March 9, 2013 - Utica St. Patrick's Day Parade

The groundhog’s prediction for an early spring came true in time for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade this year.

Utica follows Syracuse in selecting the date and March 9^th was chosen and luckily the weather co-operated with this early date. It was sunny, dry, mild, and calm.

The Red Band had 22 marchers plus 1 Leprechaun that was decorating Paul Browne’s Sousaphone.

We were placed in the aptly named “Red Division” which was located towards the beginning of the parade.

The sidewalks along the line of march were packed right from our start at Oneida Square and they grew as we continued down Genesee St. They were 7 deep at the Stanley Theater where we marched along the Green line painted on the street in front of the reviewing stand.

The crowd was even larger on the sunny side of the street in front of the Radisson Hotel.

Everyone was wearing a touch of the green - most noticeable were the hats and headbands sporting glittering shamrocks bouncing on springs keeping time as we played MacNamara’s Band and When the Saints go Marching In.

The parade was extended an extra block in length this year ending at the Hotel Utica. Also there was a camera man located high above the reviewing stand in a cherry picker bucket (he had the best view) – and there was a giant Irish flag hanging over the road near the end of the parade route – a most welcome and festive sight.

"VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA"

For more photos please click on

St. Patrick's Day Parade

 

November 11, 2013 Veteran's Day Parade Whitesboro NY

How is this for co-incidence? According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac – for more than 200 years the Almanac has adhered to the saying “If All Saints’ Day (Nov 1) brings out winter, St. Martin’s brings out Indian Summer”.

St. Martin’s (who just happens to be a soldier) Feast Day is November 11. Since 1918 November 11 was known as “Armistice Day” to commemorate the end of World War I. In England, France, and Canada it is still known as “Remembrance Day”. In 1954 the United States changed it once more – this time to Veteran’s Day. But it still seems as though our soldier Saint Martin still looks after the weather.

It was gorgeous in Whitesboro for the parade – sunny and 73°. The Red Band stepped off at 12:15pm right behind our local Marine Corp. /US Navy ROTC Cadets.

We honor all those who have served in the Armed Forces by playing each of the Service Songs as well as God Bless America.

We ended the parade at the Memorial on the grounds of the Whitesboro American Legion where there was a short ceremony.

A commemorative brick had been placed in the walkway, a wreath was placed in front of the Memorial stone, and a 21 gun salute shattered the air followed by the solemn playing of “Taps”. Beautifully played by our own Al Galime, “Taps” became a Prayer in just 24 notes.

As the Red Band season wraps up for 2012 –later that evening the music continued to celebrate the Veterans’. A special Veteran’s Day concert was performed at Utica College in which 13 members of the Red Band played once more.




 

"VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA"

More photos can be found at

Veteran's Day Parade

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 morning Processions

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 night concert

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

Saint Marianne Cope

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

Our Lady of Lourdes Concert

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

Feast of the Assumption



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

Our Lady of Czestochowa