Tuesday 29 November 2011

Bill Parker's 'Meet the Band'

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/30810706 w=500&h=283]

Meet The Band is an hour-long historical narrative profiling four very different community bands. Bill Parker created the film 10 years ago, then ran into royalty problems and shelved the project; he's released it now on Vimeo.

"Looking back at American history, if you take the time to look a little closer, you're almost always going to find a band ... never quite in the limelight but always close to the action."

Thursday 17 November 2011

Caroling in the Downtown for the OSDIA

Our intrepid photographer John Cowper sends us this photo essay from last Sunday's caroling in the downtown for the Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area. Set with a book of old favourites in our lyres, members of the City Band gathered at the town hall and then wandered about from shop to shop to ring in the Christmas Cheer (scoring a few cookies along the way! :)

If you missed us last Sunday, you can catch us at the Tom Thompson tomorrow at quarter to six when we kick off the Owen Sound Festival of Northern Lights (lots of music, food, good cheer and fireworks!) and then again Saturday Morning for the Owen Sound Kiwanis Christmas Parade!

And as an added bonus, and Added Bonus Track!  A free mp3 (or two) recorded during our rehearsals for the Sunday Walk, featuring our semi-conductor Julia 

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Tuesday 15 November 2011

Band Music PDF Library 2.0!

Media_httpwwwbandmusi_ceqee

Over eleven months in the making, the new site contains all your old favorites plus a couple thousand more for nearly 3,000 items altogether. This is in keeping with our mission of "Preserving and Sharing Music from the Golden Age of the American Town Band." Having access to The Library is like adding 15+ four-drawer filing cabinets stuffed full of paper copies to your band room.

You're invited to stop by, browse around and start using the expanded Library any time.

One of the best resources for free band music just got better! There's even a new "Guide to Playing Music from the Library"

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Some Old Photos

Our former bandleader and long-time member Bob Bell sends us some City Band memories for our web archives:

I thought I'd send these around. The little black and white was taken at the Santa Claus Parade in 1964. One is the grand opening of the Harrison Park Inn in 1987, replacing the one that burned down. Third is the OSCVI Reunion Parade. You'll recognize Gary [Bergstra] on the trombone, but maybe not the kid on bass clarinet a few rows back.

The concert picture was taken in 1976 or 1977. We did a kiddies' concert spread out on the grass, so the children could get in closer. Bob Rourke was conducting.

The last shot was from 1987, just after a concert. My oldest son, Sandy, a six-year-old at the time, grabbed my hat and baton while I was chatting in the background. Interestingly, the guy in the red sneakers with his back to the camera is Tim Harrison, former bandsman and founder of the Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival.

Santa_parade_1964Harrison_park_inn_1987Oscvi_reunionBob_rourke_1977_childrens_concertSandy_bell_1987
and to go with those memories, a little Stephen Sondheim, recorded live last night off that very same bandshell in that very same Harrison Park!