band teamed up to present a concert of patriotic inspired music on the field overlooking the North Bridge. Ken Troup, President of the Concord Band said,

The Concord Band is honored to be playing at the Minute Man National Historical Park’s 60th anniversary celebration. The concert is a great way for the Band to transition from our own 60th anniversary to the new 2019-2020 season of band music in Concord. This anniversary concert is especially meaningful, because years ago the Concord Band played at the dedication of the Battle Road Visitors Center, and Thursday evenings during the summer beside the North Bridge Visitors Center. I’m happy we’re continuing the close relationship between the park and the Concord Band.

Our thanks to the Concord Band for their performance on this glorious fall day, and the Friends of Minute Man National Historical Park. I'd like to share a video of the Minute Man National Historical Parks 60th Anniversary Commemorative Program, held on the grounds overlooking historic North Bridge. The production is from our friends at Minuteman Media Network TV, Concord, MA. Our thanks to those who came out and recorded this special day for us.

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Philip Lupsiewicz
Media and Communications
Minute Man National Historical Park

Minute Man National Historical Park 60th Anniversary Concert

The Concord Band was honored to present a concert in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Minute Man National Historical Park on Saturday, September 21, 2019, in Concord. Hearkening back to the 1970s when the Concord Band played weekly during the summer at the North Bridge Visitors Center, Music Director James O'Dell led the Band in music appropriate for a celebratory occasion and to the location above the North Bridge in Concord. National Park Superintendent B. J. Dunn invited dignitaries and the public to listen to the Concord Band while viewing the North Bridge.

View of audience from Band at
Minute Man National Historical Park's
60th Anniversary Concert.

The Band's musical selections included, among others, Claire Grundman's Spirit of 76, Steven Reineke's Main Street Celebration, two Sousa marches, and the appropriate North Bridge Portrait, written for the Concord Band in 1999 by Stephen Bulla. The piece beautifully evokes the special nature of the North Bridge area and the events that occurred there on April 19, 1775, including the Shot Heard Round the World. The Band thanks Superintendent Dunn and his staff for their support. The concert was a great way for the Band to transition from its own 60th anniversary to the new 2019–20 season of music in Concord.