Wednesday, October 3, 2012

September 30, 2012 - Feasts of Sts. Cosmas and Damian Utica, NY Sunday Processions

A light misty rain fell on and off throughout Sunday’s morning and afternoon – but that didn’t dampen the excitement of having two Italian Bands perform in the Grand Procession.

In honor of the 100th Anniversary  - the Church invited the “Italian-American Band” of Lawrence, Massachusetts, to travel to Utica all the way from their town which is just north of Boston.

The Band, in their blue uniforms, lined up behind the Red Band for the first small procession to escort two young boys dressed as the Saints from a nearby house to the Church for Mass.
We discovered that both bands had three of the same songs in their march books – Invercargill, Bravura and Our Director so we were able to play as one large band using these marches. We blended as one – what a solid-strong sound.

After the Mass we lined up for the Grand Procession. The Red Band split into two units as usual for this event. The Front Band led the procession right behind the Police escort car.

The band was followed by scores of Pilgrims saying the Rosary in Italian, a Statue of the Blessed Mother, and a man dressed as St. Padre Pio.

The Italian-American Band played for the Statue of St. Cosmas and was followed by another large contingent of Pilgrims.





The Red Band’s back band was at the end following the Statue of St. Damian.





When we returned all three bands joined side by side to play the three marches in front of the Church until the Statues were carried safely inside.

In a spirit of comradery the Red Band played a “Marcia Reale” as a salute to the Italian-America Band and they immediately returned the salute to us.

The members of the Red Band truly savored this rare experience of getting to play with another Italian band. They were so friendly, warm and talented.

VIVA to all the Musicians
of the Sts. Cosmas and Damian Feast VIVA!!!

For more photos of the Proession please click on the following link

Sunday, September 30, 2012

September 29, 2012 - Feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian Utica, NY Saturday concert

The plaque on the front of the Parish Church reads “Celebrating 100 years of faith and tradition 1912-2012” The 100th anniversary of the Church and also the Feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian were celebrated this weekend.

The Church grounds, the parking lots, and the surrounding streets were packed with the faithful as they returned to honor the healing Saints.
Once again The Red Band performed under the large tent on Saturday evening that followed the candlelight procession and Benediction.
The concert began with the playing of three National Anthems: The Star Spangled Banner, O’ Canada, and Inno Di Mameli the Italian National Anthem. They were followed by thunderous applause.

We performed three new songs. The first was “Banda Rossa March” – a peppy number that had the crowd bouncing to the rhythm. “O Solo Mio” – a new version in waltz time that filled the dance time, and “The Woodpecker Song” – in which the band was surprised to hear so many members of the audience singing the lyrics of this happy tune.
The dance floor was packed once again when we played an Italian favorite “Vieni Sul Mar” (Come To The Sea) and it stayed crowded right to the end for the ever popular “Theme from New York, New York”.
For photos please click on the following link

Saturday, September 15, 2012

September 15, 2012 - Saint Marianne Cope

On Saturday September 15, 2012 the Red Band performed at an event so rare that it might never occur in a person’s lifetime.

We shared in the celebration of the Canonization of a local Saint. Mother Marianne Cope was born Barbara Koob in Germany. She grew up in Utica NY, joined the convent in Syracuse NY and went on to work among the lepers in Hawaii.

After her death she was credited with two miracles, the Churches requisite for Sainthood. On October 21, 2012 she will be officially Canonized in Rome Italy.

The Mass today was celebrated at her parish Church - St. Joseph/St. Patrick on Varick St. in West Utica.

The beautiful ceremony touched on all aspects of her life. Music was performed in German by the Utica Maennerchor Choir. This was followed by the blowing of a conch shell and an Aloha prayer in Hawaiian.

The Mass featured the Greek Kyrie eleison and the Latin Agnus Dei – reminiscent of the days when the entire Mass was said in Latin.

At the close of Mass Sister Michaeleen Cabral sang the hauntingly beautiful “Hymn to St. Marianne” in Hawaiian and English.

After Mass the Procession included an honor guard of The Knights of St. John, the St. Michael’s Lancers, and the Knights of Columbus as well as visiting priests, nuns, parishioners, and local dignitaries. Also in the Procession a first order Relic and a newly arrived Statue of Saint Marianne – carved in Poland and quite an accurate rendition – right down to her gray eyes.

The Red Band escorted the Procession playing two new Hymns – Blessed Mother Marianne and For All the Saints.
We proceeded to the Home Site of the Koob family at 620 Schuyler St. Sadly the house is gone but the site is a grassy expanse with a colorful plaque of Saint Marianne. A wreath was placed at the site. The Church has purchased the lot.
After a brief ceremony the Honorable Robert Palmieri, Mayor of Utica, announced that the upcoming Canonization day on October 21 will be declared Saint Marianne Cope Day in Utica.


VIVA
St. Marianne Cope
VIVA

For many more photos
please click on the following link

Sunday, August 26, 2012

August 24, 2012 - Our Lady of Lourdes Festival - Utica, NY

We were invited back for a second year to perform at Our Lady of Lourdes Festival and Bazaar.

Last year we had a later start time and needed to setup in front of the bandstand. This year the start time was changed and we received the honor of playing on the bandstand.

A crowd had gathered to get seats at the picnic tables and others were setting up their lawn chairs as we were getting setup on stage.

We had an additional captive audience as well – our concert started at 6pm and it was at the peak serving time for their famous fish fry dinner. The line going into the tent was situated right in front of us and grew longer and longer with each song we played.

This year our play list included many polkas and marches which added to the carnival atmosphere that surrounded us.

We were sitting with our backs to the Hawkins Amusements and we were accompanied all night long by the sounds of the High-Striker – the game where a strong man (or woman) swings a large mallet, hits the pad to ring the bell, and win a prize.

We opened our second set with “The Barber of Seville” and received a roaring applause from a very appreciative audience.

We concluded the concert as we did last year with an American patriotic salute. This year was a “Salute to the Armed Forces” We ended with everyone joining us as we played “God Bless America”

Our packed house stayed with us – not dispersing until the last Tarantella and Marcia Reale had been played.

“BRAVO” to Our Lady of Lourdes in South Utica – they put on an excellent Festival and we would be honored to be invited back next year

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

Monday, August 13, 2012

August 11, 2012 - Mechanicville, NY - The Feast of the Assumption

The Red Band returned to Mechanicville, NY, after a year’s absence and was welcomed back with opened arms.

We were there to celebrate the Feast of Mary’s Assumption into Heaven.

Because the Church was closed in 2009, a Mass was held this year at the Gazebo in Tallmadge Park.
At the end of the Mass we played “Holy God We Praise Thy Name” and when we played “Marcia Reale” the Roman candle fireworks soared up from the hilltop and exploded over the park.

The Procession consisted of a Police car escort, an American Flag bearer, little girls dressed in their pristine white Holy Communion dresses followed by the older girls in pretty blue dresses carrying the Saint. Their banner declared this Feast has been celebrated since 1903! That’s two years older than La Band Rossa!

Next came the Parishioners, the Red Band, and the Italian flag decorated float carrying the Dignitaries and five 700 count bags of Tootsie Rolls to hand out along the way.

Our lunch break was at Costanzo’s Restaurant. The sausage-stuffed peppers - mild, cherry, and long-hots were delicious. We played a Tarantella and Marcia Reale in appreciation.
No sooner did we resume the Procession when a sprinkle of rain became a shower and then a downpour. Everyone scurried to the nearest porch.

Musicians in the rain just naturally break into a pick-up rendition of “Singing in the Rain”.




We gave an encore of “When the Saints Go Marching In” (the floorboards on the porch held up quite well)


The rain stopped and we continued to the ice tea, lemonade, and Sambuca stop. Then we crossed over the creek and onto our next big food stop at the Clements family home.
On the way back to the park the rain returned to soak us once more as the Procession ended with the music of the Red Band and another volley of fireworks.

This year there was no concert – our work was done. It was back to the bus for a long, wet ride home.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

Many more photos can be found at


Sunday, August 5, 2012

August 5, 2012 - New York Mills, NY - Sacred Heart-St. Marys

On Sunday The Red Band was invited to play outside its’ “ethnic zone”.

We performed in a Church Procession at New York Mills Sacred Heart-St. Mary’s Our Lady of Czestochowa. This was the weekend of their Polish-American Festival.

We assembled and waited at the front door of the Church and when the 11am Mass ended we played “Marche Reale” as the doors opened.
Out came the Parishioners carrying an assortment of flags and banners, followed by a large group of people dressed in beautiful, brightly colored Polish outfits.




Next were the Clergy carrying a censer of fragrant incense and holding the Miraculous Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa.







The Icon was brought to the Parish from Poland by the current Pastor, Fr. Arthur Krawczenko.



The Procession circled the Church three times in honor of the Holy Trinity.

We then followed everyone back into the Church where we lined up in the back to play our final selection “Inno E Viva Maria”


VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

For more photos please click on the following link

Monday, July 30, 2012

July 28, 2012 - Rome NY - Honor America Parade

Of all the communities we parade in, Rome has elevated a “PARADE” to “STATE OF THE ART” status. It is big – 13 long divisions and extremely well organized.

We stepped off at the start of the 9th division with the playing of “The United States Air Force March” – a fine salute to Rome’s long association with Griffiss Air force Base.

Our portion of the 2 mile parade route was 1½ miles and we finished it in 45 minutes.

This year we were accompanied by a light rain shower but after the weeks of hot, sunny, drought conditions – no one complained – certainly not the spectators. They lined the route with colorful umbrellas and some of the crowd stayed dry by sitting under pop-up gazebos. The rain didn’t stop them from waving and cheering us on.

Just ahead of us the Nicky Doodle truck was passing out bright colored popsicles all down the route. All the little kids (and some adults) were smiling back at us with stained lips and chins. A few dogs were enjoying them, too.

At the very end of the parade, just past the Capitol Theater, a white-haired woman in a blue and white top was sitting in her lawn chair holding her umbrella. As we marched by playing “God Bless America” she stood up and started singing along with the band as loud as she could. At the end she kept yelling out “Thank You” to all of us.

It brought a smile to our faces at the end of a long, wet parade.

A great way to end a great day in Rome.

 VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

For more photos please click on the following link
or please visit our Facebook Page

Sunday, July 22, 2012

July 21, 2012 - Rome NY - World Series of Bocce

It is always exciting to pick up a new “gig”. This year we were invited to play a concert at the World Series of Bocce held every year at the Toccolana Club in Rome NY.

We had our chairs and music stands setup facing the Bocce Pavilion and once the sun set, the area between the pavilion and the band filled with lawn chairs and we had an impressive sized audience. They were most attentive and generous with their applause.
Many came over and spoke to band members during the break and had many compliments about the Italian music we were playing.

One audience member was a grandson of Louis Marucci, who had played in the Red Band many decades ago. He was extremely enthusiastic in relating his memories of the band from when he was a young boy watching them at the Italian festivals and processing on the street.

We enjoyed the food, beer, and the Roman (Rome NY) style pizza fritta and Rome equally enjoyed listening to our marches, polkas, big-band, and of course our repertoire of Italian favorites.

The tradition of Italian music continues with La Banda Rossa and the tradition of the ancient (as in Roman Empire) game of Bocce continues in Rome NY. BRAVO!

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

For more photos please click on the following link
World Series of Bocce

Saturday, July 21, 2012

July 20, 2012 - Ilion Doo-Dah Parade

We returned to Ilion to participate in the annual Doo-Dah Parade - a celebration of “Anything Goes”.

It was here a few years ago that The Red Band made an alarming change to their dress code. Because of the heat and the theme of the parade (anything crazy or zany allowed) a decision was made that we could wear black bermuda length shorts instead of long black pants.
We decided to keep this look for our “less formal parades” especially since so many of them occur on the hottest days of summer.

This year alone we’ve worn this uniform in two scorching Memorial Day parades, the New York Mills Bell Parade, and the Boilermaker Road Race concert.

A little bit of Red Band history was made right here in Ilion.

As we lined up in the park at the start of the parade, trumpeter Brian Griffin called to say he would be a little late. He was having trouble getting around the road blocks and would start walking up the route. Someone would carry his march book and we would meet him along the way.
Just before we stepped off – here arrived Brian smiling and sitting in a golf cart being driven by a clown!

And that is what the Doo-Dah parade is all about.
Lots of people cheering us on especially in front of the Elks Club – obviously “THE” place to be. Green and white beach balls flying through the air, home crafted floats, bag pipes, kids and dogs – all enjoying a rich summer tradition.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

For more photos please click on the following link

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

July 15, 2012 - Mt. Carmel Church Festival

In the midst of a very dry summer any day with rain is most welcome even if it occurs during a church festival.

Instead of going on our annual Procession through the streets of East Utica – a decision was made that due to the steady rain the event would be held inside the Church.

The parishioners were seated in the pews and the clergy and prayer leaders were at the lectern on the Altar. The 23 musicians of the Red Band stood on the side Altar.

Our 1st selection was “Inno Eviva Maria” – a tribute to the Blessed Mother.

The Prayer that followed was a rendition of the Rosary recited by five different people in five different languages: Italian, French, Spanish, Vietnamese, and English. After each Decade of the Rosary – the band played Marcia Reale.

The Rosary was followed by Benediction and the playing of “Tantum Ergo” and “Holy God We Praise Thy Name”.

The rain continued throughout the service but the skies started clearing by 2:00 for the start of our concert under the tent.

The concert included a few wonderful solo performances. Among them were trumpeter Al Galime on “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” and clarinetist Richard Pashley on “Darktown Strutters’ Ball”.

A special endurance award goes to Greg Brockway’s marathon of performing on sousaphone for the procession, followed by a 2 hour concert, and then another 2 hour concert on trombone with Easy Money Big Band which immediately followed us. Quite the task for such a hot day. WHEW!!

We also played a new march titled “The Banda Rossa March”. Earlier this year as our baritone player/webmaster was researching the history of La Banda Rossa online – an article was discovered about an Italian band under the direction of Eugenio Sorrentino that came to America around the turn of the 20th century. Along with the article was the music for this march.

Sorrentino, an excellent composer, conductor, and showman penned “Banda Rossa March”, a spirited and extremely musical piece.

How fortunate and fitting that we are able to perform this piece and bask in a bit of Italian history.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

For more photos please click on the following links