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
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