The Latest News from Your Minnesota State Band

July, 2010

The Minnesota State Band will be Featured in July 'Seniors in Mind' at the Minnesota History Center

We are pleased to announce two concerts on July 13 at the Minnesota History Center. The program, narrated by master of ceremonies Stan Turner, will explore music associated with the years 1917 through 1945, when the Minnesota's Greatest Generation came of age. The program will include patriotic music such as Hymn to the Fallen, Armed Forces Salute, and America the Beautiful, as well as lighter songs of the era such as a medley from The Wizard of Oz and Jump Swing Fever, tunes that buoyed the nation. Seniors in Mind: 'Strike up the Band' with the Minnesota State Band will take place on July 13 at 10:30 and 12:30. The event is free but does not include the $8 senior admission to the History Center. For more information visit http://www.mnhs.org/seniorsinmind.

(Partially quoted from the Official Press Release of the Minnesota Historical Society)

State Band to Play In Faribault for Second Year

The band is pleased to announce a return to the beautiful city of Faribault, Minnesota for a July 29th concert. The concert will include one of the band’s favorite marches, suitably entitled The Minnesota State Band March. This work was written for our band by Dennis M. Havens in 2009. Other works for this summer concert will include a medley from one of the greatest musicals of Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern, the immortal Showboat. Next, get ready to jump and jive to a medley of swing tunes, entitled Jump Swing Fever. Then it’s the beautiful Irish melody "Danny Boy" arranged by Percy Grainger from his Irish Tune from County Derry and finally, Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide. That’s quite a variety of music with something for every music lover. Come join us for a 7 pm concert.

The State Band Plays Como Park for Three Concerts in August

The Minnesota State Band has a long history of playing at the Como Park Pavilion in St. Paul. In fact the band’s first performance there occurred in 1898, the year the band was formed. After the June 22, 1901 concert, the St. Paul Dispatch newspaper had this to say. “This organization is demonstrating its leadership among the bands of the state. Ten thousand people heard it last Sunday evening, probably the largest crowd that has been drawn out by a local musical organization.”

The St Paul Dispatch noted in its article concerning the band of June 28, 1902, “The concerts on the two Sundays the band has already played at Como were well attended. Over 10,000 people were reported to have visited the park that first Sunday, and 12,000 the second.”

Performances at Como Park are a continuing tradition for the Minnesota State Band and among our most well attended. Join us for our annual Como Concert Series on the first three Wednesdays of the month, August 4, 11 and 18. The music will be different for each performance so come to more than one. All concerts begin at 7 P.M. but get there early to get a good seat.

Vintage Band Festival Invites the Minnesota State Band to Play Two Concerts in Northfield, August 8^th

The Minnesota State Band will perform two concerts in Northfield in connection with the Vintage Band Festival. Our first concert is 2:30 PM at Way Park and our second will be at 6:30 PM at Bridge Square. In keeping with the festival’s theme, our music will include works from the late 19th and early 20th Century such as Poet and Peasant Overture (1883); Over there Fantasie (1917); An American in Paris (1928) and of course two Sousa Marches, El Capitan (1896) and The Stars and Stripes Forever (1896). Many other fine Bands will be playing at the festival and we are pleased to partially reprint the following Press Release from the festival:

The Vintage Band Festival 2010 is the second gathering of brass bands in Northfield, Minnesota. The first occurred in 2006 and drew approximately 10,000 visitors and music lovers to the historic community along the banks of the Cannon River. This event’s roster is 50% larger and will have 25 bands giving over 100 performances during the four days of the Festival

When: Thursday, August 5 – Sunday, August 8, beginning at noon each day (except Sunday when several of the bands will be playing in the churches of Northfield). Continuous performances on the half hour throughout the city of Northfield. Please check www.vintagebandfestival.org for the complete schedule and locations.

Where: The historic, river town of Northfield is approximately 35 miles south of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, 6 miles east of Interstate 35 on Minnesota State Highway 19. Concerts will occur in parks, city squares, along the banks of the Cannon River, in libraries, concert halls, churches, retirement communities, and pubs and restaurants throughout Northfield.

Cost: The Vintage Band Festival is free and open to everyone. A few select concerts have nominal fees.

March, 2010

MSB Awarded State Arts Grant

The Minnesota State Band is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Community Arts Grant in the amount of $4910 from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. The check was presented during a ceremony on February 11 at the Minnesota History Center. This money will be used to pay for expenses associated with presenting 10 concerts during 2010 season in locations throughout the Twin Cities. The Grant money will also allow the band to purchase new music to play this summer and to add to our music library.

Since the Minnesota State Band no longer receives funding from the State of Minnesota, Grants such as this one are essential to the organization’s continued growth. One of the conditions of this Grant is that the recipients of the money raise funds to match the Grant amount dollar for dollar. We therefore welcome contributions from music lovers everywhere to help the band reach this goal. You can mail a tax deductable contribution to Minnesota State Band, PO Box 130033, St. Paul, MN 55113, or you can give online using our secure web page at GiveMN.

MSB Performs Joint Concert with The Podkrkonošský Band

On February 5, the Minnesota State Band and the Star of the North Band played a joint concert with the Podkrkonošský Band from Jablonec and Jizerou, Czech Republic. The association between these organizations began some 18 years ago with a joint concert in Czechoslovakia during the Minnesota State Band’s 1992 European tour. This year the Podkrkonošský Band organized an American tour which included a visit with their musician friends from Minnesota.

The concert was held at the historic Česko-Slovanský Podporující Spolek (C.S.P.S.) Hall in St. Paul and included traditional Czech and American music as well as several Sousa Marches. Prior to the concert, the overflow crowd enjoyed a traditional meal of Czech sausage (jiternice) with sauerkraut and traditional Czech potato salad. Many of the players from the Czech band stayed at the homes of MSB and Star of the North members during their stay. The members of the Minnesota State Band enjoyed the opportunity to play host to musicians from the Czech Republic and to demonstrate a little “Minnesota Nice” during their visit. Special thanks go out to Amanda Kolpin and Gordy Backlund for helping our guests organize their Minnesota visit.

MSB announces St. Patrick’s Day Concert

Our next concert will be on March 17, St Patrick’s Day, at 7:30 pm, at Anishinabe Academy, 3100 East 28th Street Minneapolis. The first half of the concert will be devoted to music of the British Isles demonstrating the best of Gallic traditions and culture. Songs will include Four Scottish Dances by Malcolm Arnold arranged by Paynter, Country Gardens arranged by Grainger and An Original Suite by Gordon Jacob. The second half will be music from Ireland. One Hundred Thousand Welcomes arranged by John Tate and four pieces from Leroy Anderson’s “Irish Suite” which includes The Irish Washerwoman, Minstrel Boy, Rakes of Mallow and The Girl I left Behind Me. It will indeed be a bonnie night. In honor of the holiday, everyone wearing green will be admitted free of charge. (Actually everyone will be admitted free of charge but don’t let on, the Irish need to feel important).