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C Melody Saxophone Forum / Community and Church Bands / National City Comm. Concert Band

Ralph User ID: 9001673

Feb 27th 11:55 AM This is of special note to all the Doublers out there, since there usually is not any music for C-Melody saxes. I joined the National City Community Concert Band in September 2003. They are sponsored by the City of National City (near San Diego, Ca.) and some instruments have been provided for the band, including the Bass Clarinet I'm using. I believe they have purchased 2 Tubas, a French Horn, a couple of new Cymbals and other equipment. We just played a our Spring Concert titled "American Composers" Concert. All American composers on the program. We played a wide range of composers from John Phillip Sousa to Duke Ellington. The most impressive piece of music played (IMO) was titled "Flight of Valor" by James Swearingen. This piece was commissiond by the Somerset County (Pennsylvania) Community Band and respectfully dedicated to the brave heroes of United Flight 93. NEVER have I performed a piece of music that moved me so much. The director was detected as slightly starting to show emotion just introducing the piece, and I could FEEL REAL EMOTION on my part during various portions of the performance. It really hit home as the most moving piece of music I've ever played. You could really feel it. I really recommend joining a Community Band for the exposure to various types of music (if you NEED to play). Had I not joined this band, I would have never heard this piece of music or many of the other works we've performed. MUSIC IS GREAT, especially when you can move an audience through a performance. Everyone wins!! Now I wonder when I'll find another piece of music that can move me as much as "Flight of Valor". I feel it will be a long time before this one is surpassed. I'm still FEELING it! Patriotically yours, Ralph

WW2 User ID: 2302834

Feb 27th 3:46 PM Ralph; I know what you mean about being moved! In August 2001, I was working as the woodwind coach for the Chaparral High School Platinum Sound band in Temecula, California. The show was entitled "The Cause, The Reason, and the Pursuit!" The show was based upon the story and music of "The Mask of Zorro". The cause was justice and freedom. The reason was the death of a loved one (Zorro's wife). The pursuit was to bring justice to those who not only killed his loved one but also to bring freedom to those being oppressed. Then, September 11, 2001 happened. Suddenly, the cause became "The American Way of Life, Liberty, and Justice". The reason became "The World Trade Center and the loved ones we lost on that terrible day". The pursuit became "Al Queda and Osama bin Laden". Our first competition after September 11th was quite strange. Usually a crowd of two to eight thousand was in the stadium. This time, I would say we were lucky to have one hundred. Yet the show went on. The band played their heart out and the small crowd loved the show. The music showcased included "Abram's Pursuit" by David Holsinger. Doctor Holsinger himself came to the school during concert season and led the band on this piece. He explained what the piece was about and led the band in the emotion of the story behind the music. After the performance, there was not a dry eye in the house. This year’s show is “The Greatest Generation” and pays tribute to our World War II veterans. The three drum majors dressed in costumes that resembled WWII Khaki uniforms. Being that the three of them are girls, it looked like the Andrew Sisters were leading the show. Everyone noticed them before we even entered the stadium. Yet, the music took over once the show started. But, the band did not really understand the show concept until they went to the Veteran’s Hospital in Loma Linda. There they performed their music and talked to the veterans one-on-one. After this event, they understood. They went from being dead last in their division to being in second or third place. Quite a difference! The music, and the show was so well received that many corporate sponsors are helping the band to go to Washington D.C. to participate in the parade for the dedication of the World War II Veteran’s Memorial. I can’t watch this show without the music and reason for it welling up as tears in my eyes. How am I going to deal with the emotion of the music in Washington D.C.? Yet, without the emotions of the performers, we simply have dead sounding music. Like the music you get from a music composing package. Nice, but with no soul. Let you emotions flow through your instrument when you play. Then, to quote Dr. David Holsinger, "You add the life and soul to the music on the page!"