August 14, 2010 - Feast of the Assumption - Mechanicville, NY

It’s time once again for The Red Band to board a bus at 7:30am for our road trip to celebrate The Feast of the Assumption in Mechanicville, NY.

The Assumption is a Holy Day of Obligation and even though that term can sound strict and solemn - in the Middle Ages these Holy Days were a time of feasting and celebration.

Our Birnie Bus driver, Mike, drove us into Mechincville via Saratoga Ave. which we all recognized as part of the procession route. The bus unknowingly became part of the procession as we followed the young girls carrying the Saint on their way to Mass.

As everyone entered the large Church - we parked behind the small Church that in previous years had been the site of the Mass. That Church closed last year and merged with the larger Church one short block away.

We were able to use the Parish Hall to freshen up and get ready for our march through the streets. Then we walked down to the Church to line up and meet the Parishioners on the steps after Mass with the playing of “Marcia Reale”

We proceeded down the street, up a hill, over a bridge and straight to Costanzo’s Restaurant and Lounge to enjoy a sandwich buffet for all the people in the procession. After thanking them with the Tarantella and Marche Reale – it was back on the streets.

We continued over the Round Lake Ave. loop briefly stopping at a house that was kind enough to have cold beverages and for those of age - a sampling of Anisette.

After continuing our march in the sun and heat – we stopped again to enjoy the shade and a “Grand Buffet” setup in front of the Clements family home. Every year we greatly enjoy their hospitality as they serve this great feast in Honor of the Assumption.

This year instead of ending at the old Train Depot- the Festival was moved to the grassy expanse of Tallmadge Park – where we were greeted with a barrage of fire-crackers exploding as we marched onto the field.

Then it was back on the bus where most of the musicians stayed and took a nap until 4pm when we were treated to a dinner buffet back at Costanzo’s.

We all know that Utica is famous for bragging rights as the “Best Italian Food in the Northeast”. However let it be known that the Italian food in Mechanicville is just as delicious and the Costanzo’s have been extremely gracious hosts to us every year during this trip. We can’t thank them enough for the kindness they have shown us.

After dinner it was back to the Park for a 2 hour concert. The crowd grew larger as the evening went on. Then it was back on the bus for the long ride home.

VIVA MECHANICVILLE!!
VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!
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Mechaniville Feast of the Assumption

August 7, 2010 - Frankfort Italian Festival - Herkimer County Fairgrounds

Finally the heat and humidity broke and the weather provided a perfect summer evening - comfortable for both the musicians and the audience.

We were glad to see the event is growing and there were more people in attendance than the previous year.

The band played a full selection of traditional Italian songs, along with a few marches, polkas, and show tunes.

The audience clapped along with their favorites and we did hear some of the audience singing even if they weren't sure of the words for the Italian songs.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

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Frankfort Italian Festival

July 31, 2010 - Rome Honor America Parade

It was perfect weather for a parade - sunny, mild with low humidity

It was also a perfect place to "Honor America" - Historical Rome NY" - birthplace of the Erie Canal and home to the Revolutionary War's Fort Stanwix.

We didn't forget the former Air Force Base when we played the Air Force March along with all the other service marches.

The parade route was packed with spectators from when we stepped off on Pine St. all the way to the end with many of them decked out in red, white, and blue.

As we turned onto Embargo St. to pass by the reviewing stand, the Parade Master of Ceremonies, Carl Eilenberg gave a special shout-out to our Band Director, Arlene Iagnocco. He loudly called her name over the loudspeaker and cheered "VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA".

We then proceeded down North George and ended the parade just past the Capitol Theater on West Dominick St.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

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Rome Honor America Parade

July 18, 2010 - Mt. Carmel Church Festival - Utica, NY

Our 3-day weekend of Red Band gigs concluded at The Mt. Carmel Church Festival with a morning procession and an afternoon concert.

The Procession now reflects the cultural diversity of Utica. We led the Parishioners through the streets of East Utica and as in recent years The Rosary is recited at stops along the way.

Each decade is prayed in 5 different languages. This year they were: Italian, Burmese (most recent refugees are from the Myanmar Republic, formerly Burma), Spanish, Vietnamese, and English.

The Procession ended at the Shrine with Benediction and the singing of "Tantem Ergo" - a reminder that before Vatican II- all of the Western Roman Catholic Church was united by one universal language - Latin.

After a short break to enjoy the food and drink, we gave a 2 hour concert under the tent and out of the sun.

Our interlocutor, Pat Santacroce, was on hand to introduce each song, which included "Ave Maria", and new this year "Reminiscences of Verdi" and "Neopolitan Rhapsody - all of which received tumultuous applause.

VIVA LABANDA ROSSA!

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Mt. Carmel Procession and Concert

July 17, 2010 - Children's Museum Family Folk Arts Festival

The 2010 Family Folk Festival was held at the Children's Museum at Baggs Square.

The Festival featured four cultural groups found in the Mohawk Valley...Native American, Italian, Bosnian, and African.
La Banda Rossa represented Utica's Italian Heritage.

We demonstrated our procession formation as we entered the room then sat down for a concert of our Italian music.





Our audience consisted of Bosnian musicians, Iroquois craftsmen along with a tankful of Goldfish and Hank the Snake in the nature room
(the exhibits at the Children's Museum are wonderful).

WKTV sent a camera and we were on the Sunday morning newscast.

Drummer Dan William's wife and daughter joined in the fun and made Haudenosaunee headresses, and clarinetist Patricia Iagnocco created a "No-Face" Cornhusk Doll with Oneida Nation member Birdy Burdick.

And rumor has it that shortly after this photo was taken and the photographer had left the room - our Professoressa Arlene Iagnocco learned and performed a traditional Bosnian Folk Dance accompanied by the MAH Bosnian Band - only in Utica!

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!

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Family Folk Arts Festival

July 16, 2010 - Ilion Doo Dah Parade

The march route for the Ilion Doo-Dah Parade was changed this year. Instead of starting and ending near Remington Arms - we stepped off a little further north on Philip St.

This made the parade a tad shorter and it was all downhill. It was just as crowded as ever along the whole route.

We followed an 1844 Fire Pumper and the kids on the float were all armed with super-soaker squirt guns which they used to spray the spectators. Half-way down West St. - they were surprise-attacked by other kids also armed with super-soakers - and that is VERY DOO-DAH! Participation and Fun!

The biggest crowd was as usual in front of the Elks Club - now closer to the end of the route than the beginning and a welcome sight as always - a wild night in Ilion. We were even treated to a ride back to our cars on shuttle buses.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!

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Ilion Doo-Dah Parade

July 11, 2010 - Boilermaker Road Race Utica, NY

This year to date we have played twice as many parades as concerts. What a switch it was to sit and play while our "audience" (13000 runners) literally is racing past us!

We also played Marcia Reale 17 times (John Piazza kept count) as the wheelchair contestants sped by.

Because we were stationed only 2 miles from the start - it didn't take long for the runners to appear - but once they came it was continuous for about 45 minutes.

Previous years we always had runners using both sides of the median and running right up to Arlene to have a little dance, cheer, and applaud us.

This year the intersection just before us was barricaded with yellow tape and had a police car there forcing the runners to stay in the lane furthest from us.

Since we part of the International Mile, we we playing many festive Italian songs...but the minute we started "The Washington Post March" - the runners charged across the median so they could run as close as possible to our Band.
What a fun concert- the dress code was a little more relaxed to fit the event...white shirt, shorts, no ties and red, white and green Italian beads.

The weather was perfect and trombonist, Geno Brown, showed up sporting a handsome handlebar moustache.
A Wonderful Summer Event!




VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!

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Boilermaker Road Race

July 10, 2010 - NY Mills Bell Parade

We stepped off on Elm St. at 5pm for the New York Mills Bell Festival Parade down Main St.

We followed a whole contingent of fire trucks all sounding their sirens at once.

Although the crowd was sparce at the beginning, it made up for it as we passed by the Festival grounds. Lots of smiling faces greeted us as Capo Richard picked the best possible march to play "Bravura!" as we paraded by ending on the banks of Twin Ponds.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

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Bell Parade