Town Band Set List

Play_Higher · Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 6:39 pm Post subject: Town Band Set List

I am one of two 1st trumpets (6 trumpets total). We both play the 1st cornet part, unless there's a 1st trumpet part, then I play that. The director, who plays and teaches woodwinds, gets most of the music from JW Pepper. Grade 4 stuff.

On Tuesday, our town band is playing this in one long set. The only breaks, if any, will be the director saying a few words to introduce the piece. It is brutal.

American Patrol
Military Escort
Rollstone Mountain
Arikara
Burma Patrol
Last Rose of Summer
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
Italian Polka
Invercargill
Polka Time #1 Polka Medley
Polka Time #4 Galop Medley
El Capitan
Normandy Beach
Mary Poppins Medley
Salute to the Sultan
Water is Wide
Amparito Roca
On Parade
America the Beautiful
Stars and Stripes Forever

kehaulani · Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 6:56 pm Post subject:

Is that for a concert or an all afternoon fest? What is the reason for playing such a long program and no intermission? That program makes no sense to me at all.
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Play_Higher · Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 7:36 pm Post subject:

It's an outdoor concert. Sometimes we get a break in the middle of 20 - 24 songs. But not often.

We have about 25 performances every year, including parades on a flatbed trailer. Most take place between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

I posted the set list because it seems excessive. But, this is the only band I've ever been in so I don't know what other bands do.

I'm 61 and I've been playing for about 7 years. I taught myself and for the first two years only played to my annoyed dogs before I felt good enough to play in public and joined the band.

kehaulani · Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 8:03 pm Post subject:

JayKosta · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 3:31 am Post subject:

That looks brutal without breaks.
My community band usually plays an hour concert. For longer situations we take a break in the middle. On band wagon, we rotate thru 3 pieces - there's a 'new audience' every couple hundred yards!

For survival, I'd have only 1 player on 1st and the other resting, rotate every piece. Maybe similar for the other positions, depending on their strength.

Jay
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zaferis · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 4:15 am Post subject:

Yeah, OUCH!

At least you know the set list prior to the gig! I just played an Americanna Fest with a Big Band (run by a trumpet player)... pulled the set as we arrived at the site, 2 hours, no break... don't figure.

Spell each other, look for tutti spots where you can rest or at least play with minimal effort, pass off anything and everything you can, lay out on the quiet sections of the Marches (they are chop killers), and in general stay within yourself (especially outdoors we tend to over blow).

Warm-up earlier in the day, then not much at the gig. Hydrate throughout the gig. I prefer teas or lightly flavored waters (cold clear water tends to rinse your mouth, for me has a negative affect)
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Richard III · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 5:22 am Post subject:

Time to spread the wealth. Switch off with other players playing the first part. Or divide up the parts so someone can take breaks. Or have a serious talk with the director. That's what I would do.

How long does it take to play all of that?

Another solution. Quit. Torture isn't fun.
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bhornFree · Regular Member Joined: 13 May 2019 Posts: 27

Dang, I just played back to back July 4th concerts I thought was bad (play one, everyone drives over to 2nd location, plays the 2nd). This is way worse.

We're down to 3 trumpets, but we were really glad they guy introducing the pieces was one of those 3. He took an extra long time to introduce everything, much to the conducor's annoyance

Conductor is a tuba player

We definitely took things down an octave, laid out entirely on some parts, reduced volume. Just not fun...

Play_Higher · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 6:30 am Post subject:

OP here. John, the other 1st, and I give each other breaks. And, quite often the TRIO in a march is played P the first time and then F on the repeat. We just play it the 2nd time thru. Tutti is a good time to rest. Show tunes are good. They have rests.

But, sometimes John can't make it to a concert (he has a family) and I'm forced to decide where it is most important that the 1st be heard and lay back on the others.

There's a HS student who plays 3rd and she sounds good. So I've given her all of the 1st parts and asked her to work at them. I've given her some of the solos. Every once in a while I swap parts with her. She's young and could be a long time member and leader.

Our 45-member band is mostly in their 50s and 60's, and some 70+.

kehaulani · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 7:10 am Post subject:

I still have two questions:
Why is it necessary to play such a long program without breaks. Extenuating circumstance?
Why not (in a group or a representative of the group}, approach the conductor? Maybe he just doesn't know.

ps. If he does know, one of us would be gone.
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"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

Croquethed · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 7:43 am Post subject:

How soon does the audience start to filter out?

TrumpetMD · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 7:51 am Post subject: Re: Town Band Set List

SSmith1226 · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 9:31 am Post subject:

Within the last year I have played in six Community Bands. Two in Florida and currently four in Massachusetts. Three of the bands play 1 hr concerts and three of the bands are scheduled to play 1 1/2 hr concerts, but on occasion run 1:45 including a break. Pieces per concert vary from 8-16 depending on the band and generally end with the Stars an Stripes Forever or the Liberty Bell. I’m glad I’m not in your band, although at 25 performances per season, it would probably help my endurance.
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Andy Del · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 12:49 pm Post subject:

There are two of three things to do.

1. Talk to the conductor - and not during the rehearsal. Do it before or after.
2. Plan you plying, as you are already doing.
3. Become the conductor.

It does happen you get a tough program. At times I've asked the second to take a first part here and there. One memorable orchestral program included:

Mars and Jupiter from The Planets
Act 3 Scii from Aida - the entire triumphal march scene with ballet.
Beethoven 5 movt. 1
Huapango
4 or so more Latin pieces
Bolero
Overture to Orpheus
Arias for tenor and soprano - the usual suspects.
Finale from The Firebird

and there were only two of us playing! All we did was focus on our breathing, NOT playing balls to the wall, but concentrating on projection, tone quality and making it all sound as amazing as possible.

Still here to tell the tale.

cheers

Andy
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