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!!!

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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!!!

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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

Saturday, July 14, 2012

July 8, 2012 - Boilermaker Road Race

We had great weather for a road race – cloudy but the sun eventually broke out – made it warm with low humidity.

We arrived early to play for the wheelchair racers and found they had moved us from our spot in previous years to one a block further down that was a much better location. It made us much more visible to the almost 14,000 runners.

Because the wheelchair racers go by so fast and are usually spaced far apart – The Red Band salutes them with The Royal Italian March which is a short fanfare type piece of music.


Close behind was the elite group of runners followed almost non-stop by runners for almost 45 minutes.

Our music selection for the race was all upbeat – highly motivating melodies. To represent our Italian heritage we played the Tarantella, Funiculi Funicula, and also some polkas and marches.

Many runners were clapping, directing, or giving us thumbs up or high fives as they ran by with a few running right up to our conductor, Arlene, to greet her.

For the last of the runners we played two inspirational pieces – The Washington Post March and God Bless America.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

For more photos please click on the following link

Friday, July 13, 2012

July 7, 2012 - New York Mills, NY Bell Parade

The town of New York Mills holds an annual Bell Festival to celebrate the Mills of years ago when the lives of the workers were determined by a bell that was housed in a local factory. It provided a 6am wakeup call and a 9pm curfew call.

The Red Band led the Parade down Main Street and ended at Pulaski Park where the Bell is on display.

The weather was great – a sunny, warm summer day but the mystery of the sparse spectators continues. The families that did line the side of the road really were in the spirit of it.



VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

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June 15. 2012 - Deerfield Field Days - Deerfield, NY

La Banda Rossa, playing for our hosts the Deerfield Fire Department, led the parade down to the Firemen’s Field.
The weather was perfect – sunny and pleasantly warm.

For such a beautiful evening there was a noticeable lack of spectators compared to recent years.

Once we entered the grounds we circled around to face the marching units as they entered the field. We continued playing marches as they paraded by stopping only for the few units that had their own musical
groups
.
After the parade ended – a group of musicians enjoyed the evening with some food, cold beer, and friendly conversation.
VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

For more photos please click on the following link