MUSINGS
Jack Kopstein
With great pleasure we present the music for the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States Barack Obama. It is an honor for Altissimo Recordings to have the opportunity to present this list of the Inaugural Prelude and the Inaugural Ceremony performed by the PRESIDENTS OWN United States Marine band under the direction of Colonel Michael J Colburn. Also featured was the United States Army Herald Trumpets. We are indebted to Staff Sgt Peter Rust USMC Public Affairs Specialist The Presidents Own United States Marine Band for kindly providing the information.
44th PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
U.S. Capitol, West Terrace
Colonel Michael J. Colburn, conducting
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Inaugural Prelude
anonymous Washington’s Grand March (1784)
arranged by Richard Franko Goldman
Alexander Reinagle Jefferson’s March (1805)
arranged by Roger Smith
Francis Scala* President Lincoln’s Inaugural March (The Union March) (1861)
edited by MSgt Donald Patterson*
William Schuman Chester Overture
John Philip Sousa* March, “Washington Post”
John Philip Sousa* March, “Solid Men to the Front”
setting by Frank Ticheli “Amazing Grace”
John Philip Sousa* March, “The Rifle Regiment”
arranged by MSgt Stephen Bulla* Shaker Song and Hymn (“Simple Gifts”)
John Philip Sousa* March, “The Invincible Eagle”
John Philip Sousa* March, “The Gridiron Club”
Samuel Augustus Ward “America, the Beautiful”
arranged by Carmen Dragon
John Philip Sousa* March, “The Bride Elect”
John Philip Sousa* March, “The High School Cadets”
E. E. Bagley March on the Colors, Trio of “National Emblem”
John Philip Sousa* March, “El Capitan”
Fanfare by The Army Herald Trumpets
Colonel Michael J. Colburn, Director
*Member, U.S. Marine Band
John Philip Sousa* March, “The Glory of the Yankee Navy”
Fanfare by The Army Herald Trumpets
Edwin Franko Goldman March, “The Chimes of Liberty”
Fanfare by The Army Herald Trumpets
Ralph Vaughan Williams March, “Seventeen Come Sunday” from English Folk Song Suite
John Philip Sousa* March, “Daughters of Texas”
John Philip Sousa* March, ‘The Fairest of the Fair”
Four Ruffles and Flourishes (The Army Herald Trumpets)
James Sanderson “Hail to the Chief” (Marine Band)
Fanfare by The Army Herald Trumpets
Jaromir Weinberger “Homage to the Pioneers”
Fanfare by The Army Herald Trumpets
George Drumm “Hail, America!”
arranged by Tom Clark
Inaugural Ceremony
Four Ruffles and Flourishes (The Army Herald Trumpets)
“Hail Columbia” (Marine Band)
Four Ruffles and Flourishes (The Army Herald Trumpets)
James Sanderson “Hail to the Chief” (Marine Band)
John Stafford Smith The National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”
words by Francis Scott Key The U.S. Navy Sea Chanters perform a cappella
John Philip Sousa* March, “The Stars and Stripes Forever”
E. E. Bagley Retire the Colors, Trio of “National Emblem”
*Member, U.S. Marine Band
Many of the Sousa marches are well known to audiences across America and around the world as performed by THE PRESIDENTS OWN United States Marine Band. The earlier works such as Washington’s Grand march and Jefferson’s march are obscure. The list below is a sampling of historical background on the music performed and the composer arranger.
Title: Washington’s Grand March 1784
Composer: Arranged by Richard Franko Goldman
Background: First Published by Firth and Hall New York Music Publishers
Title: Jefferson’s March-1805
Composer: Alexander Reinagle –arranged by Roger Smith
Background: This march came from a larger collection of dance and cotillions published by G Willig of Philadelphia.
Title: President Lincoln’s Inaugural march (The Union March) 1861
Composer: Francis Scala edited by MSgt Donald Patterson
Background: Francis Scala was the Leader of the United States Marine band from 1855 to 1871.He also composed President Grants Inauguration march.
Title: Chester Overture
Composer: William Schuman
Background: This overture is based on the William Billings Hymn and American Marching song of the American Revolution.
Title: March Solid Men to the Front 1918
Composer: John Philip Sousa
Background: A hard hitting march from WW1. It is considered to be one of Sousa’s finest.
Title: Amazing Grace
Composer: Setting By Frank Ticheli
Background: The lyrics of the music were written by John Newton and the music may have had Scottish or Irish origins and first appeared as a hymn NEW BRITAIN 1829.
Title: March The Rifle Regiment 11886
Composer: John Philip Sousa
Background: Very popular march written for the 3rd United States Infantry Fort Meyer Virginia
Title: Shaker Song and Hymn Simple Gifts
Composer: Arranged by MSgt Stephen Bulla
Background: The lyrics and music of this Shaker dance song were written in 1848 by Elder Joseph Brackett at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine. It has become a popular American folk tune.
Title: March The Invincible Eagle
Composer:John Philip Sousa
Background: A sterling March written in 1901 as a dedication to the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo NY.
Title: March The Gridiron Club 1928
Composer: John Philip Sousa
Background: Dedicated to the Gridiron Club whom are Editors , writers and correspondents an gather each year to “roast” a government official
Title: March The Bride Elect-1897
Composer: John Philip Sousa
Background: This march is from the opera by the same name.
Title: March National Emblem 1906
Composer: EE Bagley
Background: This march is one of America’s best loved and most popular marches-The Star Spangled Banner can be heard in the Trio
Title: March Chimes of Liberty 1922
Composer: Edwin Franko Goldman
Background: Goldman demonstrated both his undying patriotism and his enormous march writing ability
Title: March Seventeen Come Sunday 1924
Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Background: RV Williams is one of Britain’s most respected composers and his work to write music for military band inspired many other composers to follow suit
Title: Homage to The Pioneers
Composer: Jaromir Weinberger
Background: This concert march was written in 1940 and was written for concert band
Title: Hail America
Composer: George Drumm arranged Tom Clark
Background:George Drumm of Erdesbach, Germany is the composer of the White House Hymn, Hail America. He came to America in 1904.
Hey all! It’s a new month, so we’re here to present our next inductee in the Community Band Spotlight. This month we’re introducing the Allentown Band from Allentown, PA. This band is really cool for a lot of reasons, so read on to find out why!
John Philip Sousa created dozens of the most popular American patriotic marches, also some of the most recognizable songs in American history. These songs are performed countless times a year by both military ensembles and by small community-style bands. The Allentown Band of Allentown, PA, is no stranger to Sousa’s music. Dating back to 1828, they are the oldest civilian concert band in America, and past band members had the privilege of being recruited for Sousa’s own private professional band, no doubt returning to the Allentown Band with insight and expertise in how to perform Sousa pieces.
Because of this historical connection, the works of John Philip Sousa are a given for the Allentown Band. Conductor Ronald Demkee is responsible for the selection of all the music the band plays with input from the band and audience. According to Demkee, “the band enjoys and is comfortable playing a wide variety of music and styles,” but Sousa is the favorite.
In addition to having a Sousa heritage, the Allentown Band has had members who have served in the bands of the military, including the Marine Band, Army Band, Army Field Band, Navy Band, Air Force Band, and Coast Guard Band. Three of the seventy-two current members served in the Army Band, the US Military Academy Band of West Point, and the Air Force Band.
The seventy-two members of the band range in age from 17 to 83, and a number of high school students are part of the band. Something cool the Allentown Band does with younger students in the area is the Side By Side Program, where “up to fifty advanced instrumental music students from seven counties join to play side by side with members of the Allentown Band in a public concert in Allentown’s Symphony Hall.” This helps give the kids experience playing in a larger setting and also provides a fun opportunity for them to play with more experienced musicians who can no doubt teach them a thing or two!
What we thought was really cool about the Allentown Band is that they’ve recorded albums. And we’re not talking two or three CDs. We’re talking 24 volumes of a series called “Our Band Heritage.” These volumes have made it to listeners across all 50 states and to 17 countries around the world. They made their debut at the famous Carnegie Hall in 2007, and they’ve even traveled to Europe to perform in Switzerland, Austria, and France! While in France in June of 2008, they served as the US Representative in the St Tropez International Music Festival. Who better to represent the nation than her own premier civilian band!
With a heritage as rich in music and American history as theirs, we are proud to present the Allentown Band as Altissimo! Recordings’ Community Band Spotlight of March 2009.
For more information on the Allentown Band, visit their website.
*Special thanks to the Allentown Band’s Conductor Ronald Demkee for his help in preparing this article!! All quoted material is from correspondence with Mr Demkee*
**If you have a suggestion for a community band to feature in our Spotlight, please email info@militarymusic.com with the subject line Community Band Spotlight.
BAND TALK – JACK KOPSTEIN
STRIKE UP THE BAND
It is a distinct pleasure to present Lt. Col. Timothy J. Holtan, Commander of the WEST POINT BAND, as the subject of our interview for this issue of STRIKE UP THE BAND.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself – background including education, schools, instrument(s), career in the army, how long served, where you have served, if retired how long retired, and what are you doing in retirement?
A: Public school band director for eight years prior to joining the Army
Bachelor of Music Education, Montana State University
Masters of Music Education, University of Montana
Joined the Army in Fall of 1988 – over 20 years in Service
Assignment History:
Armed Forces School of Music, Norfolk, VA
Fort Monroe, VA (twice)
US Army Band, Ft Myer, VA
Dallas Wind Symphony/University of North Texas – one year Army “Training With Industry” program
Department of the Army Staff Bands Officer, Alexandria, VA
US Army Field Band, Ft Meade, MD
US Military Academy Band, West Point, NY
Q. What is your daily (weekly) band routine?
A: Rehearsals are usually 0900-1130, about four days per week. Chamber groups rehearsal in the afternoon.
Q. Do you select the music played for concerts or is it done by committee?
A: I select the music for my programs, but I get input from a repertoire committee and the ensemble senior musicians.
Q. Do you have to spend a lot of time making arrangements for ceremonial performances?
A: We do more ceremonies than many bands, and as such don’t need too much additional training and unpublished arrangements.
Q. Are auditions for new band members done in collaboration with section leaders?
A: Section leaders choose music, select finalists from applications, and conduct the live auditions. Section members, group leader, NCO-in-charge, and officers attend the auditions – by regulation, the commander is the final decision-maker unless there is a reason to temporarily delegate that authority.
Q. How important are recordings to you and the band?
A: Quite – they are very good for pushing the ensemble to higher levels of performance execution and the distribution of the recordings to libraries, radio stations and educational institutions is a less expensive way to connect with the American people.
Q. How important to you are the various small ensembles ie dinners etc which are often employed?
A: Chamber music is a thriving part of our organization. Through active recitals and community performances, the small groups build a substantial repertoire that also serves well in military protocol situations. They are a part of the job, which everyone understands and accepts. It is also an excellent opportunity for our musicians to interact with senior leadership.
Q. What is your view on the future of military bands worldwide?
A: I expect that they will be around for many years. Bands are an inherent part of the culture, and as the culture evolves, so do the military bands.
Q. What type of music do you feel most comfortable with? –Classical, Jazz Popular, Broadway, various?
A: I like it all. That said, I do so much music at work, I don’t listen to much music at home. When I do, it tends to be more classically or vocally focused.
Q. Briefly what is your opinion of the world of music today?
A: A mighty broad topic which I will narrow – I am very excited about music-making today. This is primarily because of the increasingly high level of musicians that the universities and conservatories are producing. Our organization has benefitted tremendously and the level of musicianship is increasing exponentially. I’m extremely proud (and humbled) to be associated with these tremendous musicians, who do a great job a keeping live music vital in today’s society.
Lt. Col. Timothy J. Holtan
Commander
West Point Band