Preparing For 2023 Yankee Brass Band Concerts
We are counting the days until The Yankee Brass Band begins the 36th season tour. During the week of July 17, 2023, the band will be traveling to Pennsylvania and New Jersey presenting lectures and concerts of 19th-century American brass band music.
Some people may be wondering what has been going on in preparation for this season. Many months have already gone into preparation for YBB 2023. Things began last July around the time of our final concert at the Billings Museum in Woodstock, VT. As the final notes of the encore ended, Pennsylvania band members, John Mueller, Dennis Emert, and Ken Kreitner became the hard-working hosts for YBB 2023. Almost immediately, they began securing rehearsal and concert sites and players to fill the roster for the season. We were very excited with the possibility of a lecture and performance at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Summer Conference in Harrisburg, PA, and even more excited to announce that Dr. Kreitner and the band will be presenting a workshop on “The American Amateur Band” at the conference and a public evening concert at 7:00 PM. More information on concerts is available on the Concerts page.
While these on-site preparations were taking place, the music director and players began to research and acquire music that would be appropriate and entertaining for our audiences. The resulting “Programme” contains songs from the War Between the States, works by early American Brass Band composers such as Alan Dodworth, and pieces by Pennsylvania musicians such as Francis Johnson, Stephen Foster, and Thomas Coates. Some of this music, such as Mahopac Waltz, was found in the Library of Congress and required transcription. Other pieces were arranged by the founding music director of Yankee Brass, Mr. Paul Mayberry. Music historian and long-time YBB friend, Mark Elrod provided some works as well. Classical transcriptions of overtures for brass band, complete the program.
Once the program was selected, the parts needed to be scanned and sent to the members of the ensemble located from Maine to California. This task was met by Steve Gasarowski, currently the most senior member of the YBB.
What has the conductor been doing? Your Music Director has been studying conducting techniques of 19th-century bands. It is much like conducting today’s music. When the band starts, wave your arms at the ensemble. When the music stops, turn around and bow. With the high-quality musicians of The Yankee Brass Band, there is little else for the conductor to do. Hope to see you in Pennsylvania.