Sousa wrote what?

On CONCERT NO. 2
June 15, 7:30 PM, Eagle Point Park

Yes, we all know that the march king wrote a bunch of marches, probably not as many as the Bohemian, Julius Fucik, but a slew of them nonetheless. BUT, old JPS also penned tone poems, songs, waltzes, and even a handful of operettas. So, chalk it up to this week's "I didn't know that" column, sit back and enjoy the El Capitan Waltzes.

So, were you a fan of the "Chairman of the Board?" Who in their right mind wasn't? The band has a medley to satisfy all connoisseurs of the #1 Rat Packer. Sorry, there's no New York, New York; these are the old tunes. Ones like Young at Heart, Love is a Tender Trap--you know 'em. You love 'em.

Who knew that John Williams wrote music for NBC Television? Actually, go here and be amazed. There's lots of stuff that predates Star Wars, including the "trinity" of 1970s disaster films.

And marches? Are we playing any? Do you know Frederick Ricketts? Oh, wait, most everybody knows him as Kenneth Alford. It still doesn't ring a bell? Colonel Bogey? Yes, the one you can whistle. While The Vanished Army's connection to the 100th anniversary of the war to end all wars, might be more appropriate, we're playing Army of the Nile. It's a goodie!

There will be music to channel your inner Sean Connery as well as Princess Jasmine. And buffaloes; did I mention buffaloes? Yes, we'll pay tribute to buffaloes!

THE DATE: June 15, 2017
THE TIME: 7:30 PM
THE PLACE: Eagle Point Park Band Shell
It's a buck a car, or you can sneak in the back way. Either way, come to Iowa's most beautiful concert site and hear the Tri-State Wind Symphony.

One score and two seasons ago...

...a small cadre of dedicated musicians approached then Loras College professor Brian Hughes and decided that Dubuque needed a community band, joining the ranks of Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and even Hampton. Fifteen people--nine of whom played clarinet--attended that first rehearsal on May 9, 1995. That first season could be called "we'll play when we have enough music to play." Still, the band managed three performances spread throughout the summer, premiering at the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens; afterward, the ensemble moved into Iowa's most beautiful outdoor concert site: the Eagle Point Park Bandshell. Except for an occasional rainout (ok, lots of them in the summer of 2008), that's been "home."

Along the line, that band--called the Tri-State Wind Symphony--added other area musical groups to play on its "off" weeks and the real summer series was born. The group also has "toured" several locales, including Bettendorf (3 times), Cascade, Sinsinawa Mound (twice) and a joint performance with Maquoketa's Timber City Band at the Iowa Municipal Band Festival in Boone. It's still always pleasant to play close to home, as we will be at our first concert of the 23rd Season, June 1 at 7:30 PM at Eagle Point Park.

Programs always consist of the old and the new, the borrowed and the blue. Our musical menu will include,

Karl L. King's Invictus, composed in honor of bandmaster Merle Evans. In a sad coincidence, Mr. Evans's band and the circus it represented--the Ringling Brothers-Barnum and Bailey Circus--just folded its tents for the last time on May 21. No more will we hear the call, "Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages!"

A gorgeous and lyrical original work by Australian composer Brian Hogg entitled In Stillness.

Tahiti Trot, written by Dmitri Shostakovich. This score was the result of a bet with Russian conductor Nicholai Malko, who wagered that the composer could not create a fully orchestrated setting of Tea for Two in less than an hour. Shostakovich took 45 minutes!

A great medley of Hollywood themes arranged by Warren Barker and much, much more! Who knows? We might even play a little something by John Philip Sousa. You'll have to come and see (and hear!)

Will he show up?

We know that he'll be there...

Once again:

Tri-State Wind Symphony 23rd Season Opener
Thursday, June 1, 7:30 PM
Eagle Point Park Bandshell
Free with admission to the park ($1 per car, so fill the Buick up with all your friends!)

See you there!