Touching Lives for Fifty Years

The Bettendorf Park Band in warmer times.

Our country has always been a nation of immigrants. From the earliest settlers to those seeking a better life, all have contributed to this great melting pot of humanity. And all have brought to this land the cultural wealth that has enriched us all. This is what the Bettendorf Park Band will celebrate in its 50th Anniversary Season Opening Concert, Friday, November 3.

Many Italian-Americans came to Iowa to work in the coal mines and settled in southern parts of the state. The Societa Stemma D’Italia, Mutuo Soccorso (Mutual Assistance), established in 1898, included in its articles of incorporation, “The particular and principal objects of the said Society are for the benevolent and charitable purposes to aid and secure the members in case of need and practice benevolent and charity work to all.” The organization exists to this day as Des Moines's Society of Italian Americans. Our tribute to these pioneers is Eduardo Boccalari's Il Bersagliere, the "Italian Riflemen."

Danza Espagnola, by Rosario Carcione pays homage to the large Hispanic communities in the nation and in Iowa. Immigrants from Central and South America have brought their own unique heritage and ethic to make this land a better place. Currently, two men of Hispanic roots serve on the City Council of Dubuque.

Inside St. Wenceslaus Church
Spillville, Iowa

Among the most well known of Iowa's immigrant populations are the Bohemians. Early Czech immigrants to Iowa settled in farming communities, most notably at Spillville in the northeast corner of the state. In 1893 the famous Czech composer, Antonin Dvorak, who was living in New York City, spent a summer in Spillville where he was able to work on his music surrounded by his fellow Czechs. A large community would spring forth in Cedar Rapids, now the home of the National Czech and Slovak Museum. Albert Oliver Davis's Bohemian Scene, is a brief three-movement setting of folk pieces, including on reminiscent of the dance music of Dvorak.

Nordic Fest, Decorah
(Is that really a marching orchestra?)

Decorah is renowned as Iowa's center of Norwegian heritage. Luther College, an institution of Norwegian-American descent, is among the highly regarded colleges in the country. The Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum is the national Norwegian-American museum and heritage center, with over 24,000 artifacts, 12 historic buildings, a Folk Art School, and a library and archives. Arlin Snesrud's Norwegian Folk Rhapsody uses six folk songs and dance tunes to create a delightful panoply of the sights and sounds of Scandinavia.

Warren Barker' Ireland is a "true Irish medley" with arrangements of "Saint Patrick's Day," "Donnybrook," "The Irish Washerwoman," "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen," and "The Kerry Dance."

Other stops on our musical tour and tribute include:

• March Suite Britannia by John Cacavas, a stirring martial suite (Great Britain.)

• John Tatgenhorst's arrangement of Scottish folk songs, Gary Owen and Scotland, the Brave.

• A three-movement suite entitled Bartok for Band (Hungary.)

• The finale from Hector Berlioz's monumental symphony for band, the Marche Triomphale (France.)

• Rimsky-Korsakov's stirring Coronation Scene from "Ivan the Terrible" (Russia.)

• A return "home" with a march by euphonium virtuoso Russell Alexander, From Tropic to Tropic. (Nearly all of Alexander's compositions are published by Iowa's own C. L. Barnhouse Co., in Oskaloosa.)

The concert takes place at the Herbert T. Goettsch Community Center, 2204 Grant Street in Bettendorf. THIS FRIDAY, November 3 at 7:30 PM. Admission is free. Come and enjoy.