September 24, 2011 - St. Cosma-St. Damian Feast Part 1 Saturday Concert - Utica, NY

If the attendance record for the Annual St. Cosma-St. Damian feast was not shattered this year, it sure came close. There was approximately 100 buses from Canada in addition to all the local people that attended.

When we arrived early to setup for the concert every picnic table was already taken.

The food pavilion was packed and “Horror of Horrors” – the Saturday night allotment of eggplant sandwiches were already SOLD-OUT!


The concert couldn’t start until the Candlelight Procession returned and Benediction was held on the Church steps – but we had our own candlelight under the tent. Many of the picnic tables were elegantly set with tablecloths and candlesticks. There was one table with an elaborate tiered candelabra and another with an autumnal floral bouquet. The evening’s 40 piece Red Band “Orchestra” included a special guest – Richard Galime and his wife, Mary. In keeping with their family tradition they make the trip from Chicago every year to play trumpet along with Richard’s father Al on trumpet, brother Michael on saxophone, and cousin Patricia Durante on bass clarinet and the newest member of the Galime family, audience member Lena.

We must not fail to acknowledge the fantastic solos by Richard on “Italian Festival” and Al on “Smoke Gets in your Eyes” – BRAVO!
Once again our concert included three National Anthems (USA, Canada, Italian), Polkas, Tangos, Marches, and Italian favorites. All were received with thunderous applause.

It looked like another successful concert would go off without a hitch when just moments after an encore of the “Tarantella” – a fight broke out in front of the Clarinet side of the band and exploded with it’s entourage right out across the dance floor where other people joined the fracas.

Within moments a whole squad of Police not only broke up the fight but declared the Feast over for the night and dispersed the guilty and the innocent in one fell swoop.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!
For more photos please click on the following link
Saturday Concert

September 25, 2011 - St. Cosma-St. Damian Feast Part 2 Sunday Procession - Utica, NY

On Sunday despite a gloomy forecast, it was sunny and warm with temperatures in the 80’s.

The Red Band has 2 processions – the first is to go to a house across from the Church to pick up two young boys dressed as St. Cosma (Green Robe) and Damian (Red Rob
e) and escort them back to the Church and Mass.

In between Processions the Canadian Pilgrims invited Band members to their tables to share food and wine.

For the Grand Procession following the Mass, we split into two bands – one in front of the first Statue to lead the way and one in back of the last statue with hundreds of Pilgrims in-between.

Once again we were greeted by the Tocco Family at the corner of St. Anthony and Mary Streets. With them are two empty chairs so poignantly symbolizing their parents who for many years watched from that corner. It brings a tear to many eyes.

We stop and played “Marcia Reale” to honor all the homes displaying large posters of the Saints. Then we continue with all our Italian procession marches. These songs have echoed through the streets of East Utica for over 100 years – La Banda Rossa Classics.

The walk ended at the Church steps where the huge crowd gave honor not to just Sts. Cosma-Damian but also to St. Padre Pio whose Feast Day is September 23rd. His Statue was also prominently displayed on the Church stairs. (on September 20, 1918, Padre Pio was kneeling in front of a Crucifix when He received the visible marks of the Crucifixion known as Stigmata).

No fights broke out on Sunday!

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!
For photos please click on the following links
Sunday morning procession photos

September 18, 2011 - San Gennaro - Utica, NY

San Gennaro is a fairly new Feast that the Red Band has been asked to participate in.

In 2007, 2008, 2009 we were part of the San Gennaro Feast that was held at Turning Stone Casino and Resort in Verona, New York.

Last year we were part of the San Gennaro Feast that was held at The Order of the Sons of Italy on Bleecker St. in Utica. We were invited back again for their Sunday entertainment program.

The Feast ran from Friday to Sunday. Easy Money Big Band performed on Friday night and Holiday performed on Saturday night. Musicians from both of these bands also perform with La Banda Rossa.

The beautiful. crisp, fall morning began at the Church of St. Mary of Mt. Carmel/Blessed Sacrament with a Procession that included an Honor Guard of Navy ROTC Students, the Statue of San Gennaro, and La Banda Rossa.

We escorted the Saint from the Church to Bleecker St. and right under the tent that housed a special Shrine just for the Statue.

San Gennaro was the Bishop of Naples, Italy and was beheaded during the Diocletian persecution in 305 AD. A vial of his blood was preserved after his Martyrdom and it miraculously liquefies each year on his Feast Day Sept. 19.

He is also attributed to saving Naples from destruction whenever the mighty Mount Vesuvius erupts. He’s had a very good track record now spanning centuries. Mount Vesuvius had been quite active right up until 1944.

The Red Band returned in the afternoon to give a concert from 4:00-6:00 to close out this year’s Feast. We performed an extra-special number at the conclusion of our concert.

The 10th anniversary of the attack of 9-11 was last Sunday and to honor those lost we played a Marcia Funebre, an Italian Funeral March, titled Una Lagrima ed un Fiore – A Tear and a Flower.

Then we played the very patriotic march National Emblem followed by God Bless America.

It was surprising and stirring to see the audience rise to its feet and belt out God Bless America just like the Great Kate Smith! What a Finale! Bravo La Banda Rossa!

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

To view photos please click on the following link

San Gennaro Feast