Manchester Civic Band : North Manchester, Indiana

Band Notice: Wayfaring Stranger

eric — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:05:20 +0000

As summer ends, the leaves change colors, and cool air makes its way through the land, the civic band plays a variety of tunes fitting for the time. Sure, R.B. Hall is great in June, and J.P. Sousa is acceptable to even French Horn players on July 4th, but limiting yourself to only marches and pop tunes would drive any band crazy. That’s why Reg puts together a collection of slightly slower, more musical pieces for the autumn months.

One of these tunes is the traditional folk song Wayfaring Stranger. Legend says that the tune was written by Bishop Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, on his death bed in 1831. (see The Hymn 81:2 pg. 101) By the 1880s it began appearing in various church hymnals. In the nineteen thirties and forties the song was popularized by Burl Ives (1909-1995) through his radio program of the same name, and recorded several times by him. Actually, Ives got his radio start at WBOW in Terre Haute, Indiana while a student at Indiana State Teachers College (today Indiana State University).

First Line:

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
A-trav’ling through this land of woe.
And there’s no sickness, toil or danger
In that bright world to which I go.
I’m going home to see my father (mother, sister, brother etc.)
I’m going there no more to roam;
I’m just a-going over Jordan
I’m just a-going over home.

The civic band is playing a arrangement by Ernest Lubin (1916-1977) from the Ives era. The publisher was pretty humble about the piece, calling it “one of the most beautiful things ever published.”

I’m not gonna lie, I’m not convinced. But for a buck fifty you can’t go wrong, right? However, it really is a great tune. You’ll gonna love it while sitting in your lawn chair and drinking apple cider during the civic band’s concert at Doud’s this October. But for now, check out this recent cover of this tune. Cover of Wayfaring Stranger on You Tube

And remember, there are no strangers on Wednesday night. See you then!

So Long Summer Gigs

eric — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:35:22 +0000

The civic band just finished their last concert of the summer performing in the parade at North Manchester’s Fun Fest town festival. It was a wonderful afternoon, and just like the Silver Lake Days in June, the rain held off just long for the parade to run its course. Several members wore cowboy hats for the Wild Wild West theme, and the band played several western themed tunes. Check out pictures from the parade and additional photos from earlier summer concerts at the Photo Gallery and Flickr Photostream. It was a blue day, in one part because of new blue band shirts, and as several band members are leaving temporarily for college and new adventures.

However the gigs must go on, and the band has been busy working up new music. Believe it or not, the band’s fall concerts begin in four weeks, with a exciting variety of music for the cooler days. Whether you are leaving Manchester for school (or coming into Manchester College for school) there is always a open seat for you at the civic band, practices on Wednesdays, 7:30, at the high school band room.

See you Wednesday!

Livin’ in the Wild Wild West

eric — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:04:55 +0000

The theme for North Manchester’s town festival Fun Fest this year is Wild Wild West. The band will be joining in the fun playing in the annual parade wearing western clothing such as cowboy hats and boots, and playing several well known songs celebrating the American West. However, at the same time one thinks of the Wild West they cannot help but think of The Escape Club’s 1988 number 1 hit Wild Wild West. This song featured a four part horn section, including a alto sax, trumpet, trombone, and mellophonium.

Yes, you read that correctly, the Conn 16E Mellophium made famous by Stan Kenton’s big band in the early nineteen sixties.

This excellent instrument was originally designed in 1957 in Elkhart, Indiana, at the Conn Instrument factory. After it’s use with Kenton’s group, it went on to be played in hit singles (okay… maybe just one), in marching bands, and in various brass groups. Civic Band member Eric Bradley is a proud owner of a 1972 Conn Mellophonium, playing it with the Bad Dog IV Brass Band from 2000 to 2006 (pictured second from left).

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a fan of the west, 80’s music, have a pony tail, or play a mellophonium to join the Civic Band. The band is working up plenty of other tunes right now, and are always looking for new or long lost members!

See you Wednesday, cowboy!

The Dog Days of Summer Call for Civic Band (and Chili Dogs)

eric — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:04:10 +0000

The Dog Days of Summer: home to long hot days, cool breezy nights, trips to the local beach, legendary family vacations, and “the dogs and fries” after band practice. On Wednesday nights the rest of the summer the band is working up tunes for the Fall Concert Series (play list now available!) and North Manchester’s Fun Fest Parade on August 9. Come in the air conditioned Manchester High School band room to join in the new tunes. The fall concert series always brings out the richest variety of music the band has each year and this one is no exception.

See you Wednesday!

The Band is Getting Ready for Herb, are You?

eric — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:40:46 +0000

It may surprise you, but the Civic Band is slowly but surely entering the second half of the twentieth century. Now, before you community band purist everywhere fill up our email box with hate mail, let us explain. For the fall concert series the band plans on playing several brass standards of previous years, including Maynard Ferguson’s Birdland, and several tunes from Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. Too much trumpet for you? Don’t worry, there are plenty of other songs being pulled from Reg’s music library, and all are being worked up every Wednesday night at the North Manchester High School band room, starting at 7:30 PM.

Below is a video of Herb and the brass preforming The Lonely Bull on the Singer Show in 1967. Enjoy, and see you Wednesday!

New Music, New Concerts… Same Civic Band Attitude

eric — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:02:47 +0000

The Civic Band finished off the 2008 early summer series with a blast, playing into the dark and the start of Manchester College’s firework display. A large crowd enjoyed the band along with several guest speakers, popcorn, and soft drinks. Check out all the great pictures at the band’s photo gallery or flickr photostream from the past month’s concerts.

Now with a few weeks until the Manchester Fun Fest parade and later fall concerts, the band is working up a whole new set of music at the next practice on Wednesday, July 9, 7:30 PM at the library. It’s a great time to dust off a instrument and join, we’re even getting new band shirts to start off this concert series. See you Wednesday!

Fourth of July Celebration at Manchester College

eric — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:57:31 +0000

Fireworks, hot dogs, community band music… what else is more American? All three come together for the Annual Fourth of July Celebration at Manchester College this Friday, July 4th starting at 8:30 PM. Hear the civic band perform its spring / early summer concert set one last time this year along with traditional patriotic favorites. Held on the Manchester College campus athletic grounds, festivities will include the band, one dollar hot dogs and drinks, patriotic readings, and the five thousand dollar firework display. Rain date scheduled for the following evening, Saturday, July 5th at the same time. The civic band has preformed at this event each year since its inception, and is always prepared with a great set of tunes. Best part, like all civic band performances, its free!

Check out these newspapers that mention the Civic Band:

The Journal Gazette - Fort Wayne

The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne

The Times-Union - Warsaw

Manchester College Press Release

Tonight’s Practice at Library

eric — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:22:32 +0000

The Civic Band practice for tonight, Wednesday, July 2, will be held at the North Manchester Public Library at 7:30 PM. We will be going over music for the 4th of the July concert this Friday. See you there!

2008 Silver Lake Parade Champions

eric — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:44:31 +0000

It’s official, the Manchester Civic Band reclaimed the crown of best band in the Silver Lake Days parade on Saturday, June 21, 2008. Hitting their peak at the grand stand with Henry Fillmore’s America Exultant March was enough for the band to convince the Silver Lake judges over a talented competition. Director Reg Smith announced at the end of the parade that “I don’t want to give you guys a big head, but I think that was the best we’ve ever played at Silver Lake.”

Source: Times-Union of Warsaw, Indiana. Tuesday, June 24, 2008. Page 3A

Following their victory, the band performed last Wednesday night, June 25th, at Timbercrest Retirement Community to their largest audience so far this year. Their next concert will be on Friday, July 4th at Manchester College. Hear the band one last time for the spring / early summer concert series and enjoy fireworks following. Also, new pictures are coming in daily from earlier concerts this year. Check them out at the Photo Gallery page or on the Civic Band’s Flickr Photostream,

Be Careful When you Play “Stormy Weather”

eric — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:41:16 +0000

The weather was wonderful for the civic band downtown concert at Silver Lake Days last Saturday, June 21st. While the trumpet section might disagree, a eager full downtown heard the band play a mini concert of early summer series songs before the start of the annual parade. That set included the tune Stormy Weather by Harold Arlen, the man who wrote the Wizard of Oz tune Over the Rainbow. Well, within a half hour after the parade stormy weather was the tune, with high gust winds and hail. In fact, northern Indiana had scattered thunderstorms the whole rest of the weekend.

The good news is, the civic band’s next concert is indoors. Join us this Wednesday, June 25, at Timbercrest Retirement Community at 6:45 PM to hear the fine tunes of summer. See you Wednesday!