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Fall Concert
Lifetime Service Award to be Given Posthumously
to Barbara Cataldo
Meet the Concord Band Clarinet Section and
their Many Instruments
It's Time to Make Your Concord Band Holiday
Pops Reservations
Enjoy the Concord Band Fall Concert on CD!
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Concord Band Begins Two-Year 50th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, October 27th
The Concord Band will open its 2007-2008 season at 51 Walden Street in
Concord on Saturday, October 27, 2007, at 8:00 p.m.
This concert will mark the beginning of a two-year celebration leading to
the Concord Band's 50th anniversary concert in March of 2009.
Throughout its long history, the Concord Band has distinguished itself
among community bands by commissioning many new works for concert band by
such distinguished composers as Norman Dello Joio, James Curnow, Warren
Barker, Stephen Bulla, Julie Giroux, and Elliot Del Borgo.
Over the next two years, the Band will be programming a number of its most
outstanding commissions, and, in 2009, the Band will release a CD dedicated
to these pieces.
In addition, the Band has commissioned a major new work for symphonic band
by composer Roger Cichy in honor of the Band's 50th anniversary.
This new work will be premiered at the 50th Anniversary Concert in
2009.
The very first work commissioned by the Concord Band was
Satiric Dances by composer Norman Dello Joio.
This work was commissioned in commemoration of Concord's Bicentennial of
April 19, 1975, for the Concord Band, and was funded by the town of
Concord.
Satiric Dances has since become a staple in the concert band
repertory.
Dello Joio is considered to be one of America's most important composers.
In this concert, the Band will perform Satiric Dances as well as two
other major works for concert band by this composer: Scenes from the
Louvre and From Every Horizon.
The Band will also be performing another Concord Band commission,
Dichotomy...Impressions of Kerouac.
This work was composed for the Concord Band by University of Lowell
composer Daniel P. Lutz and was premiered in 1997.
The Band will perform this work in recognition of the 50th anniversary of
the publication of Jack Kerouac's great beat generation novel
On the Road.
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Flute Soloist Jean Munro
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The Concord Band has always also distinguished itself by featuring
outstanding soloists from within the Band.
In this concert, the Band is proud to feature flutist Jean Munro performing
Stephen Bulla's Rhapsody for Flute.
Jean Munro attended Ithaca College and was graduated from the University of
New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education.
She is currently a student of Andrea Mason Nolin.
Jean held music teaching positions in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and
Maine before joining the high tech industry in Massachusetts.
She is employed as a Sales Support Engineer at Progress Software in Bedford
and lives in Westford.
Jean has been a member of the Concord Band since 2004 and is currently on
its Board of Trustees.
The Fall Concert will begin with Fanfare for a Festive Day by
Roger Cichy, and will also include On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss by
David R. Holsinger and Spirit of Flight, a new work for concert band
by John O'Reilly, recently commissioned by the United States Air Force
Academy Band, Lt. Col. Steven Grimo, Commander.
Please join the Concord Band on October 27th for this exciting concert as
we begin to celebrate the unique heritage of the Concord Band.
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Lifetime Service Honoree Barbara Cataldo
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In 2002, the Concord Band Board of Trustees introduced the Lifetime
Service Award to honor individuals whose participation, over a significant
span of time, has made a fundamental difference to the Concord Band.
Past Award recipients have been Bill Burdine and William Toland (2002), Carl
Getz and Robert Turkington (2003), Gene Parish and William R. Phelan
(2004), Ed Richter and Bill Siebert (2005) and Jerry Welts (2006).
An Honor Roll is displayed prominently in the 51 Walden lobby.
On October 27, 2007, the Concord Band Lifetime Service Award will be given
posthumously to Barbara Cataldo.
Her Award plaque, the first the Band will have given to honor a woman, will
read as follows:
Until her death in a December, 1996, auto accident, Barbara Cataldo
served the Concord Band for over 32 years.
With terms as secretary and principal flutist during the Band's celebratory
US Bicentennial events, she played in the 1964 Sixth Winter Concert and
every concert through October 26, 1996.
Band was a family affairBarbara's husband, oboist Ralph, as Band
secretary, signed the Band's Declaration of Trust in 1968.
The Band dedicated its first CD, A Winter Festival, to Barbara and Ralph.
From appearances at Emerson Jr. High School, the Buttrick Mansion at
Minuteman National Park, Lake Kiamesha, NY, and the Concord Library lawn to
51 Walden, Faneuil Hall and Fruitlands Museum, Barbara described her time
in the Band as a "long, happy, fantastic, musical trip."
Indeed, she helped make it so.
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The clarinet family:
Contrabass (BB♭),
Bass (B♭),
Alto (E♭),
B♭,
E♭
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The Instruments
The origins of the modern clarinet, according to the Instrument
Encyclopedia, can be traced back to the 14th century.
By the late 17th century, this single-reed instrument was an established
component of ensembles of many kinds.
The clarinet reed, like that of the saxophone, is referred to as a
"beating" reed that vibrates against the instrument's mouthpiece, as is
distinguished from the double or "free" reed employed on the oboe and
bassoon.
The clarinet continued to evolve until the late 1840s, when it was
revolutionized through the application of a fingering system that had
originally been developed by Theobald Boehm for the modern flute.
The Boehm system made the clarinet easier to play, improved its tone
quality and expanded the range of each member of the clarinet family
(see graphic).
Today's set of clarinets, as used in symphonic wind ensembles such as the
Concord Band, consists of the five instruments shown, and a few others
(e.g., instruments in A and C), more commonly called for in orchestral
music, the ranges of which extend above and below that of the most common
B♭ clarinet.
Before the introduction of the Boehm system, frequent changing of
instruments was often a necessity during the course of performing a single
piece.
Of the five instruments shown in the graphic at the right, the upper
(smaller) four are used in virtually every piece the Concord Band plays.
The Band owns a contrabass instrument for those situations in which it is
required.
The B♭ instrument is without doubt the workhorse of the family.
The Band's instrumentation usually consists of one E♭, one alto, two or
three basses and as many as 15 B♭ clarinets.
Clearly the clarinet section is the most populous in the Concord Band,
representing nearly one third of our players.
The success of the clarinet as an instrument is attributable to several
factors: the ability of its sound to blend well with that of every other
instrument and its flexibility and comfortable fit with every kind of music
from folk and jazz to concert music that ranges in time from the
pre-Baroque to the most arcane of contemporary works.
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The Concord Band clarinet section, gathered at a rehearsal for one of the
Band's concerts during the summer of 2007.
Left to right, front row: David Purinton, Yvonne Dailey, Claire Napoleon,
Karen Whitehead, Adena Schutzberg, Len Schatz and Bob Tyler.
Second row: Paul DeWolfe, Paul Silver, Judy Piermarini, Charlie Learoyd,
Jeff Leiserson and Elliot Finkelstein.
Not present for photo: Lorraine Chase, Gina DePaoli, Anne Kandra, Alvin
Lipsky, Linda Menkis, Louis Sinoff and Ann Wirtanen.
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The Instrumentalists
To prepare for writing these few paragraphs, your editor conducted a
brief survey of the Concord Band's 20 clarinetists.
It turns out that this group of very experienced musicians, with
substantial musical training, would make an excellent subject for an
extended magazine article, if not a book.
The same could be said of several of them, individually.
Unfortunately, there is barely room here for a few statistics and a handful
of interesting quotations.
Our clarinetists have been in the Band an average of 14 years.
75% of them have been in the Band five years or more.
35% have been with us for 15 years or more.
30% are or have been music educators.
40% were members of All-State or District Bands when in high school.
30% have played solos with the Band.
20% have served on the Band's Board of Trustees.
One ran for state-wide elective office a few years ago.
In their own words, but in no particular order:
"One of the highlights of my musical career was being complimented by
soloist Yo Yo Ma while sightreading my part."
"I really enjoy the challenge of being in a top notch band.
Expectations are high and I take that very seriously and therefore
practice far more than I have for other groups."
"It's a way for me to keep playing and practicing and to continue to
play 'grown up' music when I teach elementary music all day long!"
"I enjoy having an opportunity to perform quality music with
conscientious musicians, to be part of an ensemble with a strong work ethic
that enables it to prepare first rate concerts."
"The opportunity to play behind quality soloists and vocalists is not
to be missed."
"It has been special to work with guest conductors and soloists, as
well as composers who have written for the Band."
"It's a pleasure to perform such challenging repertoire under such
an exceptional conductor as Bill McManus."
"The Concord Band has been a cornerstone of my life for 32 years."
"I'll never forget our trip to Sandwich to play at a Channel 2
fundraiser.
The Canadian Brass played at our intermission!"
In recalling the Band's trip to Pittsfield for a festival nearly a
decade ago,
"We had a group dinner one evening.
People in the Band were invited to approach the microphone and share
something about themselves.
Hearing stories from so many people about how important the Band was to
them changed my entire view of the Band.
I think one of the speakers was Jerry Welts.
He described, now that he was older, how he got up every Monday because
Mondays had purposeit was rehearsal night.
It gave meaning to his life.
I think a few others echoed the same sentiment.
I was moved by this.
Band just wasn't about playing for a few hours, it was truly life
sustaining and meaningful for members of the Band."
She went on to say,
"After 11 years of being in the Band, I view the Band members as extended
family.
I wish I could write this more eloquently, but can't at the moment.
I'm supposed to be working."
While none of the Concord Band's instrumentalists (clarinetist or
otherwise) is paid, it does cost about $40,000 a year to run the Band.
If you'd like to help out financially, please write a check for as much as
you can afford and mail it in the enclosed envelope.
If you have no return envelope, simply send your check to the address at
the top of this newsletter.
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Be sure to use the reservation card enclosed with this mailing to make
your reservations early for the Concord Band's annual Holiday Pops
concerts, to be held at 51 Walden on December 7th and 8th at 8:00 PM.
There's no better way to celebrate the holiday season than to enjoy an
evening of great music and fun in the festive 51 Walden holiday atmosphere!
Holiday Pops with the Concord Band has become a tradition with many area
families and sells out early. Seating at tables for four is priced at $20
per adult; $15 per child, 12 and under, including beverages and snacks.
Return your reservation card today!
Reservations can also be made by calling 978-897-9969.
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Available in a box in the 51 Walden lobby during the Fall Concert will
be an order form for a CD of that evening's concert.
Those who would like a CD of the October 27th concert will be asked to
complete the order form and either return it to the box in the lobby or
mail it in after the concert.
The prepaid price of $15 per CD includes shipping and handling.
Payments must be received by November 13th.
It is anticipated that the CDs will be mailed in early December.
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Concerts will be held at 51 Walden, Concord, at 8:00pm.
- FALL CONCERT
- Saturday, October 27th
- HOLIDAY POPS
- Friday and Saturday, December 7th and 8th
for reservations, call 978-897-9969
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