Welcome to Westport Community Band

Hail Fellow Band Members,

Just a reminder that there is no rehearsal on Monday the 16thbecause of the MLK holiday. Instead, we will be having our annual Band dinner for the first time in three years. It will be at Ponza Italian kitchen on the Post Rd. in Norwalk in the same area as Home Goods and Walmart. If you have not yet made a reservation, and would like to attend, please feel free to join us on Monday night. The dinner starts at 7pmand the cost is $46.34. All are welcome if you would like to bring a spouse or a guest. The menu will include salad, pasta, chicken, soft drinks, desert and coffee. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either me or Joanne, and we look forward to seeing you.

Thanks,

Bill

As you know, there are no recordings of Rifacimento (the first time that we play it will be the first time it has ever been played!). So, fortunately for ensembles in the future, we will be making our interpretation the reference recording as we go forward! Exciting... and frightening!

There are however some fine examples of what we will be performing in March available for us to learn from. The first of these reference recordings features Jack Stamp's wind ensemble from IUP in performance. That should actually give us a fairly good example of what we can expect when we meet him! The remaining pieces linked below may help you offer a general feel for tempo, inflection, structure, etc. For some of us such recordings may be helpful, if for no other reason than to gain a sense of the bigger picture! Either way, it's always fun to listen to what a finished product sounds like!! Oh, and I apologize for any and all ads prior to the actual videos... Ugh..

I am looking forward to getting back to work and am so very impressed by how we read Uptick, Romanza, and Pastime last evening. If last night's rehearsal is any indication of what lies ahead we are in a very good place indeed!!!

Have a wonderful banquet next week and get ready to get back to work on the 23rd!! The very first link is Jack conducting the Eynsford Concert Band (https://www.eynsfordconcertband.co.uk/) in a rehearsal of his "Gavorkna Fanfare". While it is not a piece that we will be performing, I think that you will enjoy seeing how he works, as well as the joy and energy that he presents. It will be a great introduction as to what it will be like when we have him here!!

All Best,
Sal

Jack conducting "Gavorkna Fanfare"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oyu0fGPybac

Ride

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxAzt9tcNrQ

Pastime (with Stamp conducting)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmkT0Ri3V9s

Uptick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKdwCVNZZ0Y&t=61s

Romanza

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_txM8GNawgQ

Happy New Year to all!!

Just a quick note regarding our coming back together on the 9th. First and foremost I am hoping that you all have had a wonderful break and that you are ready, musically and in good health, for the push to be fully prepared for our March 26th concert with Jack Stamp and the Greenwich High School Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. To that end I want to make sure that all of us have copies of the anticipated repertoire for that concert. In addition to what is already there you will need the following pieces in your binder on Monday:

Rifacimento (all four movements)

Pastime

Ride

Romanza 

Uptick

(Please make certain that you have Perthshire Majesty as well)

There may be some alterations to that list of music, but for now please make certain that you have those 5 (6) pieces in place. 

As you are aware, there has been a noticeable uptick (no pun intended) in the increased number of cases of COVID in Fairfield County recently. To that end I am reminding everyone to review the policies and guidelines that were in effect last year so that they may continue to provide some common sense guidance at this time... Most importantly, please do not come to rehearsal if you are under the weather. We need to do all that we can to minimize our collective exposure to any airborne pathogen, not just COVID. The more proactive that we are the more successful we will be in being able to maintain our regular rehearsal schedule.

I am looking forward to what lies ahead! The Stamp concert is but one of many performing opportunities that will fill our spring calendar. One such opportunity is to be included in a Charles (Chuck) Matz memorial concert with the Wind Ensembles of both Weston High School and Brien McMahon High School. More information with regard to that memorial concert will be forthcoming as details are worked out. I will keep all informed as that information becomes available. So, as I said above, Practice!! 

I can't wait to get restarted on the 9th and hope that you all share my enthusiasm!!

All Best, and Happy New Year again!!

Sal

All Band Members

Rehearsals are MONDAYS 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Bedford Middle School 88 North Avenue, Westport.

Directions