Military Music Blog
Jack's Musings June 2009 June 22 2009, 0 Comments
John Philip Sousa is a household name among patriotic and military composers. Jack Kopstein takes a look at his appearance in newspapers over the years of his popularity until his death.Community Band Spotlight: June 2009 June 22 2009, 1 Comment
Altissimo! Recordings looks at the Tennessee Valley Winds for June's Community Band Spotlight.Band Talk, June 2009 June 22 2009, 2 Comments
Military directors and bandmasters are often faced with nearly impossible tasks to provide music almost in an instant. As a former bandmaster, I can vouch for the difficulties associated with music requests on impulse. On one occasion I was requested on a slip of paper passed to me while performing with a small dinner group in the officers mess to play the tune "Drop me Jesus through the Goal Post of Life©" by country artist Bobby Bare. Fortunately, one of the musicians in the group knew the tune and within a few minutes he had one-fingered the tune on the piano. We quickly wrote down the simple 3/4 melody and a few chords, and I sat down and scored it out for our small seven piece group on some scrap manuscript paper. We blared it out to the officers who were dining in the main ding room on the next set. They applauded as if we had played Beethoven's ninth, and I had a great laugh with the musicians. The great John Philip Sousa no less had a similar request by the President of the United States...Jack's Musings: Harold Burton Bachman May 18 2009, 3 Comments
HAROLD BURTON BACHMAN By Jack Kopstein
In many ways, Harold Burton Bachman's extraordinary life traces the major currents of the band movement in America. Bachman's leadership of military, professional, and student bands through countless performances during the first three-quarters of the twentieth century inspired others to dedicate themselves to band music and also created a positive training ground for talented young musicians and composers. His aura of humour, friendliness, and fine musical performance made a national reputation for Bachman that is still emulated and admired even years after his death. Perhaps more importantly, his great strength of character and memory as a dedicated and inspirational teacher rightfully deserve him a place in history as one of the great leaders and true geniuses of band music in the twentieth century.
He was born September 2, 1892, in Atlanta, Illinois and began his musical career in the place of his childhood, Minot, North Dakota. As a young cornetist, he received early training in a number of small circus and local bands beginning around 1903. While attending the North Dakota Agricultural College from 1914-16, he lead the student cadet bands, succeeding his mentor Dr. C. S. Putnam, and played cornet in Bohumir Kryl's famous band during the summers. On the day that the United States entered World War I, Bachman wrote a letter to Adjutant General Angus Fraser volunteering the immediate recruitment of a band for the North Dakota National Guard. The governor approved the offer, and on November 26, 1917, Bachman's band embarked for the European theatre. This group later became the 2nd Infantry Band and distinguished itself for fine musical performances entertaining doughboys and dignitaries alike in tours across France. At a concert in St. Nazaire, General Hunter Liggett commented to an aid: "Colonel, that band is worth a Million Dollars to the United States Army." As the band's supreme reputation spread over two continents, so did its new name, "The Million Dollar Band." After the war, Bachman toured his newly incorporated Million Dollar Band annually from Chicago to Florida along the Chataqua Redpath Circuits during the golden era of the professional traveling concert bands. From 1928 to 1942, the band established permanent headquarters in Chicago, playing frequents engagements at Grant Park and gaining a national status from radio broadcasts on CBS and NBC. As Bachman's notoriety grew so did the demand for his appearances as guest conductor and clinician around the nation. He took a job as director of bands at the University of Chicago from 1935 to 1942. Despite dwindling budgets and support for the furtherance of band music at Chicago, Bachman made a smooth transition to the world of academics, arguing tirelessly in favor of music education. He was, however, interrupted from this mission by America's entrance into the war with Japan. In 1942, Bachman was recalled to active duty and promoted to lieutenant colonel to serve as the head of band music in the Pacific Theater. The same year, his National Champion American Legion Post No. 622 Band shined on national radio broadcasts from Chicago and tours in the Mid-West. In 1948, a mandate for the improvement of band music at the University of Florida by its new president, J. Hillis Miller, brought Bachman to Gainesville as the new director of bands. During a decade of service from 1948-58, Bachman built, at the University of Florida, what many consider to be one of the premiere college bands of the South. The young concert program matured and thrived under his innovative and inspirational leadership and drew many famous bandmasters to conduct the university bands. In 1951, the Gator Marching Band drew national publicity from its concerts on the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington, D. C. and at New York City's Rockefeller Center during a Veterans of Foreign Wars Tour. In 1953, Bachman brought the prestigious convention of the American Bandmasters Association to Gainesville shortly after his presidency of that organization. He adjusted well to the growing popularity of bands as part of the gridiron pageantry of collegiate football and the Gator Band distinguished itself for innovative drills and fine adaptations of popular and classical music. Bachman retired from the directorship in 1958, but he was long from ending his influence in the development of American school bands. From 1958-61, he served as the interim chair of the Department of Music at the University of Florida, where he remained a professor emeritus until 1972. A much sought-after guest conductor, contest judge, sight-reading instructor, and clinician at band festivals during the remainder of his life, Bachman became one of the true leaders of the development of the school band movement in Florida and in all corners of the country. To complement his themes of music education, Bachman produced numerous publications during his lifetime. He co-authored the Smith-Yoder-Bachman Band Method in 1939, which sold more than a million copies during several decades in print. He went on to author two books of band history, The Million Dollar Band (1962) and The Biggest Boom in Dixie: The Story of Band Music at the University of Florida (1968), and a monograph titled, Program Building for Bands (1962). He presented an illustrated lecture, The Role of Band Music in American Culture, to thousands of people at academic gatherings and band clinics during the 1960s and early '70s. He also published over seventy articles including, most notably, a series on the history of bands in Florida, numerous instructional guides, and biographical sketches of famous bandmasters Henry Fillmore, Victor Grabel, and Albert Austin Harding. He was a member of the American Bandmasters Association serving as its president in 1950-1. He is an inductee of the Hall of Fame in Florida Music Educators Association. Bachman garnered two honorary doctorates (in Literature from the University of Idaho in 1963 and in Music from the North Dakota State University in 1966). He was awarded the Edwin Franko Goldman Citation, the Vandercook College of Music Distinguished Service Award, the National Band Association Academy of Wind and Percussion Artists Award, and the Kappa Kappa Psi Distinguished Service Medal. Upon his retirement in 1958, Bachman donated to the University of Florida his huge private band music library, at the time, one of the most complete collections in the world. He was an ardent spokesman of the need for a larger American band literature. He was a supportive reviewer of new works and positively influenced the publication of many pieces, some of which are dedicated to him, including Colonel Bachman March by Albert Cina. In 1974, Alton Wayne Tipps received his doctoral degree from the University of Michigan with the completion of his dissertation, Harold B. Bachman, American Bandmaster-His Contributions and Influence, based on personal interviews with notable bandmasters and his initial processing of this archive. Bachman passed away on April 10, 1972, but his legacy lives on in the form of a trust bearing his name which funds scholarships to all qualified marching band students at the University of Florida.Community Band Spotlight May 2009: Asheville Community Band May 18 2009, 0 Comments
ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY BAND
Each month Altissimo! searches across the country for a community band that has something special about it, whether it be something they’re doing in the community or just an outstanding achievement for the band.
The Asheville Community Band of Asheville, NC, was started in 1979 under the umbrella of the University of North Carolina at Asheville. The band’s stated mission was to encourage interest in music and to broaden appreciation of the various musical styles and sounds unique to a concert band. Now, after thirty years of continuous performances with a roster of 102 members, the band has over 90 volunteer musicians at every concert. Members range in age from a few very talented high school age students to active retirees in their eighties including six charter members!
In addition to four local performances each season, the band has traveled as far as Hawaii, Germany, and Austria for concert tours. The Asheville Community Band has performed at national conventions for band directors and twice for the North Carolina Bandmasters Association’s state convention. Upcoming performances include a free (and popular!) Memorial Day tribute, honoring the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. This concert also features the city’s high school JROTC, who present the colors and assist guests with parking.
Several of the band members were involved in the various military branches and about 10 of them played in the bands at their bases. One is currently in the USMC music program in the school of music at Cherry Point, NC. Another joined the Navy in 1945 at just 16 years of age and played until he was reassigned to an aircraft carrier. Two were members of the US Army Bands during their service, the 316th during the Korean War, and the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii in the 1960s.
The Asheville Community Band enjoys playing a variety of music together. Their conductor, currently Michael L. Robinson (see below), selects the music with suggestions from his band. The repertoire includes hymns, marches, show tunes, band standards, and new music that is fun for everyone! Under his leadership, the band created a scholarship program to encourage and aide students who are pursuing degrees in instrumental music education. Over twenty $1,000 scholarships have been awarded since 1996 to deserving students, the funding of which comes solely through ticket sales and donations.
ACB Scholarship Recipients
Mr. Robinson, the band’s director since 1996, recently completed a 30-year career as a high school band director and is currently the Director of Bands at Mars Hill College. He continues serving as a church music director, a position he has held for 22-years. After reading his bio, it’s obvious that music runs in his veins! Mr. Robinson has been honored with many awards throughout his career. In addition to merit honors, citations of excellence, and involvement with professional music organizations, he has also been President of the North Carolina Band Directors Assoc. and was inducted into their Hall of Fame.
The band’s founder and first director, Patricia L. Garren, is also a multiple award-winning conductor. Now Director Emeritus, Mrs. Garren’s honors include being the first woman elected as President of the North Carolina Bandmasters Association. She received the Women Band Directors International Golden Rose Award and most recently received their highest honor; induction into their Hall of Fame. Each year, one of the band’s scholarships is presented in her name.
Led by two upstanding directors over its 30-year span, the Asheville Community Band has a rich heritage of excellence. It carries on this tradition by giving eligible students a helping hand via the scholarship program and by giving young and old musicians alike an opportunity to participate in and keep the arts alive in their community. For the quality of their efforts, we proudly present them as the Community Band Spotlight for May 2009.
If you’d like to listen to the Asheville Community Band or find further information, please visit their website.
*Special thanks to the Asheville Community Band and Stephanie Lyon for taking the time to help us write this Spotlight and for supplying photos!
*If there is a band you would like to see featured in the Community Band Spotlight, please email Krista at krista@militarymusic.com with the subject “Spotlight Suggestion”
Band Talk May 2009 May 18 2009, 0 Comments
Interview with Roger McGuire, Pipe Major of the Canadian Scottish Regiment pipes and Drums, Victoria, BC Q: Tell us a little about yourself. RM: I was born in Ottawa, Ontario and grew up in the Ottawa area. My father was on staff with the Army Historical Section at the time, where he was primarily involved with the writing of the Official History of the First World War. He had various side interests which included military music, and he was a huge Sousa fan. He took me to concerts frequently. Seeing as Ottawa is the Capital City, there were lots of touring bands as well as local bands like the Governor General's Foot Guards. I also loved going to see the Changing of the Guard at Parliament Hill. In those days, the regular battalions of the Canadian Guards performed most of the time. I distinctly remember asking my mother why there weren't cymbals in one of the bands marching by. I would have been about three I think. Anyway, the reason was it was the Canadian Guards pipe band! I thought it very strange that a band wouldn't have cymbals. The old Auditorium in Ottawa was where I first saw a British Band’s touring show. It was the place where the Ottawa Senators last won the Stanley Cup in 1926, and it was a typical arena of its day, filled, as I recall, with thick smoke. Anyway, when the bands entered, one of the bass drummers was wearing a white bearskin! It was an impressive and colorful show, the Royal Scots Greys and Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. It was around the date considered the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis. A year or so later, the Black Watch came to town. When the band entered the arena, the combination of sight and sound was such that I knew I was going to be a piper one day. I believe there were 23 pipers in the band for that show. The big story of that tour was the fact that 9 pipers left the tour at one point to participate in President Kennedy's funeral. My mother was the kind who wanted her boys to try whatever activities interested them. I wanted to be a piper, but I was considered too young. So I became a highland dancer instead, which I continued with until the early teen years. At ten years old, I finally began taking lessons on the chanter from Pipe Major JT MacKenzie of the RCAF Rockcliffe Pipe Band. He had been pipe major of the 2nd Bn. Scots Guards in the immediate post-war years, and a tremendous individual who was to have a huge impact on the pipe band community of Eastern Ontario. After retiring from the Canadian Forces, he and his family moved to Maxville where he began teaching in the area high school. His autobiography is a great read. When he retired, I started taking lessons from Pipe Major Sam Scott, wartime pipe major of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. He had a big teaching program going with dozens of students, but he died following a minor traffic accident in about 1972. For a couple of years, I went down to Maxville every Saturday, to take lessons from JT MacKenzie. It was an all day journey through country roads. I joined a kids pipe band around 1972 called Camp Argyle #26. We were somehow affiliated with the Service Battalion but were not forced to cut our hair. Anyway, we had a great time and even made a trip to Scotland in 1974 and played in the World Pipe Band Championships in Grade IV. Following my university years in the late 1970s, followed by an extended bout of travelling, I decided to join the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa in 1981. We participated in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1983. During the show we had to play one 12 minute segment of non-stop marches at 120 for the Lochiel Marching Team. By 1988 I had moved to Victoria with my wife Sally. I joined the Canadian Scottish Regiment. In 1992 I was appointed Pipe Major. I set about trying to get our band involved in events all over the place. We went to Monterey, California in 1993, which was the beginning of what was to become a long series of visits to California over the next few years. A tattoo started up in Memphis in 1993 with Major Michael Parker of Royal Tournament fame as producer/director. We were invited to perform the second year. It was a legendary band trip. Unfortunately the tattoo had cost a lot more money than it brought in, and there hasn't been one since. In 1997 we were invited to be the guest military pipe band at the Pleasanton Highland Games in California. We were to play some combined band pieces with the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing Band. It was a magical weekend. The audience loved it, and we did a lot of performing together and socially things sparked also. That was also the weekend that the Princess of Wales died. So one of our pipers played Amazing Grace at the closing ceremonies, and that moment was broadcast throughout California if not across the USA. Following our performance with the Marines at Pleasanton, the relationship continued, and we performed together many times on both sides of the border between 1998 and 2001. In 2000 we recorded a CD together, but that's another story. The Canadian Scottish Regiment performed for the first time at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2004, which is the last time to date that a Canadian band has appeared in this prestigious event. In 2005 the band returned to Holland for the first time since World War II, where we played in the Netherlands National Tattoo. Personally, I was a member of the Canadian Forces Pipe Band for both the 60th Anniversary of Holland celebrations in 2005 and also the Vimy Ridge Monument Rededication in 2007. While a Pipe Major, I have also been involved with a society promoting the vision of creating a west coast international military music festival or tattoo since about 1993. Several events took place during 1994 when the Commonwealth Games occurred in Victoria. Things began to get rolling in 1998 when we were able to stage concerts involving the Prince of Wales's Division (Clive) Band along with British Columbia bands, and later the US Army Field Band and Soldier's Chorus. The year 1999 was a particularly good one with concerts by the Grenadier Guards Band, Welsh Guards Band, 1st Bn. The Highlanders Pipes and Drums and a Sunset Tattoo commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Fort Victoria. Despite a record of successful events, financial support was slow in coming. With very modest financial support we held a festival for most years between 2000 and 2006. Bands we were able to include are a long list, including a return performance by the US Army Field Band and Soldier's Chorus, Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band, US Navy Band Northwest, French Navy Pipe Band, Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, Invercargill Caledonia from New Zealand, and numerous Canadian regular force and reserve bands. With the opening of a new modern arena in Victoria just over 2 years ago, we now have a facility in the community in which to stage a world-class tattoo. Consequently plans for "The Pacific Tattoo" are underway with the intention that the first performance will take place in 2010. Date and venue has not been set, but will be passed along as soon as they are known. Q. What is your daily band routine? RM: Owing to financial circumstances, as well as being a "Reserve" band, we rehearse one evening a week for 3 hours. Q. Do you select the music played for concerts or was it done by committee? RM: I do it Q. Are auditions for new band members done collaboration with section leaders? RM: Yes, we have auditions. Q. How important are recordings to you and the band? RM: Not a factor at the moment. Making a CD was a rewarding and time consuming effort, but circumstances have not allowed us to do another recording since we made Canadian Bagpipes, American Brass. Q. How important to you are the various small ensembles that are often employed? RM: In our case, we occasionally have the traditional 4 pipers for a mess dinner. Most of the time we are full band. Q. What is your view on the future of pipes and drums and military bands in the world? RM: We are in a period of transition for sure. Playing standards are going up, but there are lots of internal and external things that make it difficult to practice and perform as often as we would like. I believe in retaining the traditional elements of performance and dress as well as acknowledging there is a "progressive" pipe music direction going on. At one time you could predict what the first 20 tunes a new piper might learn. Not so today, with a distinctive "civilian" approach. When I started, it was considered mandatory to acquire the Scots Guards manual. Full dress is an important component of the traditions we are upholding. We have very stringent control over what kit we purchase, and how its to be worn. There is a lot of shoddy items being produced, as buying the best means paying what at times seems extortionate amounts of money. Q. What type of music do you feel most comfortable with? RM: Personally I am a fan of traditional military music. Some Jazz, Pop and Broadway is ok, but I'd prefer that it doesn't dominate a performance. This may be the opportunity to make a comment about the playing of marches in touring performances or concerts. Seems that they are often viewed as being nothing more than a musical accompaniment for getting the band on or off the stage or parade square. I consider it to be an artistic flaw to cut off a march without playing it in full in anything other than a parade where the music is being used for the marching of troops. In that situations it’s understandable. Otherwise it’s not. Not so long ago I heard a performance where the narrator gave a 30 second illustration of "Semper Fidelis" which was followed by the band performing the march for no more than 30 seconds and cutting off! (I think I have a tape somewhere to prove it.) In the brass-reed band world, medleys are another area I'm not fond of. I'd rather hear one or two full selections rather than 10-20 snippets jammed into a 5 minute medley. Imaginatively conceived medleys can be effective, but most medleys leave me cold. Finally on combined pipes with brass-reed, the feature items are particularly popular with audiences worldwide. With the rising pitch of pipe chanters over the past two decades or more it has become mandatory for bands to consider adopting two differently pitched chanters. "Orchestral" chanters are being manufactured to blend with brass-reed and other instruments. Especially in hot weather, the pipe chanter pitch rises to the point where the "unsuccessful blend" becomes admittedly painful to listen to. Q. What is your opinion of the world of music today? RM: Exciting time, for sure. If there is one general thing I would like to see happen though, it’s to see bands not lose sight of their military roots. Marches should be a staple of most types of performance, and light classics. I've heard concert performances where the objective seemed to be "let's show how we could be mistaken for anything but a military band".Memorial Day Deals! May 12 2009, 0 Comments
Hello, Altissimo Community! Memorial Day is coming up on May 25th, and to celebrate, we've put together two great deals for you! They'll only be around through Memorial Day Weekend, so catch these savings while you can!
Great Deal #1: The MMA 3-Pack - This combo includes 3 of the Military Music America albums and is on sale for the super low price $14.97! That's like getting one CD for free!
Great Deal #2: Memorial Day Combo - This combo features the best-selling album A Hero For Today and Liberty for All, a musical journey of American music from the Revolutionary War to now. Save 30% on these titles by getting the combo!
In Case You Missed It...
We recently created a Facebook fan page, so if you have a Facebook account, we'd love to connect with you there! Click here to become a fan!
We're On Facebook!
Get the Armed Forces 5-Pack Special! May 05 2009, 0 Comments
Hey, everyone!Armed Forces Day is coming up on May 16th, and to celebrate, we've put together an Armed Forces 5-Pack featuring 5 of our best selling albums*, one from each military branch.
Now through Friday, May 8th, use the Coupon Code AF5 and you can get this great deal for only $47.98 -- an over 30% discount**!! Check it out below!
*The Armed Forces 5-Pack includes: America! by the US Air Force Band; Music for Honors and Ceremonies by the US Navy Band Hail to the Chief by the US Marine Band; Always Ready by the US Coast Guard Band Duty, Honor, Country by the US Army Field Band & Soldiers' Chorus**The Armed Forces 5-Pack is regularly $74.98
Have a Wonderful Tuesday,
Eric Scism
In Case You Missed It...
We recently created a Facebook fan page, so if you have a Facebook account, we'd love to connect with you there! Click here to become a fan!
Facebook! April 29 2009, 1 Comment
We recently made a Facebook fan page, so if you're on Facebook we'd love to connect with you! Go here or click the above image to become a fan!
Community Band Spotlight April 2009: Capitol Sounds Concert Band April 14 2009, 2 Comments
ALTISSIMO! RECORDINGS COMMUNITY BAND SPOTLIGHT NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009 CAPITOL SOUNDS CONCERT BAND Welcome to April's Community Band Spotlight! For the past few months we've been looking at community bands across America to showcase those that are really trying to give back to the community they are a part of. This month we’re presenting the Capitol Sounds Concert Band from Montgomery, AL. Originally named the Montgomery Community Band, the Capitol Sounds Concert Band of Montgomery, AL, was created in 1972 by a small circle of former high school and collegiate musicians who wanted to get back into playing their instruments in a group setting. After steadily growing in size over the years, the band voted to rename itself the Capitol Sounds Concert Band in 2000, a fitting reference to its hometown. The band provides musicians with the change to gain a challenging and rewarding experience by playing in a quality concert band setting, furthering their own talent while sharing it with others in the community. The Capitol Sounds have between 50 and 65 members at every performance ranging from college-age to senior adults. Veterans Day is one of the annual performances of the Capitol Sounds, and many of the older members served in the military and played in the bands and ensembles. What better way to celebrate the service of its members than to take part in national celebrations for the country they selflessly served! Other annual performances include Memorial Day for the local Veterans Hospital, and, of course, they play the big Independence Day celebration when they get to perform all the patriotic crowd favorites. While patriotic music is a staple at such national celebrations, the Capitol Sounds enjoy playing all types of music, including jazz like the Glenn Miller favorite “In the Mood,” classical, concert, and more. The conductor is in charge of selecting music, and Conductor John Jackson (2003-present) is open to requests and suggestions. Jackson has been involved in music since childhood and continued his studies through college where he majored in music. In addition to his duties as band conductor, Jackson is also the band and music director for the city of Montgomery Parks and Recreation. We at Altissimo! think the promotion of music is a very important thing, as is a continued education past high school. Something we thought was cool about the Capitol Sounds is a program they’re getting ready to start for high school seniors – a soloist competition where the prize is scholarship money for college! Also, the winner of the competition will have the opportunity to perform with the band and have a solo during the performance. The Capitol Sounds interest in allowing dedicated musicians the chance to further themselves through a college education is a very honorable mission, and we salute them for this effort. If you would like to see the Capitol Sounds in concert, they have an upcoming concert on May 14 in Wesley Hall at Frazer Memorial United Methodist. Details of their concert schedule can be found at their website here. *Special thanks to John Jackson for being a great sport and taking the time to answer our questions! **If you know of a band that should be our next Community Band Spotlight, please email your suggestion to Krista at krista@militarymusic.com.Jack's Musings: US Navy Band Disaster of 1960 April 14 2009, 25 Comments
MUSINGS By Jack KopsteinIN MEMORIAM The Trumpet will be heard on High The Dead shall live, the living die And their Music will un-tune the Sky
US Navy Band Air Disaster in 1960
It has been 49 years since the shock and sadness of when America’s top-notch corps of military musicians of the United States Navy Band lost their lives in an air accident in Brazil on February 25, 1960. President Eisenhower called the crash extremely tragic as it wiped out the cream of the Navy band’s orchestra, which some said could take its place with the greatest of the world’s symphony orchestras. Nineteen of the orchestra members perished, including one of the leaders, Lt. J. Harold Fultz. The group were scheduled to have played at a dinner that evening in honour of the President of Brazil. It cast a pall over the entire visit, the first by a seated President of the United States. “President Eisenhower was extremely upset and saddened as he knew band members personally,” said White House press secretary Jim Haggerty. Most of the newspapers in the United States selected a United Press International backgrounder to describe the work of US Navy musicians. The article said in part,Most of the members are enlisted men who fought their way to the top in extremely tough competition. The band is faced with the task of replacing the entire orchestral contingent of strings. In doing so, it will follow the same high standards in effect since 1925. That was the year the Navy band came into existence, under an act of Congress signed by President Calvin Coolidge.
The conductor of the Navy band in 1960 was Commander Brendler, who had held the post since 1937. He was with the larger contingent at Buenos Aeries when the crash occurred. The remaining band members were grief stricken. A memorial stained glass window was erected in the Christ Church in Rio de Janeiro and dedicated on September 24, 1961. The Chief of the US Naval Mission in Brazil unveiled the memorial which read “TO THE GLORY AND MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THE US NAVY WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE AIR DISASTER FEBRUARY 25th 1960.” The following is a list of the UNITED STATES NAVY BAND that perished in this terrible accident. Assistant Leader LT Johann H. Fultz MU2 William F. Albrecht MUC Elmer L. Armiger MUC Henry Bein MU2 Milton C. Bergey MU1 Robert L. Clark MU1 Anthony M. D’Amico MUS Albert J. Desiderio MU1 Reyes S. Gaglio, Jr. MU1 Richard D. Harl MU1 Gerald R. Meier MUC Raymond H. Micallef MUC James A. Mohs MUC Walter M. Penland MUC Earl W. Richey MUC Jerome Rosenthal MU1 Vincent Tramontana MU1 Roger B. Wilklow MUC Jefferson B. YoungBand Talk April 2009 April 14 2009, 4 Comments
Band Talk
This month, instead of an interview, we present this wonderful painting created by American illustrator Paul Stahr (1883-1953). This painting depicts John Philip Sousa marching through the streets of the city with the US Navy band that he trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station outside Chicago during World War I.* The painting can be found hanging in the library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
*Thank you, John Johnson and Jack Kopstein, for submitting this information!*
West Point Glee Club Performs on ACM's Award Show April 06 2009, 0 Comments
On Sunday April 5th 2009 the West Point Glee Club performed with Trace Adkins to help support the Wounded Warrior Project. Read More On the West Point Glee Club's Performance For More Music by the West Point Glee Club Check Out: Stand Ye Steady West Point on the March Technorati Tags: west point glee club,acms,acm awardsHelp Us Name Our Album! March 30 2009, 9 Comments
*Thank you to everyone who sent their name ideas! We are no longer taking suggestions, and we will announce the winning album name soon.* Hey Everyone! We're making a brand new album to celebrate Independence Day, and we need YOUR help naming it! Leave us a comment on this entry, or send your suggestions to Eric at eric@militarymusic.com with the subject line "July Fourth Album." If we choose YOUR suggestion, you'll receive a FREE copy of the album this summer as well as a FREE album of your choosing from our existing library. You'll also go down in history on the album's liner notes as the genius who came up with the name! The album will feature many of the military bands and ensembles playing music perfect for that backyard barbeque! Here's part of the track listing to help inspire you: Star Spangled Banner – Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants Armed Force Medley - US Army Field Band and Soldier’s Chorus God Bless America – The Army Band Patriot’s Song Medley (Yankee Doodle Dandy, I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy, Columbia the Gem of the Ocean, You’re a Grand Old Flag) – US Air Force Heritage of America Band This Land is Your Land – USAF Singing Sergeants This is My Country – Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants Soldier’s On Parade (Screaming Eagles, Sky Soldiers, American Soldier, Big Red One, Follow Me, Dog Faced Soldier) – Army Field Band We Were There – Army Band Stars and Stripes Forever – Army Band Have fun and don't be afraid to be creative! -- The Altissimo! CrewNew Music Tuesday: "In My Dream" March 24 2009, 0 Comments
ey, everyone! It's New Music Tuesday, and this week we're celebrating the US Army Field Band! We've selected their album In My Dream as this week's Disc on Demand release. This album was recorded to commemorate the first Africans who came to the New World who strove to develop a new voice for themselves, and In My Dream celebrates the heritage and musical contributions of those who dared to dream. Check it out below!
Also, to continue our celebrating, all US Army Field Band albums are on sale this week (see the following list of titles)! TODAY ONLY, they are on sale for 50% off, so be sure to take a look at some great music at a great price! NOW, they are 25% off until Monday, March 30.
The following album titles are eligible for discount:
Let Freedom Ring - Legacy of Aaron Copland
Legacy of Benny Carter - Legacy of Hank Levy - Legacy of Randall Thompson
Legacy of Robert Russell Bennett - Legacy of Nadia Boulanger
Legacy of Sammy Nestico - Legacy of Stan Kenton
The Musical Ambassadors of the Army
In Concert: Field Band Jazz Ambassadors
In Concert: Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus
Call To Duty - Christmas Celebration
Remember to use the Coupon Code FIELD to get the discount!!*
(*see note at bottom regarding Coupon Codes)
Have a Wonderful Tuesday,
Eric Scism
On to the New Music!
The US Army Field Band's album In My Dream features some really great music, from the well-known "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Respect" (both featured in medleys), to the hauntingly beautiful "Soon I Will Be Done With the Trouble of the World" and the uptempo jazzy "What a Little Moonlight Can Do." In My Dream is a wonderful tribute to those who continue to "dream of a perfect place with but one human race," and it features some of the best musical performers in the world, all of whom serve proudly as members of America's Army.
Check it out, and use the Coupon Code below to get free shipping when you place your order!*
For FREE SHIPPING Use Coupon Code:
DREAM
*Note: At Checkout, only ONE Coupon Code may be redeemed on a purchase. Please place separate orders if you wish to purchase both "In My Dream" with free shipping and any Field Band albums with the special discount.*
In Case You Missed It...
Here is last week's Disc on Demand release, Showcase by the United States Navy Band!! This is an incredible album of music by some of the United States' best, and it 'showcases' the talent and musicianship of these men and women in service. Check it out here
Click here to get it at iTunes!
Help Us Name Our July 4th Album!
We're putting together a July 4th album and we're looking for some name ideas! If you have a suggestion, please send an email to Eric at eric@militarymusic.com with the subject line "July 4th Album."
