First of all — Happy Birthday today to David Church!

No rehearsal on April 2

We have no rehearsal tomorrow, because of public school vacation week. Rehearsals resume next Monday, April 9, at 7:30 pm at TMH, with the Caramoor reading rehearsal. This rehearsal will dedicated to Caramoor rep only. All Caramoor personnel should attend; if you’re not playing Caramoor, you do not need to come to this rehearsal. Spring cycle rehearsals continue again on April 16.

Important and exciting news!

I’m very excited to announce that we have been able to secure an important and historical work for band, never performed since its publication in 1929, which I will add to our 30th Anniversary Gala program for May 12!

The work, by John Philip Sousa, was written in the early 20th century when Sousa’s band traveled through New Jersey. At the time, the largest audiences gathered to hear Sousa at the bandshell in Paramus, and he planned to premiere this work there to coordinate with their annual downtown summer sidewalk sale. (These preceded the famous malls in Paramus and were the main reasons for their construction.) Unknown by many, Sousa was fascinated with the serial (12-tone) works of Schönberg, and employed this technique in this particular composition. With our successful performance in February, I know our audience will love this piece!

Composed specifically for the town named in the title, Music for Paramus utilizes Schönberg’s serial techniques for the full instrumentation, but also utilizes the special effects sounds of cash registers and the busy chatter of townsfolk negotiating with vendors. And the best thing of all — the score and parts were a real bargain at less than $20!

Click here to see the parts and hear a recording of Sousa’s Music for Paramus – $19.68.