Really....I'm trying

The annual "Huey's" for innovative orchestra programing are being held up.  It's all about the failure of my local orchestra (the Dubuque Symphony) to come out and announce next season's classical concert series.  All that I can gather is a blurb from their website, which includes:

• Holst:  Planets
• Beethoven:  Erioca
• Tchaikovsky:  5 (didn't they just do that under guest N. Palmer a couple of years ago?)
• Liszt:  Concerto No. 1 (ho-hum....)
• "The best of opera!"
• "And more"

So even though it looks like more and more of the same ol' stuff, almost guaranteed to put butts in the seats (and a chance for a conductor to simply brush off old scores), I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt....but I am an impatient man.

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Looking to the Lord for guidance?

The recordings are now available from the Quad City Wind Ensemble's triumphant performance at the Iowa Bandmasters Association conference.  Initial reviews (ok, from me) are, "Hats off, gentlemen, the ultimate performance!"  All kidding aside, the recordings demonstrate to me that this truly was one of the most inspired concerts of which I've ever been a part...

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The Tri State Wind Symphony of Dubuque has fired up the band for its twentieth concert season.  Who would have thought that we'd still be in the business when we had our first rehearsal with a group of 15, nine of whom were clarinets.  First concert is May 29.  Here's the lineup:

Cole Porter, arr. Moffitt:  "Another Op’nin’, Another Show," from Kiss Me Kate 

Franz von Suppe/Takahashi: Poet and Peasant Overture

John Cacavas:  Burnished Brass

Clare Grundman:  Hebrides Suite

David Holsinger:  On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss

Leroy Anderson:  The Wearing of the Green

Alan Menkin/Nowak:  "Under the Sea," from The Little Mermaid

Andre Waignein:  Czardas 

John Williams, arr. Curnow:  Olympic Fanfare and Theme 

Encore:  John Philip Sousa:  Semper Fidelis

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The following week (6/6) the Bettendorf Park Band starts its summer schedule at the Bill Bowe Bandshell at Veteran's Memorial Park.  Our first show includes:

Alfred Reed:  Alleluia, Laudamus Te

Karl L. King:  Alhambra Grotto March

David R. Holsinger:  On an American Spiritual 

Gustav Holst:  Suite in E-flat for Military Band

George Gershwin/Moss:  Strike Up the Band 

G. H. Huffine:  Them Basses

Herbert Hazelman:  Short Ballet for Awkward Dancers

Marvin Hamlish/Edmondson:  Selections from A Chorus Line 

John Philip Sousa/Fennell:  Washington Post March 

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He deserves a bigger image...

In the meantime, I'm taking some of my own advice and am starting to work my way through the Beethoven string quartets.  I've recently purchased two sets, both recorded in the 90s, at amazing prices:  Emerson and the original Tokyo.  It should be one hell of a ride!

Now, about that job....