September 25-26, 2010 - St. Cosma-St. Damian Feast - Utica, NY

When we arrived at St. Anthony’s Church on Saturday evening the air was full of voices and the sizzle and crackle of mini-firecrackers. The tent, pavilion, and Church were crowded with people and the band area and dance floor were roped off waiting for us to setup.

Our former trumpeter, Pat Putrello, was installing his stage lights around the area where the Band would be playing.

Our 39 member Band was all seated ready to begin playing with the audience gathered around us but we all had to wait for the Candlelight Procession and the Benediction to end before we could begin our concert.

When our Conductress, Arlene, signaled for our Concert-Master, Richard Pashley, to tune-up the Band, our most patient audience broke into applause! That was a first…we’ve never received an applause for tuning-up.

Once we played the three National Anthems; United States, Canadian, and Italian, the crowd exploded into one big cheer. They sang each classic song in Italian…they danced Tangos, Polkas, Fox Trots, and Waltzes…and they treated us royally.

Their buses arrived and it was sad to watch them slowly disperse. By the time we played our last Tarantella they were all but gone.

Everyone was back in full force on Sunday morning. The tables were piled with picnic baskets, flowers, fresh fruit, peppers, eggplant, greens, polenta, cheeses, and home-made wine.

The Band led a group of people (mostly Canadians), to a house near the Church to pick up 2 young boys dressed as the Sts. Cosma and Damian and escort them back to Church for Mass.

While waiting for Mass to end and the Procession to begin the Band members had time to enjoy eggplant sandwiches, sausage and peppers, or a late breakfast of pastries, coffee, and BEER!!.

We form two bands to accommodate the length of the Grand Procession….one plays in the front and one at the end. We were delighted to be joined by former band member from long ago – drummer Maurice Putrello.

This Feast is not just about the Canadian Pilgrims – it’s also about the Red Band members, many who are Parishioners of St. Anthony’s. Among then are the Galimes – Al and his children Mike, Julia, and Richard (when he’s in town) all play in the Band, and his wife Elaine can always be found making Pizza Frite.

Along the Procession route we stop at houses that display the Portraits of the Saints and play Marcia Reale.

We also stop at specific street corners to greet and acknowledge the Families of long time Band members that have passed away. It has become a tradition that they stand there as the Band stops to play Marcia Reale in their honor.

When we return to the Church, musicians from the front re-united with the back band to play a rousing rendition of Bravura and then Marcia Reale as the Statues of the Saints are returned to the Altar in the Church. The Official conclusion of the Feast.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

Please click on following link for photos
Concert
Procession

September 19, 2010 - San Gennaro - Utica, NY

The Sons of Italy celebrated their 1st Annual Feast of San Gennaro and they pulled out all the stops.

Sunday’s celebration began with a solemn Mass held at The Parish of Mt. Carmel/Blessed Sacrament Church. It was in Italian and featured Mozart’s Coronation Mass performed by the Utica Symphony Orchestra and the Festival Chorus of San Gennaro including members of the Oneida Area Civic Chorale.

Mass was immediately followed by a Procession led by the Red Band from Mt. Carmel Church, up Mohawk St., and over Bleecker St.


We continued right into a large tent and stopped in front of a Statue of San Gennaro. After a Blessing to San Gennaro by the Very Rev. Stephen Enea …we played a few more songs in celebration.

The parking lot of The Sons of Italy was filled with tents featuring not only Italian food but food from many of the various ethnic groups found in the city. There were also games and carnival rides along with tents and stands selling Religious and Italian items.

We returned in the afternoon to play a Concert from 4:30-6:30 to close the Feast. We could hear the audience singing along as we played many of their favorite Italian songs.

The inaugural San Gennaro Feast in Utica is off to a fine start.

VIVA SAN GENNARO!!
VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

Please click on link below for photos
San Gennaro Festival

September 17, 2010 - Festa Italiana - Syracuse, NY

The Red Band hit the road in a chartered bus once again – this time it’s “Westward Ho” to Syracuse to play for the Festa Italiana.

The bus directed into the back-stage parking lot where the stagehands were right there waiting for us. The crew helped unload our equipment and setup the chairs. Once they were done – it was up the ramp or the side stairs and onto the big stage.

The stage was next to the State Office Building looking out onto City Hall Plaza which was filled with chairs for our audience and a city of large white tents selling pastas, meats, pastries, beer, wine, and souvenirs. Even the Villa Pizza Frite booth from the State Fair was there.

We were in full force with a large group of 33 musicians and back with us after a long absence were Rocky Reed and Peg Carrier (welcome back).

Our Interlocutor, Pat Santacroce, helped introduce us to Syracuse and kept the audience entertained with stories about the background of the musical numbers we performed.

All the chairs filled as our concert progressed and the music was greeted with strong applause and shouts of “Bravo”.

There was a large crowd milling about in the tent area (it was dinner time), and lots of people were playing Bocce Ball in a court setup on the grass in front of City Hall.

It was a very good turnout for a brisk fall evening.

We played from 6:00-7:30 – took our bows – saluted the audience with Marcia Reale and a “VIVA SYRACUSE”. Then it was back on the bus for the ride home.

Ah! Show Business! We’re getting just like the pros.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

Please click on link below for photos
Syracuse Festa Italiana