(NOTE: Photo above is from the 1937 Hallsville Centennial Parade!....Really!..The band formed just east of town at a farm that is still there, and was traveling west on St. Rt, 180 into town.)
BAND STORIES:
It would be impossible, I assume, to get any group of people together over the years to play music in The Adelphi Community Band, and not have some stories to tell.
The neat thing about the band, is that they were all family friendly in that there would be young teenagers playing right beside VERY senior citizens and everybody would look out for everybody else.
As a result of all that, here are some of the more classic stories that can be actually shared via this web site.
======================================================================================================
BAND STORIES:
It would be impossible, I assume, to get any group of people together over the years to play music in The Adelphi Community Band, and not have some stories to tell.
The neat thing about the band, is that they were all family friendly in that there would be young teenagers playing right beside VERY senior citizens and everybody would look out for everybody else.
As a result of all that, here are some of the more classic stories that can be actually shared via this web site.
======================================================================================================
1. We Will Make Sure You Make it to the Band Engagements:
When I first started, I was in Junior High School and clearly too young to drive. However, the Director lived just down the road from me. He told my parents that anytime I needed a ride to band practice or a band engagement, he would take me. He meant the offer, and on occasion, I had to take him up on his offer in order to get to a band function.
2. "It Will be a COLD Day at the Ross County Fair.....":
For several years, the role of the Adelphi Band at the Ross County Fair included, among other things, 3 days of playing for the harness races. Usually, the band would sit on the far right side of the grandstand, down on the walkway. There were usually be loudspeakers situated just above us for the race announcers.
One year, the band had an elderly gentleman playing alto horn. After his first day sitting underneath the loudspeaker, he came back on the successive day wearing winter ear muffs so as to cut the volume down from the loudspeaker just above him.
However, August in Chillicothe being like it usually is (HOT!), and with the band sitting either in, or pretty nearly in, the sun for several hours, it definitely created a unique portrait for the members to be sitting there in short sleeve, white shirts and black pants on a sunny, summer day and have one of them wearing winter ear muffs!
One year, the band had an elderly gentleman playing alto horn. After his first day sitting underneath the loudspeaker, he came back on the successive day wearing winter ear muffs so as to cut the volume down from the loudspeaker just above him.
However, August in Chillicothe being like it usually is (HOT!), and with the band sitting either in, or pretty nearly in, the sun for several hours, it definitely created a unique portrait for the members to be sitting there in short sleeve, white shirts and black pants on a sunny, summer day and have one of them wearing winter ear muffs!
3. "But I Just PLAYED That Song!":
As what typically happens to many musicians over the years, we have had our fair share of older members who have had various degrees of hearing loss, and/or who just enjoy the social time with the other members so much that it is difficult to pay attention to the side conversations AND listen to the Director announce the next song.
In those cases, you don't really have to guess exactly which conversation would be ignored.
So, there was this one performance where the Director announced a song and the band played it. The Director announced the second song, and one of the members piped up with the never-to-be-forgotten phrase: " But I just played that song!"
I don't think that anyone is for sure if he actually had already played the second song in the place of the first song announced by the Director, or not, but I'm pretty sure that we all thought his statement pretty easy to believe!
In those cases, you don't really have to guess exactly which conversation would be ignored.
So, there was this one performance where the Director announced a song and the band played it. The Director announced the second song, and one of the members piped up with the never-to-be-forgotten phrase: " But I just played that song!"
I don't think that anyone is for sure if he actually had already played the second song in the place of the first song announced by the Director, or not, but I'm pretty sure that we all thought his statement pretty easy to believe!
4. "Helen Hunt Has Found a Watch":
Also a story first heard from one of the members of the band during a break between the numerous loud speaker announcements at the harness races:
"Helen Hunt has found a watch under the grandstand. "
"Please check to see if you still have your watch"
"If you discover that you have lost your watch and think that this watch might be yours, go to Helen Hunt for it"
And if you don't get the joke yet, just keep saying that last sentence fast until you do......wait for it.....
Always a classic.........especially if you have been playing at the county fair races for 3 days.
"Helen Hunt has found a watch under the grandstand. "
"Please check to see if you still have your watch"
"If you discover that you have lost your watch and think that this watch might be yours, go to Helen Hunt for it"
And if you don't get the joke yet, just keep saying that last sentence fast until you do......wait for it.....
Always a classic.........especially if you have been playing at the county fair races for 3 days.
5. "Remembering Friends":
You know you have been surrounding yourself with good people who have become friends, when you look back over the years at the ones who are no longer sitting beside you...and you miss them....and you know the band misses them, too.
6. "These are the People You Can Trust Your Kids With":
As a personal anecdote, 2017 will be the 51st summer with the band for both my brother and me.
When I first started with the band, I took my turn at being the youngest band member for several years, a distinction our son (his mother and I both now play in the band) took over a few decades later when he joined the band at the age of 11, and when the bass drum was about as big, and almost as heavy, as he was.
Through all of these years, I would often get asked by others not familiar with the band about what it was like to play in this band.
Certainly the answer to that question could include when they started, what kind of music they played, where they generally played, and other such details.
But, pretty much every time, my personal answer included the fact that these were the kind of people you could trust your kids with.
As has been told elsewhere on this web site, there were no off-color jokes or racial stories told, there were no cruel pranks or hazing, the older players would help out the younger players musically, the younger players would help out the older players by helping to carry instruments when it became convenient for the older players to get a little help, members made sure that car loads of other members could get rides to band engagements and practices, and the band leaders would help take care of the members by buying cold drinks during those hot summer days when we were playing for county fair horse races.
My parents trusted the band members to watch out for me when I was playing with them.
And even though it was a different social and cultural time 30 years later, I had no reservations that the rest of the band would help me look out for our son when he was playing music with the band.
My answer then, as it is now when I am asked about the other members of the band, is that these are the kinds of people you could trust your kids with. Unfortunately, the rest of the world now, not so much.
When I first started with the band, I took my turn at being the youngest band member for several years, a distinction our son (his mother and I both now play in the band) took over a few decades later when he joined the band at the age of 11, and when the bass drum was about as big, and almost as heavy, as he was.
Through all of these years, I would often get asked by others not familiar with the band about what it was like to play in this band.
Certainly the answer to that question could include when they started, what kind of music they played, where they generally played, and other such details.
But, pretty much every time, my personal answer included the fact that these were the kind of people you could trust your kids with.
As has been told elsewhere on this web site, there were no off-color jokes or racial stories told, there were no cruel pranks or hazing, the older players would help out the younger players musically, the younger players would help out the older players by helping to carry instruments when it became convenient for the older players to get a little help, members made sure that car loads of other members could get rides to band engagements and practices, and the band leaders would help take care of the members by buying cold drinks during those hot summer days when we were playing for county fair horse races.
My parents trusted the band members to watch out for me when I was playing with them.
And even though it was a different social and cultural time 30 years later, I had no reservations that the rest of the band would help me look out for our son when he was playing music with the band.
My answer then, as it is now when I am asked about the other members of the band, is that these are the kinds of people you could trust your kids with. Unfortunately, the rest of the world now, not so much.
7. "Darbydale? ... Or is it Darbyville?":
There are two small towns basically southwest of Columbus, about 13 miles apart.
One is Darbydale, and the second is Darbyville.
One year, many years ago, the band had an engagement in one of the towns and..... as you can probably guess....there was at least one band member waiting for the performance to start at the other town. I think that it was even the Director who went to the wrong town!
One is Darbydale, and the second is Darbyville.
One year, many years ago, the band had an engagement in one of the towns and..... as you can probably guess....there was at least one band member waiting for the performance to start at the other town. I think that it was even the Director who went to the wrong town!
8. "Political Discussions":
Looking back, one of the most amusing things that would happen at band practices and performances involved politics.
Surprise.
As with any such group, a lot of the band members are, and have been, die-hard members of one party, and many of the others have been die-hard members of another party.
The amazing thing was that no one really got into any serious discussions about it, and definitely no one ever started insulting the beliefs of anyone else because they claimed a different political party initial after their names.
As an example, there were a lot of farmers, and ex-farmers, in the group, and you knew things were going to get lively when one of them would jump up and proclaim how all the OTHER farmers had gotten rich, and he had gotten poor, off the political policies of one political party or another. Or, how the world had magically become a better place because of the political actions taken by HIS political party, etc.
Then the sputtering and stammering would start on the other side of the band, there would be some good-natured back-and-forth, and then everyone would have a good laugh.
The very next concert....lather, rinse, and repeat.
Surprise.
As with any such group, a lot of the band members are, and have been, die-hard members of one party, and many of the others have been die-hard members of another party.
The amazing thing was that no one really got into any serious discussions about it, and definitely no one ever started insulting the beliefs of anyone else because they claimed a different political party initial after their names.
As an example, there were a lot of farmers, and ex-farmers, in the group, and you knew things were going to get lively when one of them would jump up and proclaim how all the OTHER farmers had gotten rich, and he had gotten poor, off the political policies of one political party or another. Or, how the world had magically become a better place because of the political actions taken by HIS political party, etc.
Then the sputtering and stammering would start on the other side of the band, there would be some good-natured back-and-forth, and then everyone would have a good laugh.
The very next concert....lather, rinse, and repeat.
9. "Listen to the Baritones":
If you haven't ever listened to the song "Colonel Bogey", then seriously, where have been all your life?
This is the famous song used in the movie soundtrack for "Bridge Over the River Kwai".
It was written by a British composer, and while the main melody basically lies with other instruments, it actually was written to feature the Baritones/Euphoniums in some remarkable counter melody.
Anyway, many years ago the (then) Director would caution the band prior to the start of the song to, "Listen to the Baritones". This was probably caused by the fact that at THAT time the attendance in the other brass sections was much larger than it is today, but we would still possibly only have one Baritone/Euphonium.
Good Euphonium players who can handle the marches written in the late 1800's to early 1900's are extremely hard to find, even today.
Unfortunately, that Director is no longer with us, but after he passed, one of the elder band members then took up reminding the band of that instruction prior to playing the song.
Unfortunately, that band member is also no longer with us.
However, still today, prior to playing "Colonel Bogey", you can still count on at least one of the band members reminding all the other members to "Listen to the Baritones!".
This is the famous song used in the movie soundtrack for "Bridge Over the River Kwai".
It was written by a British composer, and while the main melody basically lies with other instruments, it actually was written to feature the Baritones/Euphoniums in some remarkable counter melody.
Anyway, many years ago the (then) Director would caution the band prior to the start of the song to, "Listen to the Baritones". This was probably caused by the fact that at THAT time the attendance in the other brass sections was much larger than it is today, but we would still possibly only have one Baritone/Euphonium.
Good Euphonium players who can handle the marches written in the late 1800's to early 1900's are extremely hard to find, even today.
Unfortunately, that Director is no longer with us, but after he passed, one of the elder band members then took up reminding the band of that instruction prior to playing the song.
Unfortunately, that band member is also no longer with us.
However, still today, prior to playing "Colonel Bogey", you can still count on at least one of the band members reminding all the other members to "Listen to the Baritones!".
10. "And Everyone Jokes About Drummers Not Being Able to Read Music":
And then there was the period of time that the band had a blind drummer. That's correct...a blind drummer.
While it almost sounds like the start of a "three men walked into a bar" story, it is true.
He had played a lot of the music in his earlier life so he played a lot by memory, and listened to the other drummers to pick up the rest.
Unfortunately, he passed away shortly after starting to play with the band.
While it almost sounds like the start of a "three men walked into a bar" story, it is true.
He had played a lot of the music in his earlier life so he played a lot by memory, and listened to the other drummers to pick up the rest.
Unfortunately, he passed away shortly after starting to play with the band.
11. "How Many Instruments Can You Bring to Practice?":
When you start off with a small group of musicians, like The Adelphi Community Band has always been, and then you start to subtract members from planned performances due to illnesses, vacations, busy careers, and the inevitable passing of members, you come to find a core group of musicians that are happy to sub on other instruments just to keep the band from having to cancel on any planned performances:
While certainly not a complete list below, The Adelphi Band has had its share of musicians adapting to different roles over their years with the band, which have included:
- Clarinet player converting to Bass Drummer,
- Snare Drummer who would play the Bass Drum at the same time,
- Bass Drummer converting to Euphonium and Trombone
- Trombone Player converting to Euphonium and Trombonium, and sometimes back again,
- Trumpet Player converting to Euphonium,
- Trombone Player converting to Percussionist,
- Trombone Player to Director,
- Trumpet Player to Director/Trumpet Player,
- Several members who routinely play either Saxes or Clarinets,
- Trombone Player to Sousaphone, and back to Trombone,
- And one member who through the years has subbed in on Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Piccolo Trumpet, Eb Trumpet, Euphonium, Valve and Slide Trombones, Tuba, and even took a turn as Director for awhile!...It takes him FOREVER to load his car!
12. "I'll Buy the New Car, But First I have to See If My Tuba/Sousaphone Will Fit In It":
Not surprisingly, pretty much gone are the days when it seems like EVERYONE had the large Cadilac-style cars, or in later years the vans and mini-vans.
While that certainly impacts family comfort no matter how small the family is, most people have no idea how difficult it is to play Tetris in a Honda Civic with at least 2-3 band members, and instruments and related gear of almost any size.
And that doesn't even start to address how you pack:
- Uniform caps,
- Winter Coats,
- Music Stands,
- Clothes Pins,
- Ponchos,
- Equipment Bags,
- Padded cushions for those LONG county fair races....Seriously, YOU sit in the Grandstand bleachers for 3-4 hours, and then tell me that you aren't going to start packing cushions, stadium seats, books, etc. for comfort and something to do in the down times! We actually had a couple Clarinet players who would play chess DURING the harness races, since the band only played BETWEEN the races.
- Sanitary Hand Wipes so that you can eat the fair food with clean hands after wandering around the Fair Grounds without poisoning yourself,
There actually have been several verified stories of not only Adelphi Band members, but musicians in other bands who play the Tuba and Sousaphone, who wouldn't buy a new car until they tested it first to see if they could get their band instruments in it comfortably.
How do you test it, you ask?
The old fashioned way.
By actually taking your Tuba or Sousaphone to the car dealer with you, finding a car you think you want, and then unloading your instrument from your car into the new car BEFORE you sign any paperwork....all while the salesperson is watching with amusement....just to make sure it all fits.
13. "Pack a Poncho?.....Nah, It Isn't Going to Rain Today":
Think about it.....How many times do you want to get caught in the rain, and maybe cold wind, without any kind of rain coat or poncho?
How many times is the TV Weatherman right?
I will guarantee that it only really takes once of not being prepared when playing in a band in bad weather to encourage you to start to want to pack stuff that will keep you warm, dry, comfortable, and busy, when you are with a band that almost exclusively plays outside.
Especially in the rain!..... Yikes!...There are very few more miserable feelings than to be caught in the rain, or the cold wind, in a wet wool uniform, while carrying a metal band instrument.
You are almost always blocks from where you parked your car, you are usually pretty much penned into the band trailer so that getting off to go somewhere else is difficult, and for many festivals even getting off the band trailer doesn't provide any relief because the festivals don't generally have tents or anyplace else for the people to get in out of the weather.
Often, during the week of the Pumpkin Show, our Living Room looks like a music store exploded as uniform items, instrument cases, hats, and pretty much anything that ever got taken out of the car is spread out over furniture and in front of fans trying to dry the stuff out before the next day's performances.
The community band musician's friend?......A LARGE poncho.
(Insert infomercial here...)
Rain coats are great when you stand up, but when you sit down on the band trailer, they gap at the waist, and your pants are guaranteed to get soaked. Rain coats generally don't have hoods, and that becomes important when you are wearing a band hat guaranteed to drop the rain water down the back of your rain coat and band coat like the gutter and downspout on an old house.
Plus, a little cold wind? A poncho will take the chill right off by blocking the wind for you. Ask anyone who rides a motorcycle and wears a rain suit to cut the wind.
You get your poncho big enough and you are totally protected all the way down to the bottoms of your shoes. Get one with a hood, and you can put the hood on under the band hat, and the rain drops right off the back of the poncho and not down the back of your coat.
Get a poncho without a hood? ....What's the point?..You will be going out to buy one WITH a hood the next day, anyway, so save yourself some time and money and do it right to start with.
Soooo, this now has become the family motto, and part of the check-list of equipment before we leave the house:
"Do you have your poncho?"
Some of us just have a general "Go Bag" we carry with us all the time that contains all of our needed equipment and comfort items.
Some of us don't use the "Go Bag" concept, for various reasons, but will put a poncho in every instrument case.
Regardless, on our way to a performance, you can usually find some of us calling each other to good-naturedly check: "Do you have your poncho?"
Either way, the next time it rains while we are on the band trailer, you will definitely have "poncho-envy" as you watch me put on my totally protective, warm, rain-proof, poncho, and watch me sit comfortably...and dry....for the rest of the parade!
And, no......you can't borrow it!
How many times is the TV Weatherman right?
I will guarantee that it only really takes once of not being prepared when playing in a band in bad weather to encourage you to start to want to pack stuff that will keep you warm, dry, comfortable, and busy, when you are with a band that almost exclusively plays outside.
Especially in the rain!..... Yikes!...There are very few more miserable feelings than to be caught in the rain, or the cold wind, in a wet wool uniform, while carrying a metal band instrument.
You are almost always blocks from where you parked your car, you are usually pretty much penned into the band trailer so that getting off to go somewhere else is difficult, and for many festivals even getting off the band trailer doesn't provide any relief because the festivals don't generally have tents or anyplace else for the people to get in out of the weather.
Often, during the week of the Pumpkin Show, our Living Room looks like a music store exploded as uniform items, instrument cases, hats, and pretty much anything that ever got taken out of the car is spread out over furniture and in front of fans trying to dry the stuff out before the next day's performances.
The community band musician's friend?......A LARGE poncho.
(Insert infomercial here...)
Rain coats are great when you stand up, but when you sit down on the band trailer, they gap at the waist, and your pants are guaranteed to get soaked. Rain coats generally don't have hoods, and that becomes important when you are wearing a band hat guaranteed to drop the rain water down the back of your rain coat and band coat like the gutter and downspout on an old house.
Plus, a little cold wind? A poncho will take the chill right off by blocking the wind for you. Ask anyone who rides a motorcycle and wears a rain suit to cut the wind.
You get your poncho big enough and you are totally protected all the way down to the bottoms of your shoes. Get one with a hood, and you can put the hood on under the band hat, and the rain drops right off the back of the poncho and not down the back of your coat.
Get a poncho without a hood? ....What's the point?..You will be going out to buy one WITH a hood the next day, anyway, so save yourself some time and money and do it right to start with.
Soooo, this now has become the family motto, and part of the check-list of equipment before we leave the house:
"Do you have your poncho?"
Some of us just have a general "Go Bag" we carry with us all the time that contains all of our needed equipment and comfort items.
Some of us don't use the "Go Bag" concept, for various reasons, but will put a poncho in every instrument case.
Regardless, on our way to a performance, you can usually find some of us calling each other to good-naturedly check: "Do you have your poncho?"
Either way, the next time it rains while we are on the band trailer, you will definitely have "poncho-envy" as you watch me put on my totally protective, warm, rain-proof, poncho, and watch me sit comfortably...and dry....for the rest of the parade!
And, no......you can't borrow it!
14. "Piccolo Part to 'Stars and Stripes Forever'?...No Problem!":
Anyone who knows The Adelphi Community Band, knows that it has primarily been an all brass band, with the exception of Clarinets.
Why?...,,,Darned if I know, and I have several decades of time with the band.
But, if you ever look at a Clarinet part for any typical march written in the late 1800's to early 1900's, you have will a whole new appreciation for what they are asked to do compared to the typical concert band fare found in today's concert bands.
During those same several decades, the band has also had, on occasion, Saxophones and a Piccolo Player, but those times have come in short cycles, and have generally been few and far between given the length of the band's history.
However, one of the band's favorite numbers has been (naturally enough) "Stars and Stripes Forever".
Anyone who knows that song knows to listen for the famous Piccolo part in the Trio (last part of the song).
On the few occasions that the band actually had a Piccolo player sit in, that worked out well, but, again, that didn't happen often.
In my version of this story, the band had a local educator, Mr. Kerns, who joined the band about 35 years ago after he retired from teaching. Mr. Kerns could basically play any instrument, but his primary instrument had been the Euphonium, and so that is what he brought to the band.
Mr. Kerns was an excellent player, and when he saw the void of the band NOT having a Piccolo player for this wonderful song, he took it on himself to learn it for the Euphonium. And so he did. He wound up being the band's "Piccolo player" on his Euphonium for this song for several decades. Unfortunately, Mr. Kerns has since passed on.
However, the story moves forward.
One of Mr. Kerns' many students, Jarrad, was also a Euphonium player, and was an excellent player as well. Jarrad subsequently also took up playing the Piccolo part to "Stars and Stripes Forever"on the Euphonium with the band.
In fact, there is a picture in the PICTURES section of this web site of both Mr. Kerns and Jarrad standing while playing for the harness races at the Fairfield County Fair while they are both playing the Piccolo part to "Stars and Stripes Forever" on Euphoniums! Sweet!
And the story moves forward.
To date, by my count and my recollections over 5 decades with the band, the band has had the Piccolo part to "Stars and Stripes Forever" played by 4 musicians, on the:
Since the band has many members who will rotate on instruments based on the needs for any specific concert, the band has one member who has done the Piccolo part to "Stars and Stripes Forever" at various times on:
Wow!...That's quite an accomplishment for any band!
I do have to add a caveat to this list, however.
Just after Paul Beirley (professional musician on Tuba) completed his biography on John Phillip Sousa, he attended one of the band's practices with his Tuba, and graciously played the Piccolo part to that song on it. But he never played with the band in a performance.
So, sometimes with The Adelphi Community Band over the years, when it came to playing "Stars and Stripes Forever", it was almost like playing in a Big Band or Jazz Band where they divided up the solos and in what order just before they started the song.
For many years, the problem with The Adelphi Community Band wasn't in trying to find SOMEONE to play the Piccolo part, it was trying to figure out who was willing to sit the Trio out this time and let someone ELSE play the Piccolo part this time!
A nice problem to have.
Why?...,,,Darned if I know, and I have several decades of time with the band.
But, if you ever look at a Clarinet part for any typical march written in the late 1800's to early 1900's, you have will a whole new appreciation for what they are asked to do compared to the typical concert band fare found in today's concert bands.
During those same several decades, the band has also had, on occasion, Saxophones and a Piccolo Player, but those times have come in short cycles, and have generally been few and far between given the length of the band's history.
However, one of the band's favorite numbers has been (naturally enough) "Stars and Stripes Forever".
Anyone who knows that song knows to listen for the famous Piccolo part in the Trio (last part of the song).
On the few occasions that the band actually had a Piccolo player sit in, that worked out well, but, again, that didn't happen often.
In my version of this story, the band had a local educator, Mr. Kerns, who joined the band about 35 years ago after he retired from teaching. Mr. Kerns could basically play any instrument, but his primary instrument had been the Euphonium, and so that is what he brought to the band.
Mr. Kerns was an excellent player, and when he saw the void of the band NOT having a Piccolo player for this wonderful song, he took it on himself to learn it for the Euphonium. And so he did. He wound up being the band's "Piccolo player" on his Euphonium for this song for several decades. Unfortunately, Mr. Kerns has since passed on.
However, the story moves forward.
One of Mr. Kerns' many students, Jarrad, was also a Euphonium player, and was an excellent player as well. Jarrad subsequently also took up playing the Piccolo part to "Stars and Stripes Forever"on the Euphonium with the band.
In fact, there is a picture in the PICTURES section of this web site of both Mr. Kerns and Jarrad standing while playing for the harness races at the Fairfield County Fair while they are both playing the Piccolo part to "Stars and Stripes Forever" on Euphoniums! Sweet!
And the story moves forward.
To date, by my count and my recollections over 5 decades with the band, the band has had the Piccolo part to "Stars and Stripes Forever" played by 4 musicians, on the:
- Piccolo
- Euphonium
- Bb Trumpet
- Eb Trumpet
- Piccolo Trumpet
- Slide Trombone
- Valve Trombone
Since the band has many members who will rotate on instruments based on the needs for any specific concert, the band has one member who has done the Piccolo part to "Stars and Stripes Forever" at various times on:
- Piccolo Trumpet
- Euphonium
- Valve Trombone
- Bb Trumpet
- Eb Trumpet
Wow!...That's quite an accomplishment for any band!
I do have to add a caveat to this list, however.
Just after Paul Beirley (professional musician on Tuba) completed his biography on John Phillip Sousa, he attended one of the band's practices with his Tuba, and graciously played the Piccolo part to that song on it. But he never played with the band in a performance.
So, sometimes with The Adelphi Community Band over the years, when it came to playing "Stars and Stripes Forever", it was almost like playing in a Big Band or Jazz Band where they divided up the solos and in what order just before they started the song.
For many years, the problem with The Adelphi Community Band wasn't in trying to find SOMEONE to play the Piccolo part, it was trying to figure out who was willing to sit the Trio out this time and let someone ELSE play the Piccolo part this time!
A nice problem to have.
15. "Well, What Do You Want Me to Do...Shoot Them?":
Several decades ago, there was this one band member who had a habit of periodically complaining to the Director that everyone else was playing too loudly.
This was during a time when the band sections were much fuller than they are today, and each section was filled with a group of musicians who were happy to show that they still had the "lip" to play circus marches at circus tempo..... and with circus volume.
Most of us seemed to feel that circus music needs a much fuller, brassier, sound than general concert band music. And we liked it that way. And the audience does too, and even STILL expects that kind of sound out of The Adelphi Community Band.
Anyway, the band was at practice one night when this one band member felt it necessary to again offer his opinion on the perceived high volume of another section of the band and how that perceived high volume overshadowed his own playing.
I was sitting in the band that night, and I could feel what I interpreted to be the Director's exasperation on the topic when he replied to that one complaining band member: "What do you want me to do....shoot them?"
Some of us laughed...including the members of the section allegedly committing the offense.....but the band member who had complained did not laugh.......and in my version of the story, this specific complaint was brought up far less frequently AFTER that imaginative response from the Director.
In subsequent years, I have found myself actually (judiciously) using that Director's response a number of times in my personal life when faced with AGAIN hearing about the ongoing drama that one person feels is being experienced from, or caused by, another.
This was during a time when the band sections were much fuller than they are today, and each section was filled with a group of musicians who were happy to show that they still had the "lip" to play circus marches at circus tempo..... and with circus volume.
Most of us seemed to feel that circus music needs a much fuller, brassier, sound than general concert band music. And we liked it that way. And the audience does too, and even STILL expects that kind of sound out of The Adelphi Community Band.
Anyway, the band was at practice one night when this one band member felt it necessary to again offer his opinion on the perceived high volume of another section of the band and how that perceived high volume overshadowed his own playing.
I was sitting in the band that night, and I could feel what I interpreted to be the Director's exasperation on the topic when he replied to that one complaining band member: "What do you want me to do....shoot them?"
Some of us laughed...including the members of the section allegedly committing the offense.....but the band member who had complained did not laugh.......and in my version of the story, this specific complaint was brought up far less frequently AFTER that imaginative response from the Director.
In subsequent years, I have found myself actually (judiciously) using that Director's response a number of times in my personal life when faced with AGAIN hearing about the ongoing drama that one person feels is being experienced from, or caused by, another.
16. "That Went the Way of Fort Gay":
Many decades ago, even before my starting time with the band, there apparently was a song in the band's library by the name of "Fort Gay". It was possibly spelled differently, because as you will see as my version of this story unfolds, I had no opportunity to ever see the music first-hand.
The story, as it was pieced together by my young ears in my early days with the band, was that the march was pretty much hated by a large faction of the band.
This situation was actually pretty unique. In any size band, there probably isn't ANY song that EVERYBODY likes to play, for one reason or another. And, not all brilliant composers are brilliant on every composition, so sometimes even the most famous march composers would create songs, melodies, and arrangements that were clearly not their best work and would fall by the wayside and out of the public's interest.
But, to pretty much apparently have the majority of the band express dislike for a march, was pretty interesting.
Anyway, as the story progresses in its unfolding to me, there was an opportune night when the parts to "Fort Gay" were gathered up and dropped into the nearest outhouse...That's right...INTO the outhouse.
If you don't know what an outhouse is, "Google it", or watch an episode of "Little House on the Prarie", and remember that the band was started in 1880. For even MANY decades after that in rural farming areas in Ohio, outhouses MAY no longer have been used, but they were certainly still present on the property.
After that apparent clandestine act, for which neither blame was assigned to anyone, nor credit given or even heroically claimed, when something got discussed in band that was no longer around, like something in the culture, another missing song from the library, possibly a missing wallet or set of keys, invariably one of the band members would present the thought that the missing item(s) " went the way of Fort Gay".
And by the way, if you do a Google search on "Fort Gay" to find out who wrote it, be prepared to scroll through a lot of search results that have NOTHING to do with circus music!
The story, as it was pieced together by my young ears in my early days with the band, was that the march was pretty much hated by a large faction of the band.
This situation was actually pretty unique. In any size band, there probably isn't ANY song that EVERYBODY likes to play, for one reason or another. And, not all brilliant composers are brilliant on every composition, so sometimes even the most famous march composers would create songs, melodies, and arrangements that were clearly not their best work and would fall by the wayside and out of the public's interest.
But, to pretty much apparently have the majority of the band express dislike for a march, was pretty interesting.
Anyway, as the story progresses in its unfolding to me, there was an opportune night when the parts to "Fort Gay" were gathered up and dropped into the nearest outhouse...That's right...INTO the outhouse.
If you don't know what an outhouse is, "Google it", or watch an episode of "Little House on the Prarie", and remember that the band was started in 1880. For even MANY decades after that in rural farming areas in Ohio, outhouses MAY no longer have been used, but they were certainly still present on the property.
After that apparent clandestine act, for which neither blame was assigned to anyone, nor credit given or even heroically claimed, when something got discussed in band that was no longer around, like something in the culture, another missing song from the library, possibly a missing wallet or set of keys, invariably one of the band members would present the thought that the missing item(s) " went the way of Fort Gay".
And by the way, if you do a Google search on "Fort Gay" to find out who wrote it, be prepared to scroll through a lot of search results that have NOTHING to do with circus music!
17. "Being in the Band Was a Good Way to Get Out of Work":
As has already been stated, the band was started in 1880 in small-town, rural, Ohio when pretty much all the band members were involved in farming.
Accordingly, in 1980, when the band was celebrating its 100th anniversary, many of the older members would make the rounds being interviewed by various media representatives.
David Pontious, Tuba player and one of the three most senior members of the band at that point, would often tell the story that he had joined the band in 1924. He grew up listening to the band since his father (Chauncey) had been one of the founding members in 1880 and they would travel to the practices and performances from their family farm.
David would then share that: "I'd do anything to play in the band. That was a good way to get out of the work".
Kinds of sounds like the lyrics to the old song, "How ya gonna keep them, down on the farm.... after they've seen......."
Accordingly, in 1980, when the band was celebrating its 100th anniversary, many of the older members would make the rounds being interviewed by various media representatives.
David Pontious, Tuba player and one of the three most senior members of the band at that point, would often tell the story that he had joined the band in 1924. He grew up listening to the band since his father (Chauncey) had been one of the founding members in 1880 and they would travel to the practices and performances from their family farm.
David would then share that: "I'd do anything to play in the band. That was a good way to get out of the work".
Kinds of sounds like the lyrics to the old song, "How ya gonna keep them, down on the farm.... after they've seen......."
18. "How Does That One Go?":
For several years/decades, the band had a very unique Trumpet Player.
Unfortunately, he is gone now, but he could probably be rightly considered by some as a musical prodigy.
He was a very strong Trumpet Player, with usually a strong lip and a fair amount of proficiency and technique. He would seemingly play a large part of any performance from memory.
However, to my mind, it was when he would play piano that he was just amazing to watch and to listen to.
He could play the piano for seemingly hours by memory. He could easily take a song and just manipulate it any way he wanted by changing styles, changing keys, adjusting the melodies, etc.
If he ever came upon a piano while he was out with the band and he would walk up to it, you could guarantee that he would just sit down and play it for LONG awhile. You could also guarantee that you would have a difficult time getting him to stop.
I had the opportunity to listen to him several times on a piano, to include when he would play at a local restaurant for background music.
As I have said, he would generally also play the Adelphi Band Trumpet music by memory. Often there were a lot of trumpets in the earlier days of my participation with the band and there were not enough 1st trumpet parts for everyone who wanted to play 1st trumpet, the music was small for aging eyes, etc.
So, not always did everyone have his own copy of the music to look at, or to even see off of from someone else's music stand.
When the next song would get named, instead of looking it up in the music folder, and because like so many of us "older" musicians he had an untold number of songs and melodies free floating around in his head at any given moment, he would just announce to whoever would listen, "How does that one go?"
Once someone would whistle, sing, hum, or play a little bit of the melody for him, he was fine with it, and he would just proceed to go ahead and play that song from memory, too.
Unfortunately, he is gone now, but he could probably be rightly considered by some as a musical prodigy.
He was a very strong Trumpet Player, with usually a strong lip and a fair amount of proficiency and technique. He would seemingly play a large part of any performance from memory.
However, to my mind, it was when he would play piano that he was just amazing to watch and to listen to.
He could play the piano for seemingly hours by memory. He could easily take a song and just manipulate it any way he wanted by changing styles, changing keys, adjusting the melodies, etc.
If he ever came upon a piano while he was out with the band and he would walk up to it, you could guarantee that he would just sit down and play it for LONG awhile. You could also guarantee that you would have a difficult time getting him to stop.
I had the opportunity to listen to him several times on a piano, to include when he would play at a local restaurant for background music.
As I have said, he would generally also play the Adelphi Band Trumpet music by memory. Often there were a lot of trumpets in the earlier days of my participation with the band and there were not enough 1st trumpet parts for everyone who wanted to play 1st trumpet, the music was small for aging eyes, etc.
So, not always did everyone have his own copy of the music to look at, or to even see off of from someone else's music stand.
When the next song would get named, instead of looking it up in the music folder, and because like so many of us "older" musicians he had an untold number of songs and melodies free floating around in his head at any given moment, he would just announce to whoever would listen, "How does that one go?"
Once someone would whistle, sing, hum, or play a little bit of the melody for him, he was fine with it, and he would just proceed to go ahead and play that song from memory, too.
19. "Has Anyone Ever Told You That You Look Like Woody Hayes?":
And then there was another Trumpet Player who was not only a die-hard OSU Buckeye Football fan, but he also actually worked at the university. He was one of the nicest people, musician, and family man that I have ever met.
But, as the headline indicates, he also looked like Woody Hayes. Probably more the middle-aged Woody Hayes.
He LOVED the fact that he had a more than fair resemblance to Coach Hayes.
And he would absolutely take it as a compliment if anyone would walk up to him while were were out doing a performance and ask him, "Has Anyone Ever Told You That You Look Like Woody Hayes?"
But, as the headline indicates, he also looked like Woody Hayes. Probably more the middle-aged Woody Hayes.
He LOVED the fact that he had a more than fair resemblance to Coach Hayes.
And he would absolutely take it as a compliment if anyone would walk up to him while were were out doing a performance and ask him, "Has Anyone Ever Told You That You Look Like Woody Hayes?"
20. "How, Exactly, Can Anyone DO That?":
And then there was a Sousaphone Player.
He loved the band, he loved the music, he was definitely a "people-person", he was just fun to talk with and to listen to, and he just obviously enjoyed life.
However, while he was also a good Sousaphone player, he had talents beyond that.
He was the only person I have ever met who could play Sousaphone while chewing gum, and also hold a lit cigarette in one hand to be ready for the break between songs.
This was an impressive bit of multi-tasking that caused many of us to ask ourselves and each other, "How, Exactly, Can Anyone DO That?"
He loved the band, he loved the music, he was definitely a "people-person", he was just fun to talk with and to listen to, and he just obviously enjoyed life.
However, while he was also a good Sousaphone player, he had talents beyond that.
He was the only person I have ever met who could play Sousaphone while chewing gum, and also hold a lit cigarette in one hand to be ready for the break between songs.
This was an impressive bit of multi-tasking that caused many of us to ask ourselves and each other, "How, Exactly, Can Anyone DO That?"
21. "Popcorn AND a Clarinet?":
And then there was the Clarinet Player.
Basically everyone in the band recognized his abilities on the Clarinet. And if someone didn't, then they were probably not listening too closely, or probably never looked at march music for the Clarinet to appreciate what that section has to put up with in that style of music.
Now, I admit that I am not a Clarinet Player, although I have tried it out on a few occasions in order to see what it was like. Fortunately, or possibly unfortunately, I soon found that it takes about 4 more fingers than I was born with, and a dexterity that I am sure will always elude me after a lifetime of using hammers, utility knives, power drills, and pipe wrenches. Plus, I was always afraid of getting splinters in my tongue from the reed.
Now this Clarinet Player, like so many of the rest of us, long ago found that one of the attractions of playing at festivals and county fairs is the FOOD. Accordingly, one of this Clarinet Player's favorite food to eat DURING a performance, was POPCORN!
Just wrap your mind around THAT mental image, even if you are NOT a Clarinet Player.
In between songs at a performance...this Clarinet Player would chow down on popcorn.
Now......, personally, I like popcorn, but I would NEVER eat it while I am trying to play a brass instrument. I would have to stop off at Lowes on the way back home to get a Power Washer to be able to rinse the popcorn chunks out of my instrument tubing once I got home.
Now, just imagine this same scenario, but now you are depending on creating music by sticking a thin wooden reed in your mouth and trying to get it to vibrate....after just eating popcorn.
It is kind of like that old party game where you see who can first whistle after eating a cracker!
A lot of us have never been able to understand how he was able to accomplish that.
Basically everyone in the band recognized his abilities on the Clarinet. And if someone didn't, then they were probably not listening too closely, or probably never looked at march music for the Clarinet to appreciate what that section has to put up with in that style of music.
Now, I admit that I am not a Clarinet Player, although I have tried it out on a few occasions in order to see what it was like. Fortunately, or possibly unfortunately, I soon found that it takes about 4 more fingers than I was born with, and a dexterity that I am sure will always elude me after a lifetime of using hammers, utility knives, power drills, and pipe wrenches. Plus, I was always afraid of getting splinters in my tongue from the reed.
Now this Clarinet Player, like so many of the rest of us, long ago found that one of the attractions of playing at festivals and county fairs is the FOOD. Accordingly, one of this Clarinet Player's favorite food to eat DURING a performance, was POPCORN!
Just wrap your mind around THAT mental image, even if you are NOT a Clarinet Player.
In between songs at a performance...this Clarinet Player would chow down on popcorn.
Now......, personally, I like popcorn, but I would NEVER eat it while I am trying to play a brass instrument. I would have to stop off at Lowes on the way back home to get a Power Washer to be able to rinse the popcorn chunks out of my instrument tubing once I got home.
Now, just imagine this same scenario, but now you are depending on creating music by sticking a thin wooden reed in your mouth and trying to get it to vibrate....after just eating popcorn.
It is kind of like that old party game where you see who can first whistle after eating a cracker!
A lot of us have never been able to understand how he was able to accomplish that.
22. "He Plays 'Taps' For Veterans!":
This is follow-up to information listed on another page of this web site.
The band has a Trumpet player, John, who lives out-of-state, but has played with the band for decades and comes back to Ohio to play as often as possible.
If I remember the story correctly, a few years ago a national cemetery was created not far from his house.
John, a veteran himself, subsequently got involved with playing "Taps" for the graveside services for the veterans buried there.
In fact, there are so many veterans' funerals at that cemetery, that they developed squads who would handle the veteran services based on the day of the week. For example, there would be a squad to handle all funerals held on Monday, a different squad for the funerals handled on Tuesday, etc.
On John's day of the week to provide "Taps", he has stated that he has done as many as 18 funerals in one day....That's right....EIGHTEEN veterans funerals in one day.
And to be clear, John doesn't use the electronic bugle used at so many graveside services because Buglers/ Trumpet Players are difficult to find nationwide, and where you punch a button and the bugle plays an electronic version of "Taps". .... He plays the song on his Trumpet.
As of May 2018, he stated that he had lost track of any official count, but was pretty sure that he had played "Taps" at approximately 5,500 funeral services.
Five Thousand five hundred!
And, that's not all.
This wasn't 5,500 veteran's services in the summer sun and warm breezes.
This was 5,500 veteran's services in the Chicago summers, Chicago winters, Chicago rain, Chicago cold, etc.
That's just an impressive record of service.
We all thank John, not only for his prior service to his country, but to his current service to veterans and their families as the veterans are laid to rest.
The band has a Trumpet player, John, who lives out-of-state, but has played with the band for decades and comes back to Ohio to play as often as possible.
If I remember the story correctly, a few years ago a national cemetery was created not far from his house.
John, a veteran himself, subsequently got involved with playing "Taps" for the graveside services for the veterans buried there.
In fact, there are so many veterans' funerals at that cemetery, that they developed squads who would handle the veteran services based on the day of the week. For example, there would be a squad to handle all funerals held on Monday, a different squad for the funerals handled on Tuesday, etc.
On John's day of the week to provide "Taps", he has stated that he has done as many as 18 funerals in one day....That's right....EIGHTEEN veterans funerals in one day.
And to be clear, John doesn't use the electronic bugle used at so many graveside services because Buglers/ Trumpet Players are difficult to find nationwide, and where you punch a button and the bugle plays an electronic version of "Taps". .... He plays the song on his Trumpet.
As of May 2018, he stated that he had lost track of any official count, but was pretty sure that he had played "Taps" at approximately 5,500 funeral services.
Five Thousand five hundred!
And, that's not all.
This wasn't 5,500 veteran's services in the summer sun and warm breezes.
This was 5,500 veteran's services in the Chicago summers, Chicago winters, Chicago rain, Chicago cold, etc.
That's just an impressive record of service.
We all thank John, not only for his prior service to his country, but to his current service to veterans and their families as the veterans are laid to rest.
23. "She Was One of My Students!":
So, the band was at the Circleville Pumpkin Show, playing on the stage at the Visitor's Pavilion.
Keep that mental image....the band was on stage.......playing a concert.....at the Visitor's Pavilion....at the Circleville Pumpkin Show.
One of the band members was a retired, and certainly well respected, local music educator, who probably had thousands of students over his career. And like most teachers that I have ever met, probably didn't ever really forget any of them, but maybe on occasion had to be prompted for a name, or the name of a relative to be able to place that music student.
The Adelphi Community Band has done a lot of different types of concerts over its career, like playing while we walk around the Fairfield County Fairgrounds, sitting up in the grandstands at any of the many county fairs the band has been to, and a number of other performances where the band is fairly accessible to the public.
The band members being who they are, usually older and well known in the community, often get people who will just walk by and start to chat with one of the members.
In truth, some of us band members have done the same thing with the people walking past us as we see people we have not talked with for awhile, and then miss playing a song or two while we catch up. I have played in many bands throughout the state and they all kind of accept that that's a part, and pretty much a benefit, of playing in these kinds of groups.
So, during this concert on the stage at the Pumpkin Show, a woman came right up on stage and started talking to one of our band members....and continues to talk to the band member on stage, right in the center of the band, while the rest of the band launches of into the next song.
Neither the woman, nor the band member that was the subject of her attention,, were phased one little bit.
After the woman finally left after a song or two, naturally there was more than one band member who was happy to point out the scenario of the band member talking on stage to a woman while the rest of the band was playing the concert.
Basically, the band member's response was that, "She Was One of My Students!"
And she probably was.
Keep that mental image....the band was on stage.......playing a concert.....at the Visitor's Pavilion....at the Circleville Pumpkin Show.
One of the band members was a retired, and certainly well respected, local music educator, who probably had thousands of students over his career. And like most teachers that I have ever met, probably didn't ever really forget any of them, but maybe on occasion had to be prompted for a name, or the name of a relative to be able to place that music student.
The Adelphi Community Band has done a lot of different types of concerts over its career, like playing while we walk around the Fairfield County Fairgrounds, sitting up in the grandstands at any of the many county fairs the band has been to, and a number of other performances where the band is fairly accessible to the public.
The band members being who they are, usually older and well known in the community, often get people who will just walk by and start to chat with one of the members.
In truth, some of us band members have done the same thing with the people walking past us as we see people we have not talked with for awhile, and then miss playing a song or two while we catch up. I have played in many bands throughout the state and they all kind of accept that that's a part, and pretty much a benefit, of playing in these kinds of groups.
So, during this concert on the stage at the Pumpkin Show, a woman came right up on stage and started talking to one of our band members....and continues to talk to the band member on stage, right in the center of the band, while the rest of the band launches of into the next song.
Neither the woman, nor the band member that was the subject of her attention,, were phased one little bit.
After the woman finally left after a song or two, naturally there was more than one band member who was happy to point out the scenario of the band member talking on stage to a woman while the rest of the band was playing the concert.
Basically, the band member's response was that, "She Was One of My Students!"
And she probably was.
24. "My Trombone Slide is Stuck!":
The truth be told, a lot of Trombone Players are hooked on looking for their next "fix".
And they always want it to be better than their last "fix".
I've seen countless numbers of them through the years go through this dance........anxious.......irritable.......hopeful.......sometimes totally satisfied with what they've found.........but then, after just a brief time, they are always on the look out for a better "fix" than the one they just had.
It is shocking to see, especially when you see this behavior from those who you have played with in bands for years.
However, sometimes the raw fact is that, no matter how saintly Trombone Players are in their personal habits in any other aspect of their personal lives, they generally don't care if that next "fix" is:
What is this this "fix" that they are all looking for?..........why it is the absolute BEST and cheapest way to lubricate a Trombone Slide!
"What?", you may ask?
"What is the big deal? It's only a Trombone Slide!'
It would be be a big deal to you, too, if you had to constantly drag the outer tubes from a Trombone Slide over the inner sleeves, sometimes a distance of approximately two feet or more, just to get from note to note, and over the course of a several hour concert. The slightest bit of resistance caused by dirt, or dents, then becomes a MAJOR source of irritation, AND discomfort.
But, back to our story,
So, in this constant quest to find the absolutely BEST lubricate for her Trombone Slide, we had a Trombone Player who had converted to using a system that involved two different bottles of chemicals. She was supposed to use the contents from one bottle, and then the second.
I was sitting beside her during a concert one day a few years ago, and she started complaining that her slide was getting harder and harder to use. A fairly odd complaint about Trombone slides, to be sure.
She kept putting more and more liquid from a bottle on the slide, but she stated it wasn't helping. I checked her slide just for my own thoughts on its condition and a possible recommendation for a solution. Others did the same, but using the slide was indeed like walking through sand at the beach, even at that point, and I had no idea as to either the cause or a remedy.
She finished out the concert as best she could, and then we all went our separate paths.
The next time she was at a band function, she no longer had her metal Trombone, but she had purchased a new, red, plastic Trombone that had just recently come on the market and was getting fairly good reviews.
She related that the Trombone slide had kept getting stiffer and stiffer to use, and that by the time she had gotten home, the outer tubes had basically become welded to the inner sleeves, and the slide was totally useless.
After doing some additional research, she further stated that the liquid she had kept putting on her slide was actually "Bottle 1" of a two bottle lubrication system, and that without combining it with the liquid from "Bottle 2", instead of becoming a lubricant, it was apparently instead the reason for pretty much ruining her trombone slide. I didn't do the research, but I took her at her word for what she found to be the cause of her earlier probems with the instrument.
Instead of putting the money and time into trying to either fix, or replace, her Trombone slide, she just opted to purchase a new instrument.
In my years of playing in and watching bands, I have seen Trombones (or just the Trombone slides) falling down off of aluminum bleachers at HS football games, the slide coming off while on a band trailer during a parade, and the Trombone being subjected to a host of other insults and injuries.
However, I had never before seen a Trombone slide basically become welded shut due to an incorrect mixture of chemicals...all because of a Trombone player looking for her next good "fix"!
And they always want it to be better than their last "fix".
I've seen countless numbers of them through the years go through this dance........anxious.......irritable.......hopeful.......sometimes totally satisfied with what they've found.........but then, after just a brief time, they are always on the look out for a better "fix" than the one they just had.
It is shocking to see, especially when you see this behavior from those who you have played with in bands for years.
However, sometimes the raw fact is that, no matter how saintly Trombone Players are in their personal habits in any other aspect of their personal lives, they generally don't care if that next "fix" is:
- Something they can create at home by mixing a few household items,
- Something that they can find easily on the "street",
- Something a little more exotic that they have to get from overseas, and coming from a special "dealer", or is
- Something that they have to mix at the moment they need it from two or more small bottles containing relatively innocent liquids.
What is this this "fix" that they are all looking for?..........why it is the absolute BEST and cheapest way to lubricate a Trombone Slide!
"What?", you may ask?
"What is the big deal? It's only a Trombone Slide!'
It would be be a big deal to you, too, if you had to constantly drag the outer tubes from a Trombone Slide over the inner sleeves, sometimes a distance of approximately two feet or more, just to get from note to note, and over the course of a several hour concert. The slightest bit of resistance caused by dirt, or dents, then becomes a MAJOR source of irritation, AND discomfort.
But, back to our story,
So, in this constant quest to find the absolutely BEST lubricate for her Trombone Slide, we had a Trombone Player who had converted to using a system that involved two different bottles of chemicals. She was supposed to use the contents from one bottle, and then the second.
I was sitting beside her during a concert one day a few years ago, and she started complaining that her slide was getting harder and harder to use. A fairly odd complaint about Trombone slides, to be sure.
She kept putting more and more liquid from a bottle on the slide, but she stated it wasn't helping. I checked her slide just for my own thoughts on its condition and a possible recommendation for a solution. Others did the same, but using the slide was indeed like walking through sand at the beach, even at that point, and I had no idea as to either the cause or a remedy.
She finished out the concert as best she could, and then we all went our separate paths.
The next time she was at a band function, she no longer had her metal Trombone, but she had purchased a new, red, plastic Trombone that had just recently come on the market and was getting fairly good reviews.
She related that the Trombone slide had kept getting stiffer and stiffer to use, and that by the time she had gotten home, the outer tubes had basically become welded to the inner sleeves, and the slide was totally useless.
After doing some additional research, she further stated that the liquid she had kept putting on her slide was actually "Bottle 1" of a two bottle lubrication system, and that without combining it with the liquid from "Bottle 2", instead of becoming a lubricant, it was apparently instead the reason for pretty much ruining her trombone slide. I didn't do the research, but I took her at her word for what she found to be the cause of her earlier probems with the instrument.
Instead of putting the money and time into trying to either fix, or replace, her Trombone slide, she just opted to purchase a new instrument.
In my years of playing in and watching bands, I have seen Trombones (or just the Trombone slides) falling down off of aluminum bleachers at HS football games, the slide coming off while on a band trailer during a parade, and the Trombone being subjected to a host of other insults and injuries.
However, I had never before seen a Trombone slide basically become welded shut due to an incorrect mixture of chemicals...all because of a Trombone player looking for her next good "fix"!
25. "And then there was Jim......":
We are just getting started, and already you can probably tell that Google will need to bring on another campus complex full of computer servers just to store for the Internet the stories that we all have about our experiences with the band.
"And then there was Jim..."
Jim was a Trumpet player who just loved to have fun, loved to play in the band, and loved the social aspect that playing in the band created. It is safe to say that probably one of his best friends in the world also played in the band, and it was always entertaining to see them good-naturedly go after each other talking about politics, how the other one got rich farming while HE didn't, the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of the current president, and so forth.
Unfortunately, Jim is gone now, and we all miss him.
But Jim lived a long full life, and as I start to embrace my own increasing seniority in the band and my assumption of the latitude that should give me, Jim obviously felt that that his years with the band should go a long way to excuse some of his desire to bend the band expectations just a little.
As a result, we all have "Jim" stories. Here are a couple, but they will probably be added to as this project continues to develop.
"Hiding Behind a Tree":
"Catching a Ride During the Parade":
"This is the Weather You Were Wishing For":
"And then there was Jim..."
Jim was a Trumpet player who just loved to have fun, loved to play in the band, and loved the social aspect that playing in the band created. It is safe to say that probably one of his best friends in the world also played in the band, and it was always entertaining to see them good-naturedly go after each other talking about politics, how the other one got rich farming while HE didn't, the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of the current president, and so forth.
Unfortunately, Jim is gone now, and we all miss him.
But Jim lived a long full life, and as I start to embrace my own increasing seniority in the band and my assumption of the latitude that should give me, Jim obviously felt that that his years with the band should go a long way to excuse some of his desire to bend the band expectations just a little.
As a result, we all have "Jim" stories. Here are a couple, but they will probably be added to as this project continues to develop.
"Hiding Behind a Tree":
- Jim was absolutely as dependable as anyone with regard to attending band functions.
- Jim was a good player, even in his later years, but he realized that he was probably not meant to be playing the 1st trumpet part, nor did he care to. He was happy to play 2nd Trumpet, he played often from memory, and he could often be counted upon to improvise that part a little to fit his interests.
- With that regard, he would even sometimes call my house before a band function to make sure I would be there so that he wouldn't be the only trumpet player there.
- Then came this one performance........... and while I wasn't there (or at least I wasn't there on time), other band members have sworn that they saw Jim literally hiding behind a tree waiting to see if any other Trumpet players showed up before he came out to join the band. And when no other Trumpet Players showed by the time he thought they should, he just left and went home rather than be the only Trumpet Player there.
- Even after all the times I have heard this story told, even being told in FRONT of Jim, I don't remember ever hearing him deny it.
"Catching a Ride During the Parade":
- In the earlier days when the band actually marched, Jim seemed to love parades. He loved to talk with people, and he loved to chat with the Parade Queens on the floats.
- Jim also knew so many people that it wasn't uncommon for him to strike up a conversation with someone standing along the sidelines while the parade might be stalled for a few minutes.
- I was marching with Jim in a parade many years ago. As usual, the Trumpets were in the back of the march formation.
- At one point, some of us in the Trumpet Section looked around and saw that Jim was no longer in the formation with us at all. Some of us started to scan the sidelines along the route to see if he had drifted away to speak with someone, but none of us saw him.
- Then we realized that Jim was behind us riding in the car that was following us in the parade!
- After a while, Jim just got out the car, calmly walked up the rest of the band, took his usual place, and finished out the rest of the parade with us.
- I don't remember the details of if he had just gotten tired and wanted to ride, he just wanted to chat with someone he knew in the car (likely) , or if there were Parade Queens involved with the other car (more likely), but I think that we all realized that very few of us would have been able to follow his example and just leave the band formation to ride through the parade route in a car that was FOLLOWING the band without it being either noticed or mentioned by someone!
"This is the Weather You Were Wishing For":
- Jim had a way of putting things into perspective, and I have since found myself repeating many of the insights he would share with the band during the course of some long, hot summers.
- As background to this story, no matter how much anyone looks forward to escaping the storms and chilly/freezing temperatures of a southern Ohio winter, there still comes a point when it just feels hot sitting on the band trailer and you are thankful whenever the parade happens to stall for a few minutes just after the band trailer has inched its way underneath some large shade trees.
- Naturally, there is usually at least SOME grumbling from someone about the heat, but Jim always had a way to put it is perspective.
- The minute anyone started to say anything about the hot weather, Jim would immediately add to the conversation, "I don't want to hear you complain. This is the weather you wished you had all last winter!".
- And, of course, he was right, and I have often found myself being the one repeating his words in later summers after his passing.
26. "The Night Our Car Got Towed":
And then there was the night out car got towed.
It was the Jackson Apple Festival, many years ago.
As background, what people who run Festivals, especially if there is a parade involved, don't see the irony in, is that they typically will close off a street to offer free, supervised, parking close to the festival for the school buses loaded with high school bands. It doesn't matter if you are with another band, you are not permitted to park in that secure, closed-off street, close to the Festival unless you are in a high school band.
But for the other groups, regardless of the ages of the participants, they provide NOTHING in terms of parking!
So, when The Adelphi Community gets contracted to perform at a Festival, we all have to find parking wherever we can find it, and no matter if we have to pay for it or not, even though the Festival is paying us to participate.
Take today's Adelphi Community Band, for an example.
Right now, the regular membership runs in ages from the low 60's to around 83. Occasionally we will get someone to sit in who is younger, but seldom.
So, the irony of all this, is, that the Festivals typically set aside up close parking for the High School band musicians but make everyone else park sometimes blocks away. So the High School musicians who are young and probably in decent physical shape get to park close to the festival, while the 60 to 83 year old band musicians have to park blocks away and carry their instruments.
Just let just ONE Festival organizer lug a metal Sousaphone from about 4 blocks away, and they would change their policy IMMEDIATELY. Or, even let them carry a lighter trombone case filled with ponchos (since you never know when it might rain), and they would still change their mind.
But, this is all background to the story.
Anyway, my family and I arrived at the Jackson Apple Festival many years ago for their Saturday night parade, and probably a concert prior to that. Some years we did a concert, and some years we didn't. There were at least 2 musicians in our car dressed in full winter uniform, along with at least 2 additional family members.
In looking around for a parking spot, we took a flier and just asked one of the event organizers clearly monitoring the school bus parking lot to see if we could park there too, since we were obviously in the band.
To my surprise, he said, "yes", he directed us to exactly where on the street to park, and instructed us to put a sign in the windows stating that we were with the band, so that others should know it was OK for us to park there. Which we did....a big ole 8.5 by 11 inch piece of paper with the words "Adelphi Band" plainly printed in dark letters, which I placed on the dash right next to the front windshield.
Obviously, we made the sign on the spur of the moment with the materials we had available in the car, but the sign was large, readily visible, and clearly legible.
So, we all left the car and went uptown to the Festival to drop some money with a Food Vendor for supper, and then walk around to see the sights a little before we had to go back to get the instruments in time for the band performance.
When it came time to prepare to play, I offered to go back to the car and get the instruments and return.
When I got to where I had left the car, it was gone.
In checking with the nearest guy who looked like he had some level of authority, I found that the car had been towed!
I ran down everything that had happened as to why the car was there, we were in the band, we were given approval to be there, I had a big ole sign in the window like we were instructed, etc., To some credit to them as they tried to make some appropriate resolution to the situation, they offered to give me some assistance.
After several calls to people over walkie-talkies, come to find out, the car had been towed to a lot out of town.
I was hooked up with a guy in a 3-wheel ATV (remember that...it is a 3-wheel ATV) , with me on the back and he proceeded to take me out to it. This all happened YEARS before anyone ever had cell phones, so me getting back in touch with the family to let them know what had happened to the car, that I was going to be delayed getting back, etc., wasn't even a possibility.
One the way out of town, we went on a narrow, county-style road. I don't remember the cause, but the guy driving the 3-wheel ATV lost control and went off the side of the road into the deep ditch. 3-wheel ATV vehicles are/were notorious for being unstable that way, almost regardless of the cause.
I was able to get off the back, so I wasn't hurt, and fortunately, he wasn't either. But now, the ATV, and the driver who was going to take me to my illegally towed car with hopefully all our band instruments still in it, was down at the bottom of a deep ravine.
The ATV driver tried to drive straight up out of the ditch, but it was too steep, and the ATV flipped. Fortunately, the driver was able to slide off the back and so he wasn't either pinned under the ATV, or injured by it.
The ATV driver then got the ATV right-side up, and was able to finally make it out of the ditch and so we continued on.
When we arrived at the destination, I was told that they wouldn't charge me this time for towing the car, to which I replied that wasn't going to happen anyway since I was given approval to park there.
However, I was admonished that I should have put a sign in the window stating that I was with the band, so that this wouldn't have happened. At which point the gentleman and I walked out to the car.
I pointed to the sign in the windshield that was still where I had left it, and asked ," You mean like that one?"
I don't remember his response.
At this point, I guess they ran out of things they thought I should have done differently that they could blame on me, and the conversation ended. I was allowed to pick up the car, and go back into town.
Now, it is even later on a Saturday night at the Jackson Apple Festival, one of the best attended festivals, and Festival nights, of any festival around. I now have to troll at the very last minute to find a parking space in a town with which I am not that familiar since I only go there once a year.
And again, there wasn't any way for me to let my family know what had happened and where I was so that they wouldn't necessarily worry.
Fortunately, I finally found a parking space, paid to park, got oriented to where I had to go, and now I have to lug 2 instruments and all our gear several blocks to the festival to find our meeting place.
I made it just in time for all of us to attend the performance with the band, but absolutely NOT with a "Let's all go to the Jackson Apple Festival" attitude.
It was the Jackson Apple Festival, many years ago.
As background, what people who run Festivals, especially if there is a parade involved, don't see the irony in, is that they typically will close off a street to offer free, supervised, parking close to the festival for the school buses loaded with high school bands. It doesn't matter if you are with another band, you are not permitted to park in that secure, closed-off street, close to the Festival unless you are in a high school band.
But for the other groups, regardless of the ages of the participants, they provide NOTHING in terms of parking!
So, when The Adelphi Community gets contracted to perform at a Festival, we all have to find parking wherever we can find it, and no matter if we have to pay for it or not, even though the Festival is paying us to participate.
Take today's Adelphi Community Band, for an example.
Right now, the regular membership runs in ages from the low 60's to around 83. Occasionally we will get someone to sit in who is younger, but seldom.
So, the irony of all this, is, that the Festivals typically set aside up close parking for the High School band musicians but make everyone else park sometimes blocks away. So the High School musicians who are young and probably in decent physical shape get to park close to the festival, while the 60 to 83 year old band musicians have to park blocks away and carry their instruments.
Just let just ONE Festival organizer lug a metal Sousaphone from about 4 blocks away, and they would change their policy IMMEDIATELY. Or, even let them carry a lighter trombone case filled with ponchos (since you never know when it might rain), and they would still change their mind.
But, this is all background to the story.
Anyway, my family and I arrived at the Jackson Apple Festival many years ago for their Saturday night parade, and probably a concert prior to that. Some years we did a concert, and some years we didn't. There were at least 2 musicians in our car dressed in full winter uniform, along with at least 2 additional family members.
In looking around for a parking spot, we took a flier and just asked one of the event organizers clearly monitoring the school bus parking lot to see if we could park there too, since we were obviously in the band.
To my surprise, he said, "yes", he directed us to exactly where on the street to park, and instructed us to put a sign in the windows stating that we were with the band, so that others should know it was OK for us to park there. Which we did....a big ole 8.5 by 11 inch piece of paper with the words "Adelphi Band" plainly printed in dark letters, which I placed on the dash right next to the front windshield.
Obviously, we made the sign on the spur of the moment with the materials we had available in the car, but the sign was large, readily visible, and clearly legible.
So, we all left the car and went uptown to the Festival to drop some money with a Food Vendor for supper, and then walk around to see the sights a little before we had to go back to get the instruments in time for the band performance.
When it came time to prepare to play, I offered to go back to the car and get the instruments and return.
When I got to where I had left the car, it was gone.
In checking with the nearest guy who looked like he had some level of authority, I found that the car had been towed!
I ran down everything that had happened as to why the car was there, we were in the band, we were given approval to be there, I had a big ole sign in the window like we were instructed, etc., To some credit to them as they tried to make some appropriate resolution to the situation, they offered to give me some assistance.
After several calls to people over walkie-talkies, come to find out, the car had been towed to a lot out of town.
I was hooked up with a guy in a 3-wheel ATV (remember that...it is a 3-wheel ATV) , with me on the back and he proceeded to take me out to it. This all happened YEARS before anyone ever had cell phones, so me getting back in touch with the family to let them know what had happened to the car, that I was going to be delayed getting back, etc., wasn't even a possibility.
One the way out of town, we went on a narrow, county-style road. I don't remember the cause, but the guy driving the 3-wheel ATV lost control and went off the side of the road into the deep ditch. 3-wheel ATV vehicles are/were notorious for being unstable that way, almost regardless of the cause.
I was able to get off the back, so I wasn't hurt, and fortunately, he wasn't either. But now, the ATV, and the driver who was going to take me to my illegally towed car with hopefully all our band instruments still in it, was down at the bottom of a deep ravine.
The ATV driver tried to drive straight up out of the ditch, but it was too steep, and the ATV flipped. Fortunately, the driver was able to slide off the back and so he wasn't either pinned under the ATV, or injured by it.
The ATV driver then got the ATV right-side up, and was able to finally make it out of the ditch and so we continued on.
When we arrived at the destination, I was told that they wouldn't charge me this time for towing the car, to which I replied that wasn't going to happen anyway since I was given approval to park there.
However, I was admonished that I should have put a sign in the window stating that I was with the band, so that this wouldn't have happened. At which point the gentleman and I walked out to the car.
I pointed to the sign in the windshield that was still where I had left it, and asked ," You mean like that one?"
I don't remember his response.
At this point, I guess they ran out of things they thought I should have done differently that they could blame on me, and the conversation ended. I was allowed to pick up the car, and go back into town.
Now, it is even later on a Saturday night at the Jackson Apple Festival, one of the best attended festivals, and Festival nights, of any festival around. I now have to troll at the very last minute to find a parking space in a town with which I am not that familiar since I only go there once a year.
And again, there wasn't any way for me to let my family know what had happened and where I was so that they wouldn't necessarily worry.
Fortunately, I finally found a parking space, paid to park, got oriented to where I had to go, and now I have to lug 2 instruments and all our gear several blocks to the festival to find our meeting place.
I made it just in time for all of us to attend the performance with the band, but absolutely NOT with a "Let's all go to the Jackson Apple Festival" attitude.
27. "It Will be There When I Get Back":
And then there was a Euphonium Player named Tom.
Tom was a very good musician, and it was clear that music and community bands were definitely passions in his life.
In a different way than some of the rest of us, but not in a bad way, he also marched to a different drummer at times.
He had a tendency to arrive either just on time, or slightly late, to band concerts, and parades.
Often, the band would have already started the parade, and at somewhere along the route, we would see him with his vehicle pulled over to the side of the road along the parade route, and Euphonium in hand.
What was surprising is that you would also see that he had just opened his Euphonium case up on the hood of his car, taken the Euphonium out, and then just rushed up to join the band, leaving the open Euphonium case just sitting on the hood of the car while he finished out the parade with the band, out-of-sight of the car and instrument case.
This may not sound like a big deal to others, but musicians know that instrument cases, especially for a large instrument like a Euphonium, can run in today's money anywhere from $100.00 to $400.00!
And that's just the CASE! The Euphonium is extra!
Aside from theft, the world was not a perfect place even back then and it was always wiser to lock your car doors and not to leave expensive things out in the open where people can see them. Plus, even then, young people (and others with misplaced values) could still be potentially found unwilling to resist the temptation to drop a large soft drink into the case, fill it with trash, let their dog "rest" in it, and other such inconveniences that could either ruin it, or cause you to take several hours to try to clean it out.
Yet, no one ever bothered his instrument case, and he always came back to find it sitting where he left it........on the hood of the car.
Tom was a very good musician, and it was clear that music and community bands were definitely passions in his life.
In a different way than some of the rest of us, but not in a bad way, he also marched to a different drummer at times.
He had a tendency to arrive either just on time, or slightly late, to band concerts, and parades.
Often, the band would have already started the parade, and at somewhere along the route, we would see him with his vehicle pulled over to the side of the road along the parade route, and Euphonium in hand.
What was surprising is that you would also see that he had just opened his Euphonium case up on the hood of his car, taken the Euphonium out, and then just rushed up to join the band, leaving the open Euphonium case just sitting on the hood of the car while he finished out the parade with the band, out-of-sight of the car and instrument case.
This may not sound like a big deal to others, but musicians know that instrument cases, especially for a large instrument like a Euphonium, can run in today's money anywhere from $100.00 to $400.00!
And that's just the CASE! The Euphonium is extra!
Aside from theft, the world was not a perfect place even back then and it was always wiser to lock your car doors and not to leave expensive things out in the open where people can see them. Plus, even then, young people (and others with misplaced values) could still be potentially found unwilling to resist the temptation to drop a large soft drink into the case, fill it with trash, let their dog "rest" in it, and other such inconveniences that could either ruin it, or cause you to take several hours to try to clean it out.
Yet, no one ever bothered his instrument case, and he always came back to find it sitting where he left it........on the hood of the car.
28. "Let's Send This Idea Back to the Committee":
Let's face it.
The band has always appreciated those Festivals that have parade routes lined with spectators, and who appreciate what the band, and all the other bands, contribute to the parade.
However, The Adelphi Community Band has also had it's share of interesting parade and concert experiences.
1. When You Organize the Parade a Mile Out of Town:
One small town festival was in DEFINITELY in a small town.
For many years the Festival organizers would hold a parade. But since the town was so small, there wasn't any place to organize the parade participants and then have any town left for them to parade around in.
Plus, there really weren't any side streets in the town, just a few back alleys, so the only real roadway for parade units to use anyway was the only road through the center of town.
The solution was apparently to organize the parade on someone's property about a mile out of town.
Once the parade started, each unit in the parade had to then drive or walk about a mile to get to that ONE spot where any of the parade spectators were assembled. And then the parade units had to wait until the entire parade was over before they could get back on that ONE road out of town to get back to their cars.
2. When NO One Comes to Your Political Rally:
Many years ago, the band was asked to participate in a political rally that would wind through about every street in a local small town.
The parade would be held at night after dark, and would include many local politicians.
The parade started out, it wound through pretty much EVERY street in the town, and absolutely NO ONE even bothered to come out of their houses to see what was happening. It was kind of eerie.
And, unlike many Festivals that at least have an area where the Festival activities adjoin the parade route, there wasn't any Festival for the parade to wind up at, so there was really no usual common assembly point for anyone to want to assemble at, anyway.
So for entire parade, NO ONE came out of their houses to even watch what was happening on the street in front of them.
3. When The Band Got Lost:
For many parades, there isn't any question where the parade route is.
You can see the empty chairs line the streets as you drive into town, and as the time to the parade gets closer, you will see the spectators try to grab both the best standing and seating areas with consideration to:
However, for many small towns, like the examples above, there AREN'T people lining the entire parade routes. Most of the parade route is totally empty. The only way you maybe know where you are supposed to go is by following the units ahead of you, who you hope are following at least SOMEONE in the very front who knows where the parade is to go.
And, of course, what happens in a parade?
A lot of the front units in the parade are vehicles from the city police and Sheriff's Office, and all the local politicians are in vehicles waving to the crowd.
How fast do vehicles go in a parade? As fast as they want to with usually little regard for how fast/slow any of the walking units behind them can move.
So, the band was in another small town parade. This particular Festival already had a years-long reputation of seemingly taking the parade through EVERY possible street in the city, regardless of whether there would be any spectators along the route or not.
As expected, there was one year that the band was still marching in this parade, and the parade units in front just took off at their own speed, ignoring anyone who might be walking in the parade behind them.
They were riding and we were walking, and they just took off where the band couldn't see them at all anymore. As we approached intersections in the town, since there wasn't any real crowd sitting or standing to show us where the parade route was, there was always hope that at least SOMEONE standing around the intersection would be able to tell us whether or not the parade had gone straight or taken a turn.
It is an odd feeling to be marching in a parade and to have to be waiting for anyone at an intersection to yell out if you are to go straight, turn left, turn right, etc., in order to maybe catch up to the rest of the parade.
4. We Took a Shortcut!:
Again, there are small towns who want to schedule a parade, and in their zeal, wind up sending the parade throughout the entire town, whether it really achieved anything or not.
Many years ago, the band was marching in another small town parade on a hot, summer afternoon, where we were approaching an intersection where the parade was going to turn.
The parade was basically making a 180 degree turn and coming back towards us on a parallel street.
The band could see all of this because there basically weren't any buildings (or people along the parade route) blocking our view of what was going to happen.
Besides, the band had played in this parade for years, and historically, there was NEVER any spectators along this section of the parade route.
It was very clear that there were absolutely no spectators along the route ahead of us this year, either, and that there was a side alley where we could just take a shortcut across, be able to take a short rest, and then fall back into line when our spot in the parade would catch up to us.
And so we did.
And in one year on the same parade, another walking unit did exactly the same thing that we did and took the SAME shortcut.
- Musicians like to play, and
- Musicians in bands like to play for people
The band has always appreciated those Festivals that have parade routes lined with spectators, and who appreciate what the band, and all the other bands, contribute to the parade.
However, The Adelphi Community Band has also had it's share of interesting parade and concert experiences.
1. When You Organize the Parade a Mile Out of Town:
One small town festival was in DEFINITELY in a small town.
For many years the Festival organizers would hold a parade. But since the town was so small, there wasn't any place to organize the parade participants and then have any town left for them to parade around in.
Plus, there really weren't any side streets in the town, just a few back alleys, so the only real roadway for parade units to use anyway was the only road through the center of town.
The solution was apparently to organize the parade on someone's property about a mile out of town.
Once the parade started, each unit in the parade had to then drive or walk about a mile to get to that ONE spot where any of the parade spectators were assembled. And then the parade units had to wait until the entire parade was over before they could get back on that ONE road out of town to get back to their cars.
2. When NO One Comes to Your Political Rally:
Many years ago, the band was asked to participate in a political rally that would wind through about every street in a local small town.
The parade would be held at night after dark, and would include many local politicians.
The parade started out, it wound through pretty much EVERY street in the town, and absolutely NO ONE even bothered to come out of their houses to see what was happening. It was kind of eerie.
And, unlike many Festivals that at least have an area where the Festival activities adjoin the parade route, there wasn't any Festival for the parade to wind up at, so there was really no usual common assembly point for anyone to want to assemble at, anyway.
So for entire parade, NO ONE came out of their houses to even watch what was happening on the street in front of them.
3. When The Band Got Lost:
For many parades, there isn't any question where the parade route is.
You can see the empty chairs line the streets as you drive into town, and as the time to the parade gets closer, you will see the spectators try to grab both the best standing and seating areas with consideration to:
- The the best visibility of the parade,
- Not too close to the porta-potties,
- Close to an announcer,
- Closest spot to your favorite Bourbon Chicken booth that is also close to the apple dumpling and ice cream booth, and
- Not too far from the car for when the parade is over.
However, for many small towns, like the examples above, there AREN'T people lining the entire parade routes. Most of the parade route is totally empty. The only way you maybe know where you are supposed to go is by following the units ahead of you, who you hope are following at least SOMEONE in the very front who knows where the parade is to go.
And, of course, what happens in a parade?
A lot of the front units in the parade are vehicles from the city police and Sheriff's Office, and all the local politicians are in vehicles waving to the crowd.
How fast do vehicles go in a parade? As fast as they want to with usually little regard for how fast/slow any of the walking units behind them can move.
So, the band was in another small town parade. This particular Festival already had a years-long reputation of seemingly taking the parade through EVERY possible street in the city, regardless of whether there would be any spectators along the route or not.
As expected, there was one year that the band was still marching in this parade, and the parade units in front just took off at their own speed, ignoring anyone who might be walking in the parade behind them.
They were riding and we were walking, and they just took off where the band couldn't see them at all anymore. As we approached intersections in the town, since there wasn't any real crowd sitting or standing to show us where the parade route was, there was always hope that at least SOMEONE standing around the intersection would be able to tell us whether or not the parade had gone straight or taken a turn.
It is an odd feeling to be marching in a parade and to have to be waiting for anyone at an intersection to yell out if you are to go straight, turn left, turn right, etc., in order to maybe catch up to the rest of the parade.
4. We Took a Shortcut!:
Again, there are small towns who want to schedule a parade, and in their zeal, wind up sending the parade throughout the entire town, whether it really achieved anything or not.
Many years ago, the band was marching in another small town parade on a hot, summer afternoon, where we were approaching an intersection where the parade was going to turn.
The parade was basically making a 180 degree turn and coming back towards us on a parallel street.
The band could see all of this because there basically weren't any buildings (or people along the parade route) blocking our view of what was going to happen.
Besides, the band had played in this parade for years, and historically, there was NEVER any spectators along this section of the parade route.
It was very clear that there were absolutely no spectators along the route ahead of us this year, either, and that there was a side alley where we could just take a shortcut across, be able to take a short rest, and then fall back into line when our spot in the parade would catch up to us.
And so we did.
And in one year on the same parade, another walking unit did exactly the same thing that we did and took the SAME shortcut.
29. "Almost a One-Man Band!":
Our son started with the Adelphi Band when he was ten.
He was asked to play the Bass Drum, as the previous Bass Drummer, one of the many stalwarts with the band, was either too ill to play by that time, or had just recently passed away.
A few years later, our son switched to Euphonium in the band, and went on to be accepted as a Euphonium Player in the First Marine Division Band in Camp Pendleton, California. THAT story is next.
But for the time period of this story, our son had been in the band for just a very short while, and he was still not much taller than the Bass Drum he was playing.
The band had already obtained their band trailer by then, so unless it was a really odd scenario, the band didn't march anymore. Accordingly, our son's youth and age was not a problem in him trying to manhandle the Bass Drum around on a parade route.
On the few times that the band did still try to march, we certainly made sure that our son would not injure himself, and usually someone else would take over the Bass Drum, and our son might play cymbals on the parade.
However, there was this one time.......
Because of a communication breakdown of unknown origin, our son and I showed up to a performance thinking it was a sit down concert, and it wound up being a parade.
We hadn't brought the Bass Drum harness that someone would wear that the Bass Drum snaps onto for a parade, and there wasn't anyone else available to go ahead and play the Bass Drum on the parade.
So, an industrious member of the band found some cord and fashioned a rough harness.
Because of several circumstances, we didn't want our son to try to carry the Bass Drum in that manner, so I went ahead and made the decision to carry the Bass Drum, and our son would walk along beside me and play it.
Meanwhile, I still went ahead and played the trumpet in the parade.
So....here is the scenerio.
It all worked fine.
He was asked to play the Bass Drum, as the previous Bass Drummer, one of the many stalwarts with the band, was either too ill to play by that time, or had just recently passed away.
A few years later, our son switched to Euphonium in the band, and went on to be accepted as a Euphonium Player in the First Marine Division Band in Camp Pendleton, California. THAT story is next.
But for the time period of this story, our son had been in the band for just a very short while, and he was still not much taller than the Bass Drum he was playing.
The band had already obtained their band trailer by then, so unless it was a really odd scenario, the band didn't march anymore. Accordingly, our son's youth and age was not a problem in him trying to manhandle the Bass Drum around on a parade route.
On the few times that the band did still try to march, we certainly made sure that our son would not injure himself, and usually someone else would take over the Bass Drum, and our son might play cymbals on the parade.
However, there was this one time.......
Because of a communication breakdown of unknown origin, our son and I showed up to a performance thinking it was a sit down concert, and it wound up being a parade.
We hadn't brought the Bass Drum harness that someone would wear that the Bass Drum snaps onto for a parade, and there wasn't anyone else available to go ahead and play the Bass Drum on the parade.
So, an industrious member of the band found some cord and fashioned a rough harness.
Because of several circumstances, we didn't want our son to try to carry the Bass Drum in that manner, so I went ahead and made the decision to carry the Bass Drum, and our son would walk along beside me and play it.
Meanwhile, I still went ahead and played the trumpet in the parade.
So....here is the scenerio.
- The band is in a parade,
- I'm now marching in the Drum Section,
- I'm carrying the Bass Drum wearing a last-minute, homemade, rope harness,
- Our young son is walking beside me and is playing the Bass Drum that I am carrying,
- I'm still playing Trumpet on the march, and holding the horn over top of the Bass Drum....that our son is playing while he walks beside me.
It all worked fine.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30. "DID YOU WANT ME TO USE YOUR MUSIC, OR PLAY IT FROM MEMORY?":
As has been stated, our son started in The Adelphi Community Band when he was 10 years old, subsequently switched to the Euphonium, and also went on to play with The Circleville Pumpkin Show Community Band.
Upon graduating from High School, he decided he wanted to do something more with music, so he chose to try out to become a Euphonium Player for one of the Marine Bands.
And while this shortened version of the story is paraphrased, it will hopefully still be told accurately.
At that time, recognizing that their practices may have changed since then:
Anyone who knows The Adelphi Community Band knows the kind of music that they play.....generally described as the classic marches from the late 1800's to the early 1900's.
Anyone who listens to The Circleville Pumpkin Show Community Band knows that they are not above playing the same type of music on occasion.
So, when our son went to his audition to try to become accepted as a Marine Musician, there was a component of the audition that involved sight reading.
For the sight reading portion, they gave our son a piece of sheet music with the name of the song cut off, and then asked him to play it, assuming that this would be the first time our son would have seen the music.
With his background, our son recognized the song, told them what the name of it was, and then asked them if they wanted him to use their music, or for him to play it from memory.
Enter a look of surprise on the face of the person running the audition.
As I remember the story, this happened several times during the course of the audition, where our son was able to tell them the name of the song, and then ask if they wanted him to play it from memory, or not.
Our son was accepted in the Marines as a Euphonium Player.
The story continues.......
As a Marine Musician, he was required to have memorized either several specific songs as a whole, or parts of several songs so that the band could jump off into performing these songs at a moment's notice whenever needed.
When he showed us the list of songs he had to memorize, it was almost a play list for any Adelphi Band or Pumpkin Show Band concert or parade he had played over the last several years. As a result, he had a minimal amount of songs he had to spend any amount of time having to learn.
The file below is a list of those songs that the Marine Band had to always carry with them, and those songs that they had to memorize either all or parts of.
RIGHT click on the file to open it up in another tab.
Upon graduating from High School, he decided he wanted to do something more with music, so he chose to try out to become a Euphonium Player for one of the Marine Bands.
And while this shortened version of the story is paraphrased, it will hopefully still be told accurately.
At that time, recognizing that their practices may have changed since then:
- The enlistment of musicians for the Marine Corps was something that wasn't handled by the local recruiter,
- Unlike some other branches of the service, the Marines did not have a lot of bands,
- Each Marine Band was only allowed two Euphonium Players anyway,
- They also have pretty high standards for their musicians, and so they would bring in someone specifically to audition potential musicians for the Marines, and
- With the exception of the Marine Band that plays for the President, everyone else is still a Marine first, and a Marine Musician second. Accordingly, Marine Musicians go through the same Basic Training, weapons qualifications, Combat Training, etc, that every other Marine goes through....and THEN they get to be musicians.
Anyone who knows The Adelphi Community Band knows the kind of music that they play.....generally described as the classic marches from the late 1800's to the early 1900's.
Anyone who listens to The Circleville Pumpkin Show Community Band knows that they are not above playing the same type of music on occasion.
So, when our son went to his audition to try to become accepted as a Marine Musician, there was a component of the audition that involved sight reading.
For the sight reading portion, they gave our son a piece of sheet music with the name of the song cut off, and then asked him to play it, assuming that this would be the first time our son would have seen the music.
With his background, our son recognized the song, told them what the name of it was, and then asked them if they wanted him to use their music, or for him to play it from memory.
Enter a look of surprise on the face of the person running the audition.
As I remember the story, this happened several times during the course of the audition, where our son was able to tell them the name of the song, and then ask if they wanted him to play it from memory, or not.
Our son was accepted in the Marines as a Euphonium Player.
The story continues.......
As a Marine Musician, he was required to have memorized either several specific songs as a whole, or parts of several songs so that the band could jump off into performing these songs at a moment's notice whenever needed.
When he showed us the list of songs he had to memorize, it was almost a play list for any Adelphi Band or Pumpkin Show Band concert or parade he had played over the last several years. As a result, he had a minimal amount of songs he had to spend any amount of time having to learn.
The file below is a list of those songs that the Marine Band had to always carry with them, and those songs that they had to memorize either all or parts of.
RIGHT click on the file to open it up in another tab.
7-4-02_carried_music_and_memorized_music_of_marine_band.pdf | |
File Size: | 59 kb |
File Type: |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31. "THE PICCOLO PLAYER WAS PACKIN' A SHOULDER HOLSTER!":
And then there was this Piccolo Player.....
There really isn't much denying it.
Instrumental musicians are as prideful as anyone else when it comes to thinking how important their particular instrument is to the overall sound of the band.
And they are not wrong.
Have you ever played in a small band WITHOUT a Snare Drum, Bass Horn, Trombone, Trumpet, Clarinet, or any of the other typical band instruments?
The absence of any of those instruments definitely changes the sound of the band, and affects how each musician plays.
However, when it comes to having to lug any of those instruments around any large festival like The Pumpkin Show, The Apple Festival, Ashville 4th of July, or any place else where the band can't just park next to where they will be performing, then pretty much EVERYONE starts to wish that they played ANY instrument smaller or easier to carry than the one they are having to carry at the moment.
And the story continues.
For several years, many years ago, the band had an honest-to-goodness Piccolo Player play with the band. He was an elderly gentleman even then, and unfortunately has since passed away, but he came out of Columbus where he was an active musician with several groups there.
When he would show up for a performance, he wouldn't be carrying his Piccolo either in his hand, or in a bag. He had a shoulder pouch for it, almost exactly like you see a shoulder holster for a gun, and he would wear it under his band coat. The shoulder pouch was obviously well used, but the Piccolo case fit into it just like a hand in a glove.
This gentleman would come and sit in with the band, pull the Piccolo case out from his shoulder holster, put the Piccolo together, and play the performance. Then, when the performance was over, he would reverse those steps and put the Piccolo case back into the shoulder holster for the walk back to the car.
Probably for more than a few moments, pretty much EVERYONE in the band wished that they had as easy a time carrying their band instruments as our Piccolo Player!
There really isn't much denying it.
Instrumental musicians are as prideful as anyone else when it comes to thinking how important their particular instrument is to the overall sound of the band.
And they are not wrong.
Have you ever played in a small band WITHOUT a Snare Drum, Bass Horn, Trombone, Trumpet, Clarinet, or any of the other typical band instruments?
The absence of any of those instruments definitely changes the sound of the band, and affects how each musician plays.
However, when it comes to having to lug any of those instruments around any large festival like The Pumpkin Show, The Apple Festival, Ashville 4th of July, or any place else where the band can't just park next to where they will be performing, then pretty much EVERYONE starts to wish that they played ANY instrument smaller or easier to carry than the one they are having to carry at the moment.
And the story continues.
For several years, many years ago, the band had an honest-to-goodness Piccolo Player play with the band. He was an elderly gentleman even then, and unfortunately has since passed away, but he came out of Columbus where he was an active musician with several groups there.
When he would show up for a performance, he wouldn't be carrying his Piccolo either in his hand, or in a bag. He had a shoulder pouch for it, almost exactly like you see a shoulder holster for a gun, and he would wear it under his band coat. The shoulder pouch was obviously well used, but the Piccolo case fit into it just like a hand in a glove.
This gentleman would come and sit in with the band, pull the Piccolo case out from his shoulder holster, put the Piccolo together, and play the performance. Then, when the performance was over, he would reverse those steps and put the Piccolo case back into the shoulder holster for the walk back to the car.
Probably for more than a few moments, pretty much EVERYONE in the band wished that they had as easy a time carrying their band instruments as our Piccolo Player!
32. "ROGER RAN AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS!":
And then there was Roger the Tuba player.
No...this isn't the synopsis of this week's Sesame Street show, the band actually had a Tuba player for several years named Roger.
Roger was an excellent musician, kind of a free spirit, and by the time he joined the circus to play in the band, he had already experienced a pretty eclectic career path having been a Music Teacher for one of the the Ross County schools for several years, a Real Estate Agent, and maybe a few other things I hadn't even heard about.
Unfortunately, Roger is gone now, seemingly a common theme to these stories.
I first met Roger in the early 1970's when we were both playing in the orchestra pit for the musical "West Side Story" to be held at the Majestic Theater in Chillicothe.
At some point shortly afterwards, Roger decided to Join the Carson and Barnes Circus Band as a Tuba Player with their band, which at that time was headquartered in Oklahoma.
Roger stayed for 3 years, and while he apparently liked the job and the life of a circus musician, financial factors caused him to leave, However, he always talked about wanting to go back to the circus band.
At that time, the Carson and Barnes Circus seemed to annually come to Chillicothe and would set up their tents behind the (now recently vacant) Sears store in the Chillicothe Mall.
Upon finding that the circus was coming back to Chillicothe in September 1981, Roger was kind enough to get the consent of Director William Reynolds to let several of us from The Adelphi Community Band sit in with the circus band for that day.
This included:
Mr. Reynolds was more than accommodating to us, the other circus musicians welcomed us sitting in with them, and they spent time before the first performance showing us the numerous cues and cuts for their music:
I will certainly say that playing in the Carson and Barnes Circus Band was a blast for all 3 of us, and I think for all of us it was a pretty comfortable experience since we had already played a lot of the songs that the circus band used, and we all had a lot of experience sight-reading.
I wound up playing through both performances that date, and each performance was 2 hours long.
One of the other notable things that night was that, as they were parading the elephants around the circus tent during one of the performances, one elephant decided he/she wanted to see the sights. So, he/she wound up running around the tent on his/her own, left the tent, and then traveled all the way to the other end of the mall and broke the big store window in the front of the JC Penny's store in the mall.
The elephant was brought back without further incident.
However, all this time, the band was sitting on the front row of the our section of the tent, on small risers. The elephant ran right past us while we kept playing, and I will admit that it was an extremely odd feeling. You knew the elephant was not under total control at that moment, but there was no general alarm sounded, and the rest of the show went on while the elephant was retrieved from the other end of the mall.
We didn't even know about the broken store window till later.
POSTSCRIPT:
This story has an interesting ending.
In April 2017, I happened across the Facebook page of Mr. William Reynolds, the Director of the 1981 Carson and Barnes Circus Band.
He currently teaches music at the college level, although his Facebook page is filled with pictures of his time with the Carson and Barnes Circus, where he spent several years both as a musician and general worker with the animals, and maybe even a few other odd jobs.
I sent him the copy of the newspaper article about when the circus was in Chillicothe in 1981, and thanked him again for the tremendous opportunity to play with the Carson and Barnes Circus.
Mr. Reynolds was gracious enough to write back that he remembered the incident with the elephants, he remembered Roger, and he even remembered Bill Doyle, the Ross County man who was playing in the circus band that year. In fact, he even knew where Mr. Doyle was still living.
Further, the Carson and Barnes Circus is still around, and they are still based in Oklahoma.
http://www.carsonbarnescircus.com/
No...this isn't the synopsis of this week's Sesame Street show, the band actually had a Tuba player for several years named Roger.
Roger was an excellent musician, kind of a free spirit, and by the time he joined the circus to play in the band, he had already experienced a pretty eclectic career path having been a Music Teacher for one of the the Ross County schools for several years, a Real Estate Agent, and maybe a few other things I hadn't even heard about.
Unfortunately, Roger is gone now, seemingly a common theme to these stories.
I first met Roger in the early 1970's when we were both playing in the orchestra pit for the musical "West Side Story" to be held at the Majestic Theater in Chillicothe.
At some point shortly afterwards, Roger decided to Join the Carson and Barnes Circus Band as a Tuba Player with their band, which at that time was headquartered in Oklahoma.
Roger stayed for 3 years, and while he apparently liked the job and the life of a circus musician, financial factors caused him to leave, However, he always talked about wanting to go back to the circus band.
At that time, the Carson and Barnes Circus seemed to annually come to Chillicothe and would set up their tents behind the (now recently vacant) Sears store in the Chillicothe Mall.
Upon finding that the circus was coming back to Chillicothe in September 1981, Roger was kind enough to get the consent of Director William Reynolds to let several of us from The Adelphi Community Band sit in with the circus band for that day.
This included:
- Jeff: Trumpet
- John: Trombone
- Ed: Sousaphone
Mr. Reynolds was more than accommodating to us, the other circus musicians welcomed us sitting in with them, and they spent time before the first performance showing us the numerous cues and cuts for their music:
- Play so many measures of this song,
- Jump from this section to another section,
- Then jump to this one line of this other song before you move on to the next song,
- Always watch the Director because the music is tailored for the circus performers' timing in their acts, not the other way around, and both the musicians and the music have to adjust at a moment's notice as needed,
- When you see the "sign" by the Director, stop everything and come in on anything in a Bb Concert Chord (octaves are optional),
- and so on.
I will certainly say that playing in the Carson and Barnes Circus Band was a blast for all 3 of us, and I think for all of us it was a pretty comfortable experience since we had already played a lot of the songs that the circus band used, and we all had a lot of experience sight-reading.
I wound up playing through both performances that date, and each performance was 2 hours long.
One of the other notable things that night was that, as they were parading the elephants around the circus tent during one of the performances, one elephant decided he/she wanted to see the sights. So, he/she wound up running around the tent on his/her own, left the tent, and then traveled all the way to the other end of the mall and broke the big store window in the front of the JC Penny's store in the mall.
The elephant was brought back without further incident.
However, all this time, the band was sitting on the front row of the our section of the tent, on small risers. The elephant ran right past us while we kept playing, and I will admit that it was an extremely odd feeling. You knew the elephant was not under total control at that moment, but there was no general alarm sounded, and the rest of the show went on while the elephant was retrieved from the other end of the mall.
We didn't even know about the broken store window till later.
POSTSCRIPT:
This story has an interesting ending.
In April 2017, I happened across the Facebook page of Mr. William Reynolds, the Director of the 1981 Carson and Barnes Circus Band.
He currently teaches music at the college level, although his Facebook page is filled with pictures of his time with the Carson and Barnes Circus, where he spent several years both as a musician and general worker with the animals, and maybe even a few other odd jobs.
I sent him the copy of the newspaper article about when the circus was in Chillicothe in 1981, and thanked him again for the tremendous opportunity to play with the Carson and Barnes Circus.
Mr. Reynolds was gracious enough to write back that he remembered the incident with the elephants, he remembered Roger, and he even remembered Bill Doyle, the Ross County man who was playing in the circus band that year. In fact, he even knew where Mr. Doyle was still living.
Further, the Carson and Barnes Circus is still around, and they are still based in Oklahoma.
http://www.carsonbarnescircus.com/
september_1981_playing_in_carson_and_barnes_circus_band.pdf | |
File Size: | 3868 kb |
File Type: |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33. "START 'EM EARLY!":
As you can see just from these few stories thus far, many of the members of The Adelphi Community Band started playing instruments, and started playing with the band, at a very young age.
A lot of times, it was because the father, uncle, brother, or some other family member was also in the band.
While there are probably many stories that can be told, and I would happy to share them as I either remember them myself or someone shares them with me, this is the story of one of those young musicians.
Our son was pretty much surrounded by music, whether he wanted to be or not, from birth. I had been a member of the Adelphi Community Band for several years even before he was even born, and had played in several other groups as well.
And there was usually at least one of pretty much every band instrument, some in better shape than others, sitting around the house that he could practice playing on. There were also all kinds of percussion toys, keyboards, and a seemingly warehouse full of related items that he had access to.
We didn't try to teach him HOW to play the instruments at that point, we just wanted him to have fun with them first.
A lot of times, he liked to play on a cornet, which worked out well since it was the right size and weight for him to hold and finger the valves, and he was able to buzz into the mouthpiece easily to produce sounds.
So, when he was just over 3 years old, I went ahead and took him to band practice with me. (see LARGE picture, below).
He sat right next to me all night long without complaint.
When it was time for the trumpets to play, he would put his cornet up to his mouth and blow on it, finger the valves as he thought they needed to be played, and all the time making that typical "buzzing" sound in it through the mouthpiece.
When the trumpets stopped, he would stop, too, and take his horn away from his lips till the trumpets started up again.
And he did that for well over an hour.
I was sitting next to the Director that night. I had known the Director pretty much all my life, and he had known my Mom's family pretty much all of their lives, so we were not strangers. He was a very laid back about many things, but he was certainly passionate about the band.
However, at practice that night, he could barely keep from breaking out laughing all night as he watched our son "practice" with the band with just as much enthusiasm and attention as any of the other members.
"Start 'Em Early!"
A lot of times, it was because the father, uncle, brother, or some other family member was also in the band.
While there are probably many stories that can be told, and I would happy to share them as I either remember them myself or someone shares them with me, this is the story of one of those young musicians.
Our son was pretty much surrounded by music, whether he wanted to be or not, from birth. I had been a member of the Adelphi Community Band for several years even before he was even born, and had played in several other groups as well.
And there was usually at least one of pretty much every band instrument, some in better shape than others, sitting around the house that he could practice playing on. There were also all kinds of percussion toys, keyboards, and a seemingly warehouse full of related items that he had access to.
We didn't try to teach him HOW to play the instruments at that point, we just wanted him to have fun with them first.
A lot of times, he liked to play on a cornet, which worked out well since it was the right size and weight for him to hold and finger the valves, and he was able to buzz into the mouthpiece easily to produce sounds.
So, when he was just over 3 years old, I went ahead and took him to band practice with me. (see LARGE picture, below).
He sat right next to me all night long without complaint.
When it was time for the trumpets to play, he would put his cornet up to his mouth and blow on it, finger the valves as he thought they needed to be played, and all the time making that typical "buzzing" sound in it through the mouthpiece.
When the trumpets stopped, he would stop, too, and take his horn away from his lips till the trumpets started up again.
And he did that for well over an hour.
I was sitting next to the Director that night. I had known the Director pretty much all my life, and he had known my Mom's family pretty much all of their lives, so we were not strangers. He was a very laid back about many things, but he was certainly passionate about the band.
However, at practice that night, he could barely keep from breaking out laughing all night as he watched our son "practice" with the band with just as much enthusiasm and attention as any of the other members.
"Start 'Em Early!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34. "THERE'S AT LEAST ONE BAND LEFT THAT PLAYS REAL MUSIC!":
I will share a story my brother, John, has from the 2016 Pumpkin Show.
While walking the Pumpkin Show grounds at the 2016 Circleville Pumpkin Show, John was still in his Adelphi Band uniform.
While walking around, he was noticed by someone from the crowd.
As John tells the story:
"From my hat the gentleman knew I was with the Adelphi Band. He also knew several of the members and former directors, including Roderick Shaw. He proclaimed to the crowd that he was happy there was at least one band left that played real music."
(NOTE: Roderick Shaw, the Director mentioned in my brother's note, was the Director of the band when John and I both joined in the mid-1960's. We both observed our 50th summer playing with the band in 2016.)
This pretty much sums up the reactions the band fortunately continues to get from the audiences, and certainly from even its members, even after all these years.
The band absolutely takes pride in the kind of music they play.
And with all respect to any band directors who are faced almost daily with the difficult and thankless job of selecting music for his/her band in order to fit a variety of interests and a variety of proficiency levels of the musicians, The Adelphi Community Band routinely receives vocal appreciation from the crowds at both parades and concerts for their style of music.
While walking the Pumpkin Show grounds at the 2016 Circleville Pumpkin Show, John was still in his Adelphi Band uniform.
While walking around, he was noticed by someone from the crowd.
As John tells the story:
"From my hat the gentleman knew I was with the Adelphi Band. He also knew several of the members and former directors, including Roderick Shaw. He proclaimed to the crowd that he was happy there was at least one band left that played real music."
(NOTE: Roderick Shaw, the Director mentioned in my brother's note, was the Director of the band when John and I both joined in the mid-1960's. We both observed our 50th summer playing with the band in 2016.)
This pretty much sums up the reactions the band fortunately continues to get from the audiences, and certainly from even its members, even after all these years.
The band absolutely takes pride in the kind of music they play.
And with all respect to any band directors who are faced almost daily with the difficult and thankless job of selecting music for his/her band in order to fit a variety of interests and a variety of proficiency levels of the musicians, The Adelphi Community Band routinely receives vocal appreciation from the crowds at both parades and concerts for their style of music.
35. "UP IN THE SKY...IT'S A BIRD...IT'S A PLANE....NOPE, IT'S AN ADELPHI BAND WHIRLYGIG!":
In the 1970's, I found myself with more time and zeal on my hands than talent or skill.
Like many others, I have always liked the unusual and shiny things that moved, like Cuckoo Clocks, model train sets, etc., and by this time I had probably already converted my car into a one-of-its-kind with all kinds of customized lights, decals, stripes, hood ornaments, different car horn, audio electronics, and so forth.
By this point, I already had @ ten years with the band, and so, in considering what to try next, I realized that I had never seen an Adelphi Band whirly gig!.
Starting with an old whirly gig of a different design as a template, I made one about the band in a concert setting with a trombone player and where the Director's arms would move up and down in the wind.
This almost has to be the ONLY Adelphi Band whirly gig ever made.
The picture below (LEFT) was taken in 1976.
However, I won't lie.......when the typical Ohio wind really kicked up, it was a frightening sight to see the Director "direct" fast enough so that it looked more like he was trying to fly rather than to coax the band to play something like "Robinson's Grand Entry" (at the speed Mr. Connett liked) , or even "Barnum Bailey's".
So, in order to minimize the amount of vibration on that side of the house, modifications were made so that the Director's arms remained fixed.
The body of a second generation of this whirly gig still hangs above my workbench in a place of honor.
But, thanks to watching countless Youtube videos of various whirly gig competitions from around the world, I have several other designs in mind for some future projects.
The whirly gig on the LEFT is the original one from the 1970's. The one on the RIGHT is a later version, now disassembled for storage.
Like many others, I have always liked the unusual and shiny things that moved, like Cuckoo Clocks, model train sets, etc., and by this time I had probably already converted my car into a one-of-its-kind with all kinds of customized lights, decals, stripes, hood ornaments, different car horn, audio electronics, and so forth.
By this point, I already had @ ten years with the band, and so, in considering what to try next, I realized that I had never seen an Adelphi Band whirly gig!.
Starting with an old whirly gig of a different design as a template, I made one about the band in a concert setting with a trombone player and where the Director's arms would move up and down in the wind.
This almost has to be the ONLY Adelphi Band whirly gig ever made.
The picture below (LEFT) was taken in 1976.
However, I won't lie.......when the typical Ohio wind really kicked up, it was a frightening sight to see the Director "direct" fast enough so that it looked more like he was trying to fly rather than to coax the band to play something like "Robinson's Grand Entry" (at the speed Mr. Connett liked) , or even "Barnum Bailey's".
So, in order to minimize the amount of vibration on that side of the house, modifications were made so that the Director's arms remained fixed.
The body of a second generation of this whirly gig still hangs above my workbench in a place of honor.
But, thanks to watching countless Youtube videos of various whirly gig competitions from around the world, I have several other designs in mind for some future projects.
The whirly gig on the LEFT is the original one from the 1970's. The one on the RIGHT is a later version, now disassembled for storage.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36. "SORRY, WE DIDN'T SCHEDULE YOU THIS YEAR!":
One particular revealing thing about small town festivals, and fairly informal groups like The Adelphi Community Band, is the sometimes informal way that business is handled.
The many stories that have been shared over the years by the people in the band who have taken the responsibility for managing the band's schedule, have included the following:
While there are certainly good things to say about this level of informality and trust, it has sometimes led to confusion.
So, several years ago, the band showed up to play for a festival that they had played at for many years/decades.
The band had always played a concert on the main stage in the center of town just before the evening parade, and then would leave the stage and line up to play in the parade
However, on this particular year, when the band started to take the main stage to do the concert at the same time that they always had, we were told that the festival had totally changed the schedule for the main stage that year, and we were not scheduled to do anything other than the evening parade.
This high degree of informality often used by some festivals has led to other events of confusion when the band managers scheduled the band for specific parades, operating under the customary "see you next year" contractual arrangement. However, when the band arrived, they were told that since they were not officially contacted by that festival that year, then the band's services were not needed that year.
Oops!
The many stories that have been shared over the years by the people in the band who have taken the responsibility for managing the band's schedule, have included the following:
- Often, the band would play at an event one year, and whoever was in charge of the event would just say to the band as it was finishing, "See you next year!"
- That would constitute the ENTIRE contractual arrangement for the band to return for the next year's festival at the same relative day, and the same time.
- The band would then just be expected to return the next year, and often there would be absolutely NO communication with the festival in between times.
- Sometimes, with the difficulty that festivals have in finding and retaining volunteers from year to year, there may be a large turnover in the volunteers serving as festivals organizers, and it takes the new staff awhile to get up to speed even with what happened the year before, let alone to do any planning for the upcoming festival.
- Sometimes, because of this, the band doesn't get contacted at all till almost the last minute to be asked to play at the upcoming festival.
- Since the new festival staff often doesn't really know what happened at last year's festival, or may just have some different preferences on what they want to do for the next festival, then their request of the band for the upcoming festival may vary either slightly,or greatly, from what the band was asked to do the previous year.
- Sometimes the new festival staff don't even have the records of WHO to contact to perform at the upcoming festival, even though the groups have appeared at the festival for many consecutive years, since the previous people just "knew" who to contact and didn't bother to document everything.
- So, in addition, to sometimes not knowing till the last minute IF the band is even going to be asked to play this year at a festival that maybe the band has played at for several decades, the band may not even know till the last minute the date(s) and time(s) that they will be asked to perform.
- Written contracts are not always used by the festival, or the band.
While there are certainly good things to say about this level of informality and trust, it has sometimes led to confusion.
So, several years ago, the band showed up to play for a festival that they had played at for many years/decades.
The band had always played a concert on the main stage in the center of town just before the evening parade, and then would leave the stage and line up to play in the parade
However, on this particular year, when the band started to take the main stage to do the concert at the same time that they always had, we were told that the festival had totally changed the schedule for the main stage that year, and we were not scheduled to do anything other than the evening parade.
This high degree of informality often used by some festivals has led to other events of confusion when the band managers scheduled the band for specific parades, operating under the customary "see you next year" contractual arrangement. However, when the band arrived, they were told that since they were not officially contacted by that festival that year, then the band's services were not needed that year.
Oops!
37. "AND THEY MADE IT JUST IN TIME!":
If you have already read any of the info on this band's web site, you will remember that the band celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1980 by being invited to play on the steps of the Capital Building in Washington DC in June of that year.
Two bus loads of band members and family members subsequently left from southern Ohio one day in June for a several day trip to Washington DC, which included a concert in Alexandria, Virginia on the same afternoon that the band played on the steps of the Capital Building that morning.
However, as you should also already know, many members of the band have scattered to all parts of the country over the years for career and personal reasons, so not all the band members who participated in the concerts came from Ohio and were able to ride the buses involved in this caravan.
So, there happened to be a family of band members from the Chicago area, including the father and 2 sons, who would play in The Adelphi Community Band any time they would come back to the Ohio area for family events and visits.
For various scheduling reasons, they would be able to play with the band in Washington DC for this anniversary concert, but to be able to do that, they would have to drive straight through from the Chicago area.
And so they did.
They drove 17 hours non-stop from the Chicago area to Washington DC, and somehow arrived at the band's hotel about 5 minutes before the band buses left to go to the first concert.
But wait.....there's more!
In this family from the Chicago area, there was the father who was a Trumpet player, and 2 sons who both played Tuba.
Since the family was going to camp out in the Washington DC area after the concerts, they also made the trip with their camping gear.
As you might know, Tubas take up an amazing amount of room, and there just wasn't enough room on the trip for clothes for a family of 5, a Trumpet, camping gear, and 2 Tubas. The answer was that only 1 Tuba made the trip from Illinois to Washington DC, and the two Tuba playing sons took turns on the instrument so that they could both participate in the concert.
However, of the most important part of the trip, and of this story, this family drove non-stop from Illinois to Washington DC, to be able to play in the band for this milestone concert, "And They Made it JUST in Time!"
Two bus loads of band members and family members subsequently left from southern Ohio one day in June for a several day trip to Washington DC, which included a concert in Alexandria, Virginia on the same afternoon that the band played on the steps of the Capital Building that morning.
However, as you should also already know, many members of the band have scattered to all parts of the country over the years for career and personal reasons, so not all the band members who participated in the concerts came from Ohio and were able to ride the buses involved in this caravan.
So, there happened to be a family of band members from the Chicago area, including the father and 2 sons, who would play in The Adelphi Community Band any time they would come back to the Ohio area for family events and visits.
For various scheduling reasons, they would be able to play with the band in Washington DC for this anniversary concert, but to be able to do that, they would have to drive straight through from the Chicago area.
And so they did.
They drove 17 hours non-stop from the Chicago area to Washington DC, and somehow arrived at the band's hotel about 5 minutes before the band buses left to go to the first concert.
But wait.....there's more!
In this family from the Chicago area, there was the father who was a Trumpet player, and 2 sons who both played Tuba.
Since the family was going to camp out in the Washington DC area after the concerts, they also made the trip with their camping gear.
As you might know, Tubas take up an amazing amount of room, and there just wasn't enough room on the trip for clothes for a family of 5, a Trumpet, camping gear, and 2 Tubas. The answer was that only 1 Tuba made the trip from Illinois to Washington DC, and the two Tuba playing sons took turns on the instrument so that they could both participate in the concert.
However, of the most important part of the trip, and of this story, this family drove non-stop from Illinois to Washington DC, to be able to play in the band for this milestone concert, "And They Made it JUST in Time!"
38. "PLAYING FOR A PRESIDENT":
I was recently informed that, in addition to all the other politicians that the band has performed over the years for that have already been mentioned elsewhere on this web site, the band also played for President Harry Truman in 1948.
Harry Truman was President of the United States from 1945-1953.
Harry Truman was President of the United States from 1945-1953.
39. "EVERYONE STAYS BUSY:"
As most musicians of community bands know, a lot of the musicians play in more than one area band or specialty group.
Plus, when a Festival finds a community band they like, the band will usually be scheduled for more than one performance at the Fair or Festival, often over a several day period, and often for multiple performances on the same day.
SOME EXAMPLES:
Plus, when a Festival finds a community band they like, the band will usually be scheduled for more than one performance at the Fair or Festival, often over a several day period, and often for multiple performances on the same day.
SOME EXAMPLES:
- COUNTY FAIRS: Often The Adelphi Band would be contracted to play for several county fairs for multiple days at each fair. Usually this involved playing for harness races. However, in years past, the band has played for 2-3 days straight for harness races at the Hocking County Fair, Ross County Fair, and the Pickaway County Fair.
- ROSS COUNTY FAIR: For many of the days for the Ross County Fair, the band would play for the harness races in the afternoon, play for the flag lowering at the Bandstand, and then go back to the Grandstand to play for 30 minutes prior to the start of the big evening shows there.
- CIRCLEVILLE PUMPKIN SHOW: For many years, the Saturday of the Pumpkin Show found the band playing for the Baton Twirling Competition on the Main Street Stage in the afternoon, play a concert before the start of the evening parade, play for the evening parade, and then make our way back to the Main Street Stage after the parade to play for the FINALS of the baton twirling contest from the afternoon entries. Before my time with the band, they also played at the Pumpkin Show for things called the "Free Acts". That story will have to be put to print another time.
- MULTIPLE BANDS IN THE SAME PARADES, OR THE SAME FESTIVALS: Often we would have High School Band Students, particularly Zane Trace HS in Ross County comes to mind, who would be dedicated enough to go through the same parade twice in 2 different bands. Or, we would have musicians playing in multiple community bands where both bands were scheduled to play in the same parade at the same festival. OR, do an afternoon parade at a festival in one band, and play in the evening parade at the same festival in another band.
- So, for years at the Circleville Pumpkin Show, it wasn't uncommon to see someone on the Adelphi Band trailer in a Zane Trace Band Uniform because the placement of both bands in that parade let that band member participate in both bands in the same parade.
- It also happened regularly at the Jackson Apple Festival where the Adelphi Band and the Circleville Pumpkin Show Band were also scheduled to perform in the same Saturday night parade.
- Or, as another variation for the Circleville Pumpkin Show, the band member would play all day with the Adelphi Band and then change uniforms to play with another band in the Saturday night parade.
- In fact, for several years, there were several band members who would be playing in the Pumpkin Show with 3 different bands, and in more than one band in the same day!
- As far as we know, the record for some of our members at the Circleville Pumpkin Show has been to participiate in 5 Concerts and 4 parades over 5 days with 3 different groups!
40. "Wait, My Trombone Just Fell off the band Wagon!":
Anyone who has even been around a high school band during football season knows several things:
Well, unfortunately, that kind of thing sometimes happens to adults, too.
While The Adelphi Community Band has been very fortunate to have its own wonderful band wagon, which keeps all of us "experienced" musicians from having to march, life on a band wagon is still not conducive to achieving nirvana.
Anyway, for those musicians with the bigger, and more awkward, instruments, like the trombones and bass horns, sitting on the band wagon presents a fresh set of challenges.
The trombone players, specifically, generally sit on the front line of the band trailer, and many of them use a trombone stand (pictures are below) to be able to sit their horns aside while they fuss with music, stand lights, clothes pins, adjust rain ponchos, and the like.
So, unfortunately, there have been more than a couple occasions when the trombone players had horns sitting on trombone stands, and when the band wagon lurched, the trombone fell right off the band wagon and onto the asphalt street below.
And no.....that didn't help the condition of the trombone one bit.
- Most high school kids care little about their band instruments and a whole lot about going to the concession stand after their half time shows,
- When the kids place their instruments on the extremely narrow bleacher seats while they crawl over and around all the other instruments in order to try to be first in line for some nachos with cheese (which go GREAT with a several hundred dollar band uniform!), hot dogs, and cold drinks, you can count on subsequently hearing the metallic cascading of falling band instruments as they plummet majestically from the top rows of bleacher seats all the way to the ground below, probably hitting every metal bleacher support on the way down.
Well, unfortunately, that kind of thing sometimes happens to adults, too.
While The Adelphi Community Band has been very fortunate to have its own wonderful band wagon, which keeps all of us "experienced" musicians from having to march, life on a band wagon is still not conducive to achieving nirvana.
- Going across rail road tracks is still bumpy and makes it almost impossible to play on a brass mouthpiece,
- Potholes in the road are still interesting.....the bigger the pot hole, the more interesting,
- When the parade gets stalled for whatever reasons, then the band wagon naturally stops and then has to get started again. Something that big and heavy like the band trailer and the truck pulling it doesn't start back in motion again without a few jerks and bumps
Anyway, for those musicians with the bigger, and more awkward, instruments, like the trombones and bass horns, sitting on the band wagon presents a fresh set of challenges.
The trombone players, specifically, generally sit on the front line of the band trailer, and many of them use a trombone stand (pictures are below) to be able to sit their horns aside while they fuss with music, stand lights, clothes pins, adjust rain ponchos, and the like.
So, unfortunately, there have been more than a couple occasions when the trombone players had horns sitting on trombone stands, and when the band wagon lurched, the trombone fell right off the band wagon and onto the asphalt street below.
And no.....that didn't help the condition of the trombone one bit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41. "2017: The Year of 'firsts' at the Circleville Pumpkin SHow!":
2017 certainly marked several "firsts" for The Adelphi Community Band at the Circleville Pumpkin Show.
If you individually polled the band members, you would probably get a unanimous opinion that EVERYONE loves to play at the Pumpkin Show. Trying to find a close parking spot and carrying heavy band instruments......not so much......but certainly the band members LOVE to play for the Pumpkin Show crowd!
The crowds are great, there is excitement in the air, there is plenty of good festival food, and there are so many things to see (and buy!) at the Pumpkin Show.
However this year was kind of different in that it presented new experiences for the band.
1. In the evening parade on Friday night AND the evening parade on Saturday night, the Adelphi Community Band was absolutely the FIRST parade unit behind the color guard. Not just the first band, but absolutely the first unit!
2. The band has typically given a Saturday night concert before the evening parade, and in recent decades that has been either on East Franklin Street, or in the Visitors Pavilion.
3. In the Saturday night parade, we only saw 2 other bands in the entire parade. As a comparison, there were 20 bands for the Thursday night "Parade of Bands". If there were other bands who also participated Saturday night, we certainly didn't see them anywhere.
.
If you individually polled the band members, you would probably get a unanimous opinion that EVERYONE loves to play at the Pumpkin Show. Trying to find a close parking spot and carrying heavy band instruments......not so much......but certainly the band members LOVE to play for the Pumpkin Show crowd!
The crowds are great, there is excitement in the air, there is plenty of good festival food, and there are so many things to see (and buy!) at the Pumpkin Show.
However this year was kind of different in that it presented new experiences for the band.
1. In the evening parade on Friday night AND the evening parade on Saturday night, the Adelphi Community Band was absolutely the FIRST parade unit behind the color guard. Not just the first band, but absolutely the first unit!
- This is my 51st Circleville Pumpkin Show with the band, and that has NEVER happened before!
- It was a wonderful honor, perhaps mixed with coincidence, but still a pretty neat experience.
2. The band has typically given a Saturday night concert before the evening parade, and in recent decades that has been either on East Franklin Street, or in the Visitors Pavilion.
- With the Visitor's Pavilion no longer sponsoring music groups during the 2017 Show, this year the band gave a Saturday night concert while on the band wagon parked on North Pickaway Street near East Main Street.
3. In the Saturday night parade, we only saw 2 other bands in the entire parade. As a comparison, there were 20 bands for the Thursday night "Parade of Bands". If there were other bands who also participated Saturday night, we certainly didn't see them anywhere.
.
- For anyone who has seen any of either the afternoon parades or evening parades at the Pumpkin Show, you will know that one of the attractions of the Pumpkin Show and the parades is the numerous Middle School and High School bands that participate. There are often some community level bands (like us!), or special musical groups, but certainly the bulk of the musical entertainment during the Pumpkin Show parades are either Middle School or High School bands.
- During most years, we would be on our band wagon lined up for the parade, and we would be surrounded by bands waiting for their turn, you would hear the sounds of numerous bands warming up, and you would see colorful band uniforms all over the Pumpkin Show grounds as their band members took in the sights, sounds, and the FOOD, of the Pumpkin Show.
- This year, while we waiting for the parade to start, we could barely see the other bands lined up about a block away, and we never heard them at all while they warmed up. When you are used to looking around you and seeing waves of different colored band uniforms and hearing a cacophony of sounds while bands warm up on their various fight songs and performance songs in different keys, NOT hearing any of those sounds is almost deafening by its absence.
42. "A Member of the adelphi community band forever":
If you took a close examination of the people around you, you would probably find that they each have at least one passion about something.
Not counting, of course, their love for family.
The topics of their passions may range from something tangible like material objects that are collectable, to something intangible like being fans of sports teams, or even to causes that are held deep in their personal morality and to which they devote a considerable amount of their personal time and resources.
For many of the members of The Adelphi Community Band, playing music and being proud members of the band have clearly been some of their passions.
On many occasions, when a fellow band member has passed, the remaining members would show up to the funeral service in their band uniforms out of respect.
On occasion, the band has been asked to even perform for the service.
And on more than one occasion, the band member had requested in advance to be buried in his Adelphi Band uniform.
For many of the musicians who have played with the band, being in The Adelphi Community Band has not just been a leisure time activity, it has been their passion.
Not counting, of course, their love for family.
The topics of their passions may range from something tangible like material objects that are collectable, to something intangible like being fans of sports teams, or even to causes that are held deep in their personal morality and to which they devote a considerable amount of their personal time and resources.
For many of the members of The Adelphi Community Band, playing music and being proud members of the band have clearly been some of their passions.
On many occasions, when a fellow band member has passed, the remaining members would show up to the funeral service in their band uniforms out of respect.
On occasion, the band has been asked to even perform for the service.
And on more than one occasion, the band member had requested in advance to be buried in his Adelphi Band uniform.
For many of the musicians who have played with the band, being in The Adelphi Community Band has not just been a leisure time activity, it has been their passion.
43. "I Have to Leave Early Because I Have Hay DOwn!":
It should be no surprise that many past members of one of the oldest bands in the nation were farmers.
And, it should also be no surprise (except to "city slickers") that many of the curent members are still farmers of one sort or another, and with varying amounts of land to manage.
The band is fortunate to still have one such member in the Tuba section.
This person is an excellent musician, and in addition to his "day job" also manages several acres, to include a number of typical farm animals.
Farm animals being what they are, need fed in the winter, and so he raises hay in the summer to bale for them.
Since the Adelphi Band plays almost exclusively in the summer, he would often come to performances and start making statements like:
You are probably seeing a common thread in this, already.
Of course, even if you don't come from a farming family, pretty much everyone can be sympathetic about that kind of situation. If nothing else, many people (like me) procrastinate enought about just mowing our grass that we understand the similarities of his concerns.
However, it likewise doesn't take a rocket scientist to soon identify the typical periods when everyone ELSE has hay down, and then would be puzzled as to why this gentleman would frequently have hay down at what would certainly be atypical points of the summer growing season.
Plus, when this story was eventually shared with a family member, we were told that she didn't understand why that was such a concern for him, since he hired someone else to bale the hay for him, anyway.
So, realizing that perhaps the band had been "had" by this musician in a good-natured way, another band member finally made a sign at a performance and placed it on his music stand for the public to see, stating in BOLD letters"
"I have to leave early...I have hay down!"
So now, much like the story (# 9, above) where someone in the band can be counted on announcing "Listen to the Bartitones" when the band plays "Colonel Bogey", whenever this Tuba player comes to a performance, certainly someone in the band can always be counted on announcing that they, too, have to leave early since they have hay down!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And, it should also be no surprise (except to "city slickers") that many of the curent members are still farmers of one sort or another, and with varying amounts of land to manage.
The band is fortunate to still have one such member in the Tuba section.
This person is an excellent musician, and in addition to his "day job" also manages several acres, to include a number of typical farm animals.
Farm animals being what they are, need fed in the winter, and so he raises hay in the summer to bale for them.
Since the Adelphi Band plays almost exclusively in the summer, he would often come to performances and start making statements like:
- " I hope we can get out early because I have hay down."
- " I have to leave early because I have hay down."
- "I hope it doesn't rain while we are playing because I have to get back early because I have hay down."
You are probably seeing a common thread in this, already.
Of course, even if you don't come from a farming family, pretty much everyone can be sympathetic about that kind of situation. If nothing else, many people (like me) procrastinate enought about just mowing our grass that we understand the similarities of his concerns.
However, it likewise doesn't take a rocket scientist to soon identify the typical periods when everyone ELSE has hay down, and then would be puzzled as to why this gentleman would frequently have hay down at what would certainly be atypical points of the summer growing season.
Plus, when this story was eventually shared with a family member, we were told that she didn't understand why that was such a concern for him, since he hired someone else to bale the hay for him, anyway.
So, realizing that perhaps the band had been "had" by this musician in a good-natured way, another band member finally made a sign at a performance and placed it on his music stand for the public to see, stating in BOLD letters"
"I have to leave early...I have hay down!"
So now, much like the story (# 9, above) where someone in the band can be counted on announcing "Listen to the Bartitones" when the band plays "Colonel Bogey", whenever this Tuba player comes to a performance, certainly someone in the band can always be counted on announcing that they, too, have to leave early since they have hay down!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44. "Yes, Virginia, it DID Hail on the Band on Memorial Day Week-end!"...or...."Do you think you can get those hail dents out of the bell of my horn?":
Well....2019 has already provided the band members with some more new, and unique, experiences.
For many, many, years, the band has played at the cemetery just west of Adelphi, Ohio for a Memorial Day service on the Sunday before Memorial Day.
In fact, our recent research has confirmed that the band has been participating in Memorial Day services at this cemetery since at least as early as 1939.....really.
Logan, Ohio Daily News, May 1939
In 2019, however, something new happened.
By Memorial Day week-end 2019, it had already been an almost record breaking year for precipitation in the band's special corner of Ohio, much to the understandable dismay of area farmers. As the band members got to their chairs in the cemetery that date and started to warm up prior to the start of the observance, you could see more clouds assembling to the west.
Or...barrelling down on us from the west like a cattle stampede from the TV western "Rawhide", depending on your frame of mind at the time.
However, the band is a hearty bunch, and almost always performs outside anyway, so a few clouds don't really pose as a deterrent to this group.
So, the band started to play some marches before the service starts.....and the clouds get darker...and get closer....
The band continues to play...and the clouds get darker....and get closer.
The band continues to play and it starts to sprinkle.
Now....here is where the story takes an interesting turn.
There is an expression (paraphrased) that states, "GOOD judgement comes from EXPERIENCE and EXPERIENCE comes from BAD judgement".
There is also a comedian who, in describing his childhood, said (paraphrased). "Of COURSE we all did stupid stuff as a kid! That's how you learn NOT to do stupid stuff as an adult!"
As you probably read in an earlier band story on this page (# 13, above), there is a contingent in the band who learned long ago to ALWAYS keep certain items with them, no matter where or when the performance is, and no matter what the weather LOOKS like it might be that day.
One of those items these members learned to ALWAYS keep with them are rain ponchos. Big, tall, fat, long, thick, rain ponchos that are closed at the sides so that you don't float away in a breeze like an unteathered kite.
And also to NEVER let them get more than a couple feet away from them, and to have them accessible at all times.
So, as the sprinkles started to hit, and since certainly the rain didn't look to be just a passing inconvenience, many of us reached for our ponchos and put them on.
And, the band kept on playing...and it rained harder.....and the band kept on playing......
And then the hail came! Fairly small in size, but there wasn't any question what it was.
Some of us are fortunate enough to have really nice instruments for comfortable, safe, sit down concerts, and then have other horns that we use for more uncertain environments, like climbing on and off a band wagon, sitting in the county fair grandstands between races, and the like.
Fortunately, I had brought my older horn for that performance that I set aside for the more uncertain performance venues, and while I wasn't that happy with the hail hitting the bell of my horn, I knew that it really wasn't going to do any damage that I would be concerned about later.
But, I'll have to admit, it was a weird feeling to hear, and feel, the hail hit the bell of the horn. And to have the hail hit the wonderful poncho that I was wearing at the time, and then watch the hail bounce off the asphalt next to my feet and then finally come to a rest where you could more accurately gauge its size.
And then it rained harder....and you could hear a chorus of other members of the band (who were getting wetter...and wetter...) talk about how they, too, had rain coats, but the rain coats were back in their cars! Or back at their houses!
I used to hear that statement a lot when I played on a golf league. We would be out on the course when it started raining, and I would see some of the others in our foursome getting wetter while all the time bragging (or lamenting) about their very expensive, golf-approved, rain suits that they had left hanging up back at the house.
And I would listen to this while all the time I was playing golf and wearing my perfectly satisfactory $3.95 rain suit from K-Mart and staying basically dry.
But back to the 2019 Memorial Day week-end.....and it rained harder, and soon the band was officially dismissed and we all scrambled to our vehicles with musical instruments and equipment in hand.
And some of us left the cemetery with wet ponchos that we would be drying off at the house for the rest of the day....and then packing them up to be ready to use at the NEXT band concert.
And some of the band members left the cemetery with perfectly DRY rain gear because it was either still in the car, or safely stored back at their houses.
THE END
45. "Why yes......my grandfather did play this tuba in WOrld War I!":
Fred plays Tuba in the band, and is an excellent musician.
Fred also has a rather unique story about the Tuba he plays.
Fred actually plays the SAME Tuba that his grandfather played in a military band in World War I.
Let me be perfectly clear.
Fred doesn't play a Tuba LIKE the one his Grandfather played....he plays the EXACT horn that his father played in World War I.
Fred has been able to find out quite a lot about his Grandfather's military service, to include that he was stationed in Camp Sherman in Chillicothe for awhile, and also stationed in Italy.
The Chillicothe Gazette even did a story on Fred and the Tuba in November 2007.
Fred also has a rather unique story about the Tuba he plays.
Fred actually plays the SAME Tuba that his grandfather played in a military band in World War I.
Let me be perfectly clear.
Fred doesn't play a Tuba LIKE the one his Grandfather played....he plays the EXACT horn that his father played in World War I.
Fred has been able to find out quite a lot about his Grandfather's military service, to include that he was stationed in Camp Sherman in Chillicothe for awhile, and also stationed in Italy.
The Chillicothe Gazette even did a story on Fred and the Tuba in November 2007.
11-11-2007__chillicothe_gazette_fred_and_his_tuba_part_1.pdf | |
File Size: | 320 kb |
File Type: |
11-11-2007__chillicothe_gazette_fred_and_his_tuba_part_2.pdf | |
File Size: | 425 kb |
File Type: |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46. "The year the band trailer, and the truck towing the band trailer, all got towed through the parade":
There are a number of pictures on this web site of the band and its wonderful band trailer. Additional pictures, as a reminder, are below.
I don't care about the age of the specific musician, but I'm certain that I am safe in saying that EVERYONE in the band appreciates riding on a band trailer through the parades.
And if you look around to other musical units who aren't High School Bands, more and more of the older groups are going to some type of band trailer as well.
But, there was one year that having a band trailer was a problem.
On that year, the band had just started out in the parade at the Piketon Dogwood Festival, and the towing vehicle developed a problem.
I was on the band trailer that day, and while other units were starting to be sent around us, and the tow vehicle still wasn't running, I figured it was all over and I went ahead and hopped off the trailer in order to walk downtown and prepare for the concert we were scheduled to do after the parade.
So, I get downtown, and I am watching much of the parade passing by, when I hear familiar music in the air.
In straining to look farther to the units just coming into view, I saw the band trailer, the towing vehicle, and the entire package being pulled through the parade by ANOTHER vehicle. And the band was just playing like nothing was out of the ordinary.
It was definitely an interesting sight.
Plus, it was readily apparent that the crowd instantly identified with the unusual situation, and as the band came into clear view, the crowd rewarded the band's determination to play (and the ingenuity on how to still finish out the parade) with one of the loudest rounds of applause I've ever heard at Piketon.
The show/parade must go on.......
I don't care about the age of the specific musician, but I'm certain that I am safe in saying that EVERYONE in the band appreciates riding on a band trailer through the parades.
And if you look around to other musical units who aren't High School Bands, more and more of the older groups are going to some type of band trailer as well.
But, there was one year that having a band trailer was a problem.
On that year, the band had just started out in the parade at the Piketon Dogwood Festival, and the towing vehicle developed a problem.
I was on the band trailer that day, and while other units were starting to be sent around us, and the tow vehicle still wasn't running, I figured it was all over and I went ahead and hopped off the trailer in order to walk downtown and prepare for the concert we were scheduled to do after the parade.
So, I get downtown, and I am watching much of the parade passing by, when I hear familiar music in the air.
In straining to look farther to the units just coming into view, I saw the band trailer, the towing vehicle, and the entire package being pulled through the parade by ANOTHER vehicle. And the band was just playing like nothing was out of the ordinary.
It was definitely an interesting sight.
Plus, it was readily apparent that the crowd instantly identified with the unusual situation, and as the band came into clear view, the crowd rewarded the band's determination to play (and the ingenuity on how to still finish out the parade) with one of the loudest rounds of applause I've ever heard at Piketon.
The show/parade must go on.......
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
47. "From before the gunfight at the O.k. Corral.......to playing plastic band instruments"
Sometimes, it becomes overwhelming to think of just what all the band has weathered in it's history.
In another page on this web site, we have tried to merge the band's history with other things that were going on across the nation at the same time, just to try to put everything in perspective.
Think of it.
The band was started in 1880.
That's:
- 15 years AFTER the end of the Civil War,
- BEFORE the gunfight at the OK Corral,
- BEFORE Billy the Kid died,
- BEFORE some of the most famous marches were written, like "Stars and Stripes Forever",
- and BEFORE the Eiffel Tower, Washington Monument, and the Statue of Liberty,
just to name a few historical anchors in time.
But think of the band's own personal history:
- Started in 1880,
- Originally played on horse drawn Band Wagons.
- Played through 2 World Wars, and numerous other armed conflicts, where the band often took an active role in playing for the military personnel either in person, or for events dedicated to the military effort,
- Now having been together in parts of 3 different centuries, (1800's, 1900's, and 2000's.),
- And now having musicians perform on quality plastic instruments instead of the metal ones used for decades to that point.
While the concept of plastic instruments over metal surprises some people, and even makes some musicians actually put their noses in the air at the concept as if to say "Not ME!", it is true that more and more musicians of every caliber are adding plastic instruments to their arsenal for the appropriate times.
It's like having more than one pair of black dress shoes...or running shoes...or boots to work out in the yard in.
Everything has an appropriate place and time in which it is useful....and preferred.
After all, who wants to haul a potentially several thousand dollar Trumpet, or Trombone, or Euphonium, or Tuba, through the several blocks from where they parked in Circleville in order to get to the performance site at The Circleville Pumpkin Show?
And then, who wants to take that same horn onto the Band Wagon to have to snake your way past metal chairs, avoid falling music stands, and dealing with all the lurches and bumps that come with riding on a metal trailer through a parade with frequent starts and stops? It is a hazardous environment for precision items made of soft metal, to be sure.
So, we recognize that another long-remembered landmark in time will be when one of our female Trombone players first brought her plastic trombone to the performances (sorry...no pictures) , and also to 2018 when John (Trombone, Euphonium) brought his gorgeous, red, plastic Euphonium to the band performances (pics below).
And frankly, some of us who have had to pay to have instruments repaired because of damage to the horns caused by that kind of use and wear, are just the slightest bit jealous.
And by the way...since you are probably wondering...the plastic Euphonium sounds great!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
48. "And then there was the time that a 'clown band' sAt in with the Adelphi Band"..(insert joke, here....)
7-20-2019
This really almost starts out as a joke:
"A Clown Band and the Adelphi Band walk into a bar together...."
But it isn't
The Adelphi Band was playing on the stage that date at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds as a part of the Lancaster Music Festival.
While we were getting things organized and ready to start, the SUPAFUNBAND from Columbus , Ohio walked up onto the stage with us. (Pictures of them walking the fairgrounds are below)
SUPAFUNBAND
Apparently it started out as a joke for them, but since they were there we talked them into playing with us for a number before they had to go.
They weren't quite decked out in our usual black/white attire, but they did a great job sitting in with us on a march that they had probably never seen before.
We had seen them many times before at the fairgrounds, and they do a great job, and are fun to watch.
They have an open invitation to sit in with us anytime.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49. "It was So hot outside today!.....How Hot Was it?"
I really haven't done the research on this one, which is probably good since I just find that the facts often get in the way of me drawing conclusions and sharing my opinions.
However, 7-20-2019 almost HAD to be a record of some sort for the band.
On that date, we KNEW in advance that the temps would be climbing up into the mid-90's by afternoon.
However, is was also going to be one of our busiest days of the month.
On that date, we:
- Played an 11:45 AM concert at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.
Yes, it was hot then, but we were in the shade and there was some breeze, so it was tolerable for most of us.
- Played a 4:30 PM concert in Laurelville.
Here's where the math starts to come into play.
For those of us who have thermometers in our cars, the drive from Lancaster to Laurelville probably told the tale, since our car showed a reading in the mid-90's......surely that can't be right.
Once we got settled in at our normal concert spot in Laurelville, a quick look at the sign above the gas station on the other corner showed a reading of 97 degrees...that's right....97 DEGREES!
However, while it was warm for the concert, it was still manageable.
Then, we topped that off with:
- a 6:00 PM parade through town!
All in the same 97 degree heat!
Now THAT was an ordeal. We didn't hit any shade till the last half of the parade when we came out on Rt 180 and played while going past the town park.
For this day, only, the standard equipment of the day was NOT having a poncho with you, but instead having a towel to wipe the sweat, and having a water bottle...or two.
This band of musicians, currently ranging in ages from the 50's to the mid-eighties (more band members are in the higher range than in the lower range) , played 2 concerts and one parade outside this date in 90+ degree heat!
That almost HAS to be some kind of record.
I certainly know that I'll be talking about it for awhile.
These band guys are a tough bunch!
This is almost like the old joke that the High School Football team is for those students not tough enough to be in band!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50. "Why yes....the band does play parades at night where you can't read your music!"
For anyone who follows the Community Bands in the Ross County area, when you stop to think about it, The Adelphi Community Band is pretty unique in many ways.
Just a couple of these include:
1. The Adelphi Community Band has never tried to memorize music.
In fact, the band members usually don't even know what song(s) will be played during the parade till they show up to the band wagon and the music is handed out.
Many of the members would memorize their own music, usually by sheer repetition, and sometimes by intent,
And lastly, the whole point of this article.
2. The Adelphi Community Band plays parades, including nighttime parades.
Hardly any other Community Bands in this area play parades at all, let alone any scheduled for after dark.
Nighttime parades are actually pretty magical for the bands participating as well as for the audience along the parade route.
Now, put this all together:
and the MOST important factor...
So, as a youngster still in Jr. High school, the first nighttime parade I was ever in was during the Pumpkin Show.
I arrived at the band's assembly point, and started to see an accumulation of small flashlights clamped, taped, or otherwise fastened to the various instruments in the band. I didn't know enough yet to really think much of it, and just kind of let that image slide.
THEN...... we hit that FIRST street corner where, between the huge trees blocking the street lights and the distance between the street lights, EVERYTHING went dark and I couldn't read a single note from the music on my lyre on my Trumpet that was just a few inches from my eyes!
My first thought was, "OK...THIS is new!"
From that experience forward, many of us have tried (and sometimes discarded) all kinds of configurations of personal lighting systems.
Now, you will find almost all the band members using a variety of different lighting systems to be able to see the music during the nighttime parades, to include:
Now, like in story # 13, above, the helpful reminders many of us good-naturedly call each other about before a performance include:
Because, after all, we are all getting older and sometimes even in performances scheduled for inside churches, auditoriums, gymnasiums, and the various assembly areas we have been to, the lighting is not always set to the level to easily read music.
Examples of some of the music lights you will see us have at the next nighttime parade are below.
Just a couple of these include:
1. The Adelphi Community Band has never tried to memorize music.
In fact, the band members usually don't even know what song(s) will be played during the parade till they show up to the band wagon and the music is handed out.
Many of the members would memorize their own music, usually by sheer repetition, and sometimes by intent,
And lastly, the whole point of this article.
2. The Adelphi Community Band plays parades, including nighttime parades.
Hardly any other Community Bands in this area play parades at all, let alone any scheduled for after dark.
Nighttime parades are actually pretty magical for the bands participating as well as for the audience along the parade route.
- The floats look spectacular all lit up,
- The carny booths and food booths all have their own lighting displays,
- There is just a general excitement in the air as the parade starts to form and every unit gets placed into their assigned positions, and
- You can hear the various bands warming up...sometimes in a cacophony of contrasting keys.....sometimes multiple bands on the same songs because they were pushed by the various music publishers for that performance season,
Now, put this all together:
- The Adelphi Band doesn't memorize music,
- The first the band members typically know what piece they are going to play is when they show up for the parade,
- The band plays in nighttime parades,
and the MOST important factor...
- City street lights are NEVER bright enough, or set close enough, to always be able to read the music while on a parade.
So, as a youngster still in Jr. High school, the first nighttime parade I was ever in was during the Pumpkin Show.
I arrived at the band's assembly point, and started to see an accumulation of small flashlights clamped, taped, or otherwise fastened to the various instruments in the band. I didn't know enough yet to really think much of it, and just kind of let that image slide.
THEN...... we hit that FIRST street corner where, between the huge trees blocking the street lights and the distance between the street lights, EVERYTHING went dark and I couldn't read a single note from the music on my lyre on my Trumpet that was just a few inches from my eyes!
My first thought was, "OK...THIS is new!"
From that experience forward, many of us have tried (and sometimes discarded) all kinds of configurations of personal lighting systems.
Now, you will find almost all the band members using a variety of different lighting systems to be able to see the music during the nighttime parades, to include:
- Flashlights taped to a plastic clamp, and then clamped to the music stand...... Hey...it only cost me $2.00 at the time, and worked well. It was just big and heavy to carry and also clamp on a fold-up stand.
- A number of styles of commercially made battery operated music stand lights that clamp to the stand. Some have the lights at the end of flexible wires so that they look like alien tentacles. Some look like a big ole' light bar.
- A light that clips to the bill of your cap.
- Even a "miner" style light that is fastened to an elastic band that you slip over your head. Like the light described above, this style theoretically winds up pointing the light in the same direction you are looking when you are trying the see the music........ unless (like me) you are distracted by scoping out the size of the line at your favorite Bourbon Chicken Booth for when the parade is over.
Now, like in story # 13, above, the helpful reminders many of us good-naturedly call each other about before a performance include:
- Do you have your poncho?
- Do you have your music light?
Because, after all, we are all getting older and sometimes even in performances scheduled for inside churches, auditoriums, gymnasiums, and the various assembly areas we have been to, the lighting is not always set to the level to easily read music.
Examples of some of the music lights you will see us have at the next nighttime parade are below.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
51. "Circleville Pumpkin SHow 2019: Special memories for The Adelphi COmmunity Band"
In many ways, some official and maybe 1 or 2 unofficial, the 2019 Circleville Pumpkin Show was a week to remember for the musicians of The Adelphi Community Band.
95 Years and Counting?:
The 2012 Edition of the Circleville Herald stated that the band first started playing at The Circleville Pumpkin Show in 1925.
At least in partial support of this, the band also has a copy of a 1925 article from the Herald stating that the band was contracted to play in 1925, as well as a copy of the 1925 Pumpkin Show schedule confirming the band was scheduled to play that year.
RIGHT CLICK on the articles below and select "Open link in new tab"
Circleville Herald 2012 Pumpkin Show Souvenir Edition
1925 Circleville Pumpkin Show Official Schedule
Circleville Herald 9-29-1925
Depending on how you want to count this period, as well as dependent on some missing documentation at this point, this could be:
Either way, it has been a fun ride for the band, and we all talk about our favorite memories of being in the band at the Pumpkin Show through the years.
The Band Helped Lead Both the 2019 Friday Night and Saturday Night Parades:
The band's history for MANY decades has included participating in both the Friday and Saturday night parades at the Pumpkin Show.
During the several decades with the band that many of us remember, the band's positions in all of those parades has certainly varied, from being pretty close to the front to being the ABSOLUTELY LAST unit in the entire parade, only to find that the crowd starts to close in on the street almost before you make it past them.
This is to be expected if you have played in as many parades and events as this band has, and often this circumstance is either the result of "the luck of the draw", or because the various festivals will have their own reasons, or formulas, for how they place the respective units in their parades.
It comes with the territory.
However, 2019 at the Circleville Pumpkin Show was unique for us in that the band was basically the first unit in both parades, and right behind the Color Guard for BOTH parades.
While initially none of us could remember when that has happened to the band before, a quick look back on the web showed that this was also the case with the 2017 Circleville Pumpkin Show. So much for relying on memories.
Regardless of why, or how, any of these events have happened, The Adelphi Community Band certainly embraces its history with the Circleville Pumpkin Show.
The Circleville Pumpkin Show constitutes a major part of the band's discussions during the course of each year, both in reliving fun memories as well as discussing expectations for the coming year ("I hope my favorite food booths are back!"), and we look forward to continuing our association with the Pumpkin Show for many years to come.
You can LEFT click on the pics below to enlarge them and drop the text off of the top of the pic.
95 Years and Counting?:
The 2012 Edition of the Circleville Herald stated that the band first started playing at The Circleville Pumpkin Show in 1925.
At least in partial support of this, the band also has a copy of a 1925 article from the Herald stating that the band was contracted to play in 1925, as well as a copy of the 1925 Pumpkin Show schedule confirming the band was scheduled to play that year.
RIGHT CLICK on the articles below and select "Open link in new tab"
Circleville Herald 2012 Pumpkin Show Souvenir Edition
1925 Circleville Pumpkin Show Official Schedule
Circleville Herald 9-29-1925
Depending on how you want to count this period, as well as dependent on some missing documentation at this point, this could be:
- 95 years that the band has PLAYED at the Pumpkin Show, or
- 95 years since the band STARTED playing at the Pumpkin Show
Either way, it has been a fun ride for the band, and we all talk about our favorite memories of being in the band at the Pumpkin Show through the years.
The Band Helped Lead Both the 2019 Friday Night and Saturday Night Parades:
The band's history for MANY decades has included participating in both the Friday and Saturday night parades at the Pumpkin Show.
During the several decades with the band that many of us remember, the band's positions in all of those parades has certainly varied, from being pretty close to the front to being the ABSOLUTELY LAST unit in the entire parade, only to find that the crowd starts to close in on the street almost before you make it past them.
This is to be expected if you have played in as many parades and events as this band has, and often this circumstance is either the result of "the luck of the draw", or because the various festivals will have their own reasons, or formulas, for how they place the respective units in their parades.
It comes with the territory.
However, 2019 at the Circleville Pumpkin Show was unique for us in that the band was basically the first unit in both parades, and right behind the Color Guard for BOTH parades.
While initially none of us could remember when that has happened to the band before, a quick look back on the web showed that this was also the case with the 2017 Circleville Pumpkin Show. So much for relying on memories.
Regardless of why, or how, any of these events have happened, The Adelphi Community Band certainly embraces its history with the Circleville Pumpkin Show.
The Circleville Pumpkin Show constitutes a major part of the band's discussions during the course of each year, both in reliving fun memories as well as discussing expectations for the coming year ("I hope my favorite food booths are back!"), and we look forward to continuing our association with the Pumpkin Show for many years to come.
You can LEFT click on the pics below to enlarge them and drop the text off of the top of the pic.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
52. "Recognizing the ones who helped the band get this far."
Anyone who knows anything about the The Adelphi Community Band knows that, like many community bands, it has truly been a family affair.
The parents, uncles, cousins, or Grandparents played in the band, so the kids would join the band and play just as soon as they were old enough to hold an instrument and be able to handle the kind of music the band plays.
To say that societal changes have also affected community bands, would be a major understatement.
In celebrating the band's 100th anniversary in 1980, one of the senior members remarked during a radio interview that going with his father to play in the band was something he really looked forward to .......in part because it got him out of working on the family farm.
While the band still has a couple members who are farmers of varying degrees, hardly any of the rest of us still have that kind of dynamic in our home life that may spur us to want to play in a band just to get out of doing other things that we liked less.
Instead, it is easily seen in the community bands with which I am familiar in southern Ohio that very few of them have, and keep, younger members.
Now, even just the amount of entertainment choices that pretty much everyone has through just their phones, alone, is overwhelming.
Which brings me back to the point of the this story.
The Adelphi Community Band has NOT stayed in operation since 1880 thanks to the efforts of musicians who only stayed for a year or so and then left for other interests.
Instead, the band has continued producing music since 1880 thanks to those musicians who have stuck around, saw that keeping a band together required a fair amount of work, and stayed to pitch in and help.
Because of that quality, the Adelphi Community Band is extremely fortunate to have many band members with many decades of "seniority" playing with the band.
We are proud to say that we have at least one member with over 60 years with the band, a couple with well over 50 years, and many others with many decades with the band.
However, the current top prize has to go to Glenn (picture, below) , the band's Business Manager and Snare Drummer.
Glenn started at a time when many members of his family played in the band, to include his father, at least one brother, an uncle, and probably many other family members I have forgotten over the years.
The Adelphi Community Band is proud to recognize that as of 2021, Glenn has well over 70 years playing with the band.
Nope...NOT a typo.....70 years.......SEVENTY!
We congratulate Glenn on his continued dedication to the band, and the rest of us appreciate the work he does behind the scenes to keep the band running and to get us to the performances on time.
POSTSCRIPT JUNE 2021:
Unfortunately, Glenn has started this year's band season by realizing that he needed to focus more on some health challenges, and he started to turn over some of the responsibilities of managing the band to others.
In recognition of his service to the band, he was presented with a plaque during the band's concert at Laurelville on June 12, 2021 stating "GLENN HINTON, In recognition of over 70 years of making music".
What an incredible record!
PS: While the exact dates are kind of fuzzy after all these years, we have some anecdotal information that 2021 actually represents 75 years for Glenn to be playing with the band!
The parents, uncles, cousins, or Grandparents played in the band, so the kids would join the band and play just as soon as they were old enough to hold an instrument and be able to handle the kind of music the band plays.
To say that societal changes have also affected community bands, would be a major understatement.
In celebrating the band's 100th anniversary in 1980, one of the senior members remarked during a radio interview that going with his father to play in the band was something he really looked forward to .......in part because it got him out of working on the family farm.
While the band still has a couple members who are farmers of varying degrees, hardly any of the rest of us still have that kind of dynamic in our home life that may spur us to want to play in a band just to get out of doing other things that we liked less.
Instead, it is easily seen in the community bands with which I am familiar in southern Ohio that very few of them have, and keep, younger members.
Now, even just the amount of entertainment choices that pretty much everyone has through just their phones, alone, is overwhelming.
Which brings me back to the point of the this story.
The Adelphi Community Band has NOT stayed in operation since 1880 thanks to the efforts of musicians who only stayed for a year or so and then left for other interests.
Instead, the band has continued producing music since 1880 thanks to those musicians who have stuck around, saw that keeping a band together required a fair amount of work, and stayed to pitch in and help.
Because of that quality, the Adelphi Community Band is extremely fortunate to have many band members with many decades of "seniority" playing with the band.
We are proud to say that we have at least one member with over 60 years with the band, a couple with well over 50 years, and many others with many decades with the band.
However, the current top prize has to go to Glenn (picture, below) , the band's Business Manager and Snare Drummer.
Glenn started at a time when many members of his family played in the band, to include his father, at least one brother, an uncle, and probably many other family members I have forgotten over the years.
The Adelphi Community Band is proud to recognize that as of 2021, Glenn has well over 70 years playing with the band.
Nope...NOT a typo.....70 years.......SEVENTY!
We congratulate Glenn on his continued dedication to the band, and the rest of us appreciate the work he does behind the scenes to keep the band running and to get us to the performances on time.
POSTSCRIPT JUNE 2021:
Unfortunately, Glenn has started this year's band season by realizing that he needed to focus more on some health challenges, and he started to turn over some of the responsibilities of managing the band to others.
In recognition of his service to the band, he was presented with a plaque during the band's concert at Laurelville on June 12, 2021 stating "GLENN HINTON, In recognition of over 70 years of making music".
What an incredible record!
PS: While the exact dates are kind of fuzzy after all these years, we have some anecdotal information that 2021 actually represents 75 years for Glenn to be playing with the band!
53. "When the band celebrated its 100th anniversary in washington DC!"
We recognize that the band's history is so lengthy that, since we have thus far been able to capture several thousand pictures and documents for display on this web site, PLUS concert recordings, the amount of material that we have provided for review here would already easily fill several long, and snowy winters for those who (like me) prefer to stay indoors during those times and read about favorite topics of interest.
And there is probably MANY more times this information and material about the band still to be discovered by us.
However, for this next story, there are only a couple facts that are necessary to keep in mind in order to put everything in perspective, even if you haven't seen at least some of this information on other web pages on this web site.
1. The Adelphi Community Band is currently @ 140 years old as of 2020.
2. The band wanted to do something special for its 100th anniversary, which was recognized as being in 1980.
So, the end of a MUCH longer story is that, in preparation for the summer of 1980, phone calls were made to appropriate politicians. The end result was that the band was officially invited to play on the steps of the Capital Building in Washington DC in June of 1980 in recognition of the band's 100th anniversary.
A second concert was scheduled on the same day for a public square in nearby Alexandria, Virginia.
So, for a trip the likes of which had never before been accomplished by the band (that anyone remembers) and probably never again to be attempted, in June 1980 the band gathered up two charter bus loads of band members, family members, interested friends, assorted band uniforms, basically enough band instruments to fill a music store (or a pawn shop) , and everyone's luggage, and we all made the multi-day trip to the nation's capital for this event.
Band members were able to come from as far away as Louisiana, Illinois, and from about as many different cities in Ohio as we have ever had band members from, in order to participate in this event.
And yes, we even had at least one band member with us on the trip who still lived in Adelphi.
A local bus company was chartered, and during the course of the trip, the band was able to receive guided tours of the cities.
It turned out to be a great day, other than some sprinkles during the concert at the Capital Building. However, The Adelphi Community Band had played through MUCH worse weather on its home turf, so just a few sprinkles on a special event like this and in such a special place was surely not going to stop the band from enjoying the experience.
We are fortunate that this anniversary year happened at a time when there was enough personal technology available to be able to easily capture:
The focus of the @ 45 minute radio interview was on the band in general, each member's connection to the band, and certainly included some discussion of the trip that had just recently been completed.
This specific broadcast was recorded over the air, and since the radio station subsequently went out of business several decades ago, our copy of this lengthy interview may well be the only copy in existence.
All of these material reminders of this once-in-a-lifetime trip can be found in their appropriate sections in the PICTURES, DOCUMENTS, and VIDEOS pages of this web site.
There are still many of us around in the band who were are part of this 1980 celebration, and I feel safe in saying that we will never forget it.
A couple pics from the concerts are below.
And there is probably MANY more times this information and material about the band still to be discovered by us.
However, for this next story, there are only a couple facts that are necessary to keep in mind in order to put everything in perspective, even if you haven't seen at least some of this information on other web pages on this web site.
1. The Adelphi Community Band is currently @ 140 years old as of 2020.
2. The band wanted to do something special for its 100th anniversary, which was recognized as being in 1980.
So, the end of a MUCH longer story is that, in preparation for the summer of 1980, phone calls were made to appropriate politicians. The end result was that the band was officially invited to play on the steps of the Capital Building in Washington DC in June of 1980 in recognition of the band's 100th anniversary.
A second concert was scheduled on the same day for a public square in nearby Alexandria, Virginia.
So, for a trip the likes of which had never before been accomplished by the band (that anyone remembers) and probably never again to be attempted, in June 1980 the band gathered up two charter bus loads of band members, family members, interested friends, assorted band uniforms, basically enough band instruments to fill a music store (or a pawn shop) , and everyone's luggage, and we all made the multi-day trip to the nation's capital for this event.
Band members were able to come from as far away as Louisiana, Illinois, and from about as many different cities in Ohio as we have ever had band members from, in order to participate in this event.
And yes, we even had at least one band member with us on the trip who still lived in Adelphi.
A local bus company was chartered, and during the course of the trip, the band was able to receive guided tours of the cities.
It turned out to be a great day, other than some sprinkles during the concert at the Capital Building. However, The Adelphi Community Band had played through MUCH worse weather on its home turf, so just a few sprinkles on a special event like this and in such a special place was surely not going to stop the band from enjoying the experience.
We are fortunate that this anniversary year happened at a time when there was enough personal technology available to be able to easily capture:
- Pictures of the trip, and of the 1980 anniversary year as a whole,
- An audio recording of the concert in Washington DC...that has subsequently been turned into a YouTube video,
- Copies of many, many local newspaper and magazine articles from 1980 as they all helped to commemorate this important anniversary with us, and
- We even have a copy of a Circleville radio broadcast with the band's 3 most senior band members at that time. This broadcast took place AFTER the Washington DC trip. This has also been turned into a YouTube video.
The focus of the @ 45 minute radio interview was on the band in general, each member's connection to the band, and certainly included some discussion of the trip that had just recently been completed.
This specific broadcast was recorded over the air, and since the radio station subsequently went out of business several decades ago, our copy of this lengthy interview may well be the only copy in existence.
All of these material reminders of this once-in-a-lifetime trip can be found in their appropriate sections in the PICTURES, DOCUMENTS, and VIDEOS pages of this web site.
There are still many of us around in the band who were are part of this 1980 celebration, and I feel safe in saying that we will never forget it.
A couple pics from the concerts are below.
54. "just How many times can you go through the same parade?"
Answer:
If you know any musicians, whether they play typical community band instruments or they are more into guitars and drums, you probably already know that it is totally normal for them to play in multiple groups. Sometimes the groups are totally different in music and instrumentation....and sometimes not.
The members of The Adelphi Community Band are generally no different, and this geographic area in Ohio is so blessed with numerous musical opportunities to both listen to various groups, as well as play in them. So, many members of The Adelphi Community Band do just that.
In our corner of God's country, while surprisingly it doesn't happen as often as you would expect, it isn't uncommon for many of these area bands to schedule themselves to perform for events, concerts, and parades on the same day and time.
As a recent example, I have some friends who play in at least 3 area community bands. Naturally, December is a busy time for all musicians in general, let alone for the things we all schedule strictly for our families. But, as luck would have it, in December 2019, ALL THREE of the bands they play in scheduled Christmas concerts on the same day, and at basically the same time.
Despite best intentions, there isn't too much chance of anyone being able to make it to more than one of the concerts, let alone all 3, when they are scheduled that way.
However, when two bands are scheduled for the same event and for the same parade, THAT provides different opportunities.
The Adelphi Community Band has often been scheduled for many parades where other bands that some of our members also play in were scheduled as well.
When that happens, usually the event organizers are happy to help, and so one band will generally be placed early in the parade and the other band as close to the end as possible. This would be so that the first band will hopefully be done in time for the musicians to then be able to go join the second band who, in theory, hasn't started yet. Sometimes, however, the best intentioned plans don't quite work out the way you wanted.
Community band members are a hearty lot.
If you know any musicians, whether they play typical community band instruments or they are more into guitars and drums, you probably already know that it is totally normal for them to play in multiple groups. Sometimes the groups are totally different in music and instrumentation....and sometimes not.
The members of The Adelphi Community Band are generally no different, and this geographic area in Ohio is so blessed with numerous musical opportunities to both listen to various groups, as well as play in them. So, many members of The Adelphi Community Band do just that.
In our corner of God's country, while surprisingly it doesn't happen as often as you would expect, it isn't uncommon for many of these area bands to schedule themselves to perform for events, concerts, and parades on the same day and time.
As a recent example, I have some friends who play in at least 3 area community bands. Naturally, December is a busy time for all musicians in general, let alone for the things we all schedule strictly for our families. But, as luck would have it, in December 2019, ALL THREE of the bands they play in scheduled Christmas concerts on the same day, and at basically the same time.
Despite best intentions, there isn't too much chance of anyone being able to make it to more than one of the concerts, let alone all 3, when they are scheduled that way.
However, when two bands are scheduled for the same event and for the same parade, THAT provides different opportunities.
The Adelphi Community Band has often been scheduled for many parades where other bands that some of our members also play in were scheduled as well.
When that happens, usually the event organizers are happy to help, and so one band will generally be placed early in the parade and the other band as close to the end as possible. This would be so that the first band will hopefully be done in time for the musicians to then be able to go join the second band who, in theory, hasn't started yet. Sometimes, however, the best intentioned plans don't quite work out the way you wanted.
- Circleville Pumpkin Show: School Band and The Adelphi Band
- When our son was in school, the school band would usually play in one of the evening parades for The Circleville Pumpkin Show. The Adelphi Community Band was also scheduled for that same parade. With the permission of his High School Band Director, our son was given permission to go through the parade with The Adelphi Community Band first (while wearing his brightly colored HS School Band Uniform which contrasted well with the dark uniforms of The Adelphi Band), expecting that the Adelphi Band would be done in time for him to be able to make both. Fortunately, it actually worked out that way, and he was able to successfully join up with his school band before they started and after The Adelphi Band had finished.
- Circleville Pumpkin Show: Pumpkin Show Band and The Adelphi Band
- Similar stories for the years that The Circleville Pumpkin Show Community Band would be scheduled for the same Pumpkin Show parade as The Adelphi Band. For a year or so so, that worked well, and for one or two it did not. But, since both bands had band trailers, it was always an interesting sight to see a group of people in one uniform get off one trailer and walk over to the other trailer in order to perform in another band. Usually, there was neither the time nor the opportunity to change into the next band's uniform. So in these cases, regardless of which band went first, it was always a lot of orange jackets mixed in with dark band coats.
- Jackson Apple Festival: Pumpkin Show Band and the Adelphi Band
- Pretty much the same story as the one above, except that generally no one in either band knows Jackson like they do Circleville. So the adventure of playing in two bands in the same parade in the Jackson Apple Festival had to start with first finding where the second band was staged.....and then find out how to get there.
Community band members are a hearty lot.
55. "2020....The year the adelphi community band didn't play a single note!"
Probably the year 2020 will never be forgotten, and will be studied for decades to come.
Some will offer praise for the governmental actions taken, some will criticize for actions either taken or NOT taken, and some will just review with the awe of the previously unimagined things that were experienced this year.
Thanks to an internationally spread virus, and starting mostly in March 2020, people all over the world were either mandated, or simply encouraged, to stay in their homes in order to either reduce the risk of catching the virus, or of transmitting the virus to others, since someone could be infected but not have any symptoms.
Large groups were forbidden, restaurants were closed except for those who could provide carryout, delivery, or Drive-thru window services, and many businesses not considered "essential" had to close completely.
As of this writing, it is now September of 2020, but already the various governmental decisions made in order to respond to this threat have resulted in ALL of the events that the band would normally play at during the course of the summer to be either already officially cancelled, or planning to be modified to the point that they would be unrecognizable from previous years.
Independent events were being cancelled outright, and some initially cancelled but planned to look to try to hold at least SOME event later in the year, in the hope that conditions improve and restrictions are lifted.
Several county fairs were cancelled for this year, or continued in a much reduced capacity so as to at least have Jr. Fair related activities. However, the list those things eliminated from many of this year's fairs (so far) included:
Sadly, Memorial Day observances were cancelled. Instead of the band having as many as 5 places to play in a single day, or a more subdued schedule of 3 places over 3 days in more recent years, ALL of those events for the band have been cancelled for this year.
Weddings were either postponed or held with no more than 10 people. And, sadly, the same for funerals. Some of these restrictions were eased somewhat as the year progressed.
As of today, there has been some easing of government restrictions on what businesses can go ahead and reopen, but still with restrictions on sizes of groups and requiring considerably increased sanitation practices.
There is some optimism today among many individuals and organizations, but not yet supported by formalized government directions, that life more toward 2021 will resume in a "new" normal more closely related to, but NOT identical to, to the usual normal.
We follow many community bands throughout Ohio and the rest of the country, and we are all in the same boat.
At least one band has already officially cancelled it's 2020 season, but holds out hope that it will still be able to put on Christmas concerts.
This has been a classic learning opportunity of needing to learn to appreciate the joys of what you think are the things and activities that have always been around, with the naive expectation that they always will be.
This year has taken that expectation and totally trampled it into the dirt.
Meanwhile, our band members, and our friends in bands across the United States, have to stay at home and practice by ourselves, but really don't have any event to practice for, and can't even get with the other musicians in order to even hold a group practice.
This is a sad year.
Some will offer praise for the governmental actions taken, some will criticize for actions either taken or NOT taken, and some will just review with the awe of the previously unimagined things that were experienced this year.
Thanks to an internationally spread virus, and starting mostly in March 2020, people all over the world were either mandated, or simply encouraged, to stay in their homes in order to either reduce the risk of catching the virus, or of transmitting the virus to others, since someone could be infected but not have any symptoms.
Large groups were forbidden, restaurants were closed except for those who could provide carryout, delivery, or Drive-thru window services, and many businesses not considered "essential" had to close completely.
As of this writing, it is now September of 2020, but already the various governmental decisions made in order to respond to this threat have resulted in ALL of the events that the band would normally play at during the course of the summer to be either already officially cancelled, or planning to be modified to the point that they would be unrecognizable from previous years.
Independent events were being cancelled outright, and some initially cancelled but planned to look to try to hold at least SOME event later in the year, in the hope that conditions improve and restrictions are lifted.
Several county fairs were cancelled for this year, or continued in a much reduced capacity so as to at least have Jr. Fair related activities. However, the list those things eliminated from many of this year's fairs (so far) included:
- Midway rides...in fact, the State of Ohio Ride Inspectors were furloughed and would need to be brought back to work before any rides could be inspected.
- Commercial food vendors,
- Grandstand entertainment, and
- Spectators at the harness races
Sadly, Memorial Day observances were cancelled. Instead of the band having as many as 5 places to play in a single day, or a more subdued schedule of 3 places over 3 days in more recent years, ALL of those events for the band have been cancelled for this year.
Weddings were either postponed or held with no more than 10 people. And, sadly, the same for funerals. Some of these restrictions were eased somewhat as the year progressed.
As of today, there has been some easing of government restrictions on what businesses can go ahead and reopen, but still with restrictions on sizes of groups and requiring considerably increased sanitation practices.
There is some optimism today among many individuals and organizations, but not yet supported by formalized government directions, that life more toward 2021 will resume in a "new" normal more closely related to, but NOT identical to, to the usual normal.
We follow many community bands throughout Ohio and the rest of the country, and we are all in the same boat.
At least one band has already officially cancelled it's 2020 season, but holds out hope that it will still be able to put on Christmas concerts.
This has been a classic learning opportunity of needing to learn to appreciate the joys of what you think are the things and activities that have always been around, with the naive expectation that they always will be.
This year has taken that expectation and totally trampled it into the dirt.
Meanwhile, our band members, and our friends in bands across the United States, have to stay at home and practice by ourselves, but really don't have any event to practice for, and can't even get with the other musicians in order to even hold a group practice.
This is a sad year.
56. "The Adelphi COmmunity Band connection to the Ohio University Marching 110"
Through the long history of The Adelphi Community Band, it has had the benefit of numerous people willing to stand up in front of such an independent crew of musicians and attempt to provide musical direction.
This has included several members of the band from various backgrounds who were just filling in for an absent, "official" Director.
This has also included professional musicians and one internationally known composer serving in that role.
However, one of the more fascinating people who has directed the band has to be Raymond Connett.
We have more information about Mr. Connett on another web page, but he absolutely needs to mentioned here as a unique band story and a dominant part of the band's most recent history.
https://adelphiband.weebly.com/raymond-connett-past-director.html
Mr. Connett was formally trained in music, played in many circus bands in his earlier years, and would play in the band pretty much any instrument that was needed due to absences.
While you would most often find him carrying a Bb Clarinet, it was not unusual to see him marching in the Trumpet section, or playing a Tuba in a concert.
And boy...did he like circus music...and at circus music tempos!
As a matter of fact, pretty much everyone in the band liked it that way, too.
However, Mr. Connett came to the Adelphi Community Band with one qualification that absolutely no one else in the world can claim.....
Raymond Connett was the FIRST Director of the "Ohio University Marching 110"!
This fact is acknowledged, and narrated in some detail, on the official web site for the "Oho University Marching 110", so we won't try to duplicate a lot of that information here.
http://www.marching110.com/history/
Mr. Connett was a legend to the community, and to The Adelphi Community Band, in many ways beyond this individual distinction, and while he definitely lived a very long and productive life, I'm sure that everyone in the band felt that he was taken from us far too soon.
If you left CLICK on the pics below, you will enlarge them and also see some of what was cropped in order to make the samller cion, below.
This has included several members of the band from various backgrounds who were just filling in for an absent, "official" Director.
This has also included professional musicians and one internationally known composer serving in that role.
However, one of the more fascinating people who has directed the band has to be Raymond Connett.
We have more information about Mr. Connett on another web page, but he absolutely needs to mentioned here as a unique band story and a dominant part of the band's most recent history.
https://adelphiband.weebly.com/raymond-connett-past-director.html
Mr. Connett was formally trained in music, played in many circus bands in his earlier years, and would play in the band pretty much any instrument that was needed due to absences.
While you would most often find him carrying a Bb Clarinet, it was not unusual to see him marching in the Trumpet section, or playing a Tuba in a concert.
And boy...did he like circus music...and at circus music tempos!
As a matter of fact, pretty much everyone in the band liked it that way, too.
However, Mr. Connett came to the Adelphi Community Band with one qualification that absolutely no one else in the world can claim.....
Raymond Connett was the FIRST Director of the "Ohio University Marching 110"!
This fact is acknowledged, and narrated in some detail, on the official web site for the "Oho University Marching 110", so we won't try to duplicate a lot of that information here.
http://www.marching110.com/history/
Mr. Connett was a legend to the community, and to The Adelphi Community Band, in many ways beyond this individual distinction, and while he definitely lived a very long and productive life, I'm sure that everyone in the band felt that he was taken from us far too soon.
If you left CLICK on the pics below, you will enlarge them and also see some of what was cropped in order to make the samller cion, below.
57. "September 13, 2021: The Day The Adelphi COmmunity Band FINALLY EMbraced SOMe CURRENT Technology"
The evening of Monday September 13, 2021 should live long in the memories of those musicians who were there at band practice that night.
The back story to that statement is that the band is very fortunate to have attracted the attention of an excellent musician who lives in far eastern Ohio....FAR eastern Ohio. ...like @ 150 miles away in FAR eastern Ohio. For the purpose of this story, we'll refer to him as "Jeff".
Regardless of this distance, Jeff has been able to play with the band several times over the last few years when his schedule has permitted. And, obviously traveling that distance does not really compare to the fairly minor journeys that most of the rest of the band members have in order to participate in band practices or performances.
Now, having said that, it is important that recognition be given to two other musicians who also travel considerable distances to play with the band. One comes from Marion, Ohio and the other from @ Chicago, Illinois.
On the night of September 13, 2021, however, the band had scheduled a band practice to be held in Circleville, Ohio. Jeff certainly would have liked to be present at the practice, but both his work schedule and the travel distance involved weren't going to make that possible.
So, since Jeff has experience with video conferencing in both his professional and well as his private life, thanks to Jeff's computer skills, his imagination, and his willingness to give something new with the band a shot, the band was able to connect with him during the band practice through video conference technology from a cell phone in the band's practice room to his more elaborate set-up at his home in FAR eastern Ohio.
Though this was not a highly sophisticated process on the band's end, and Bill Gates continually refused to respond to our e-mails requesting his on-site presence for technical assistance, everything worked and Jeff was able to practice his instrument with us...... and unfortunately also hear all the mistakes made by the rest of us.
The entire process seemed to work quite well, especially as a first-time event. The band appreciates Jeff's assistance in creating this as another FIRST for The Adelphi Community Band in 2021.
The back story to that statement is that the band is very fortunate to have attracted the attention of an excellent musician who lives in far eastern Ohio....FAR eastern Ohio. ...like @ 150 miles away in FAR eastern Ohio. For the purpose of this story, we'll refer to him as "Jeff".
Regardless of this distance, Jeff has been able to play with the band several times over the last few years when his schedule has permitted. And, obviously traveling that distance does not really compare to the fairly minor journeys that most of the rest of the band members have in order to participate in band practices or performances.
Now, having said that, it is important that recognition be given to two other musicians who also travel considerable distances to play with the band. One comes from Marion, Ohio and the other from @ Chicago, Illinois.
On the night of September 13, 2021, however, the band had scheduled a band practice to be held in Circleville, Ohio. Jeff certainly would have liked to be present at the practice, but both his work schedule and the travel distance involved weren't going to make that possible.
So, since Jeff has experience with video conferencing in both his professional and well as his private life, thanks to Jeff's computer skills, his imagination, and his willingness to give something new with the band a shot, the band was able to connect with him during the band practice through video conference technology from a cell phone in the band's practice room to his more elaborate set-up at his home in FAR eastern Ohio.
Though this was not a highly sophisticated process on the band's end, and Bill Gates continually refused to respond to our e-mails requesting his on-site presence for technical assistance, everything worked and Jeff was able to practice his instrument with us...... and unfortunately also hear all the mistakes made by the rest of us.
The entire process seemed to work quite well, especially as a first-time event. The band appreciates Jeff's assistance in creating this as another FIRST for The Adelphi Community Band in 2021.
58. "The time that both the Main Speaker and the Firing Squad were (almost) missing from the memorial Day Service!"
The Adelphi Community Band has a long history of playing for Memorial Day Services. For some of these specific ceremonies, that may mean that the band has been playing for them for MANY decades! Some since at least 1950 or so!
In fact, in many years the band would play for as many as 5 or so ceremonies across a 2 county area just on Memorial Day. The band is proud to be asked to participate in these ceremonies, and we think that this is one of the most important things that we can do in service to our communities.
However, without stating the year or the location, there was one year where the ceremony did not quite go as planned.
Usually, Band Directors will program MORE music than what is needed for an event in case songs need to be dropped for various reasons. For example, one song may feature a specific instrument, and the musician (or two) may have had a busy week that left little time for practice. Things happen.
That particular trick of programming more songs for a concert than should have been needed definitely came in handy one year when it came time for the Firing Squad and Taps during a Memorial Day Ceremony, and there wasn't any Firing Squad.
Instructions got whispered to the band that not only was the Firing Squad late, but the Main Speaker hadn't shown up, yet, either! As a result, could the band play a few more songs to fill up the time until either, or both, arrived?
Of course, the band was willing, and certainly capable. Whispers were exchanged between the Director and the musicians to try to let them know why the program was going to change, and not a single musician had any questions as additional songs were played, and some of the earlier ones repeated.
While the band playing these additional songs as "filler", all of a sudden there was gunfire off to the band's right. Without any fanfare or announcement, the Firing Squad had rolled into the cemetery, scrambled out of their van, fired their weapons, climbed back into their van, and drove on to their next commitment. However, many of the musicians had been busy getting up the next song to play and had not seen their van pull into the cemetery and park just @ 50 feet away. The first many of the musicians knew that the squad had arrived was when they heard the first gun volley.
Meanwhile, the Main Speaker never showed up at all. However, as some of the musicians were pulling out of the cemetery, there was a story spread that the Main Speaker was just driving into the cemetery.
In fact, in many years the band would play for as many as 5 or so ceremonies across a 2 county area just on Memorial Day. The band is proud to be asked to participate in these ceremonies, and we think that this is one of the most important things that we can do in service to our communities.
However, without stating the year or the location, there was one year where the ceremony did not quite go as planned.
Usually, Band Directors will program MORE music than what is needed for an event in case songs need to be dropped for various reasons. For example, one song may feature a specific instrument, and the musician (or two) may have had a busy week that left little time for practice. Things happen.
That particular trick of programming more songs for a concert than should have been needed definitely came in handy one year when it came time for the Firing Squad and Taps during a Memorial Day Ceremony, and there wasn't any Firing Squad.
Instructions got whispered to the band that not only was the Firing Squad late, but the Main Speaker hadn't shown up, yet, either! As a result, could the band play a few more songs to fill up the time until either, or both, arrived?
Of course, the band was willing, and certainly capable. Whispers were exchanged between the Director and the musicians to try to let them know why the program was going to change, and not a single musician had any questions as additional songs were played, and some of the earlier ones repeated.
While the band playing these additional songs as "filler", all of a sudden there was gunfire off to the band's right. Without any fanfare or announcement, the Firing Squad had rolled into the cemetery, scrambled out of their van, fired their weapons, climbed back into their van, and drove on to their next commitment. However, many of the musicians had been busy getting up the next song to play and had not seen their van pull into the cemetery and park just @ 50 feet away. The first many of the musicians knew that the squad had arrived was when they heard the first gun volley.
Meanwhile, the Main Speaker never showed up at all. However, as some of the musicians were pulling out of the cemetery, there was a story spread that the Main Speaker was just driving into the cemetery.
59. "How the Ross COunty Fair harness Races Used to Be!"
This is now August 2022. The band played for the harness races at the Ross County Fair (Chillicothe, Ohio) just a couple days ago.
Like many community bands, the Adelphi Community Band has always been a family affair. A musician would become interested in the band because a family member was already in the band. So, as a result, after the band played for the 2022 harness races over the week-end, there was some general e-mail sharing about the event among family members, many of whom have been, or are still, with the band. And the Ross County Fair is always special to the band since the band has been playing at this fair since the very first Ross County Fair. Only a handful of groups are able to claim that distinction.
The result of all of this common interest was the following amazing story being shared by an uncle who has been with the band for @ 75 years. He lives out of state, but comes back to play whenever he can.
After reading his memory of the Ross County Fair, I saw no need to try to summarize anything he shared, so I have just copied and pasted his words from his e-mail.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We found the Facebook item with Jeff’s interview. Seeing the races at the Ross Co. Fair brings back a lot of memories. The band used to sit on an open platform across the track from the grandstand —— in the hot sun. And they used to start the races without the “starting gate” (they called it a “pace car”, when they finally got one). That was an interesting procedure, resulting in a lot of re-starts.
Keep up the good work."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would follow this memory to say that, even in my younger days with the band, I have always liked to hear the band stories shared by the more senior musicians about past musicians, the events they played at, etc. . With the advantage of time and the Internet, I have had the benefit over the last several years of being able to fill in more of the gaps of the band's colorful history than what I was able to hear while the musicians would have time to talk during down time.
All of this research, like my uncle's story (above) still fascinates me as I continue to learn, and share, about a community band from Southern Ohio that has managed to continue to play music for (now) 142 years.
END OF STORY
Like many community bands, the Adelphi Community Band has always been a family affair. A musician would become interested in the band because a family member was already in the band. So, as a result, after the band played for the 2022 harness races over the week-end, there was some general e-mail sharing about the event among family members, many of whom have been, or are still, with the band. And the Ross County Fair is always special to the band since the band has been playing at this fair since the very first Ross County Fair. Only a handful of groups are able to claim that distinction.
The result of all of this common interest was the following amazing story being shared by an uncle who has been with the band for @ 75 years. He lives out of state, but comes back to play whenever he can.
After reading his memory of the Ross County Fair, I saw no need to try to summarize anything he shared, so I have just copied and pasted his words from his e-mail.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We found the Facebook item with Jeff’s interview. Seeing the races at the Ross Co. Fair brings back a lot of memories. The band used to sit on an open platform across the track from the grandstand —— in the hot sun. And they used to start the races without the “starting gate” (they called it a “pace car”, when they finally got one). That was an interesting procedure, resulting in a lot of re-starts.
Keep up the good work."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would follow this memory to say that, even in my younger days with the band, I have always liked to hear the band stories shared by the more senior musicians about past musicians, the events they played at, etc. . With the advantage of time and the Internet, I have had the benefit over the last several years of being able to fill in more of the gaps of the band's colorful history than what I was able to hear while the musicians would have time to talk during down time.
All of this research, like my uncle's story (above) still fascinates me as I continue to learn, and share, about a community band from Southern Ohio that has managed to continue to play music for (now) 142 years.
END OF STORY
60. "How Many 50-year members are there, anyhow?"
In 2022, a research project was started about the band which included detailed reviews of the over 3,000 documents in the band's digital library. One focus of this specific project was to identify just as many musicians, Majorettes, Drum Majors, and Directors as could be found who had been with the band at any point. A second focus was to identify those musicians who had been with the band for 50, 60, or even 70 years or more!
There were several other purposes for this research, and those results will be revealed shortly.
The results were unexpected, and the need was felt to share them here. These musicians deserve everyone's respect for giving of themselves to the band, and to the community, for this many decades of their lives. It has been said that NO volunteer organization survives and prospers based only on the actions of those people who jump in temporarily and then jump right back out again.
Organizations only survive when the members realize that real work needs to be done.
These musicians definitely have shown that they were willing to do this work, and were willing to share their time and talents with the community!
These results are as of 2022. As the names of additional musicians are found that meet these criteria, their names will be gladly added here, as well.
Musicians with 50 or More Years:
Arthur Hinton: Trumpet, Euphonium (deceased 1974)
John Mathew: Trombone, Euphonium
Jeff Mathew: Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Director,
Gary Thomas: Trumpet
Musicians with 60 or More Years:
John Brown: Director, Trumpet
Hugh Clark: Trombone (deceased 1999)
Eugene Gildersleeve: Drum (deceased 1992)
Curtis "Dave" Hinton: Clarinet, Bass Drum (deceased 1991)
Musicians with 70 or More Years:
John Cryder: Trumpet
Glenn Hinton: Drum (Deceased 2023)
Herman Hinton Sr.: Trombone, Director (deceased 2000)
Dave Pontious: Trumpet, Tuba (deceased 1995)
Jim Tootle: Trumpet (deceased 2008)
There were several other purposes for this research, and those results will be revealed shortly.
The results were unexpected, and the need was felt to share them here. These musicians deserve everyone's respect for giving of themselves to the band, and to the community, for this many decades of their lives. It has been said that NO volunteer organization survives and prospers based only on the actions of those people who jump in temporarily and then jump right back out again.
Organizations only survive when the members realize that real work needs to be done.
These musicians definitely have shown that they were willing to do this work, and were willing to share their time and talents with the community!
These results are as of 2022. As the names of additional musicians are found that meet these criteria, their names will be gladly added here, as well.
Musicians with 50 or More Years:
Arthur Hinton: Trumpet, Euphonium (deceased 1974)
John Mathew: Trombone, Euphonium
Jeff Mathew: Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Director,
Gary Thomas: Trumpet
Musicians with 60 or More Years:
John Brown: Director, Trumpet
Hugh Clark: Trombone (deceased 1999)
Eugene Gildersleeve: Drum (deceased 1992)
Curtis "Dave" Hinton: Clarinet, Bass Drum (deceased 1991)
Musicians with 70 or More Years:
John Cryder: Trumpet
Glenn Hinton: Drum (Deceased 2023)
Herman Hinton Sr.: Trombone, Director (deceased 2000)
Dave Pontious: Trumpet, Tuba (deceased 1995)
Jim Tootle: Trumpet (deceased 2008)
61. "ANother musician with 70+ Years in the band!"
On May 29, 2023 at the Hallsville (Ohio) Memorial Day obsevance at the cemetery, the Adelphi Community Band took the opportunity to award a plaque to John Cryder (Trumpet) for his over 70 years with the band!
Due to several years of research into the band's digital library of over 3,000 newspaper clippings, magazine articles, concert lists, band newsletters, and pretty much anything we could find that has the band's name on it, we have been able to identify 4 musicians who have, or have had, over 70 years with the band.
What a remarkable achievement.
John Cryder is one of only two remaining musicians with over 70 years in the band. The only other one is Glenn Hinton, and the band awarded his plaque to him in 2021.
There are some things you should know in order to better see what kind of person and what kind of musician John Cryder is.
John is a veteran. Several years ago, John Cryder chose to get involved in a national cemetery in his area. They have so many funerals that they developed a Monday Squad, a Tuesday squad, etc.,
John has shared that on his day, he has played "Taps" for as many as 18 funerals. And that isn't just in the warm, Chicago Spring and Summer weather. That is in the Chicago cold, the Chicago wind, the Chicago snow, the Chicago ice, the Chicago sleet, etc.
And, though he long ago lost any official count, he figures that over the years he has played "Taps" for anywhere between 6,000 to 7,000 funerals for veterans!
The band congratulates John Cryder on his continued service to the Adelphi Community Band and to his community!
Due to several years of research into the band's digital library of over 3,000 newspaper clippings, magazine articles, concert lists, band newsletters, and pretty much anything we could find that has the band's name on it, we have been able to identify 4 musicians who have, or have had, over 70 years with the band.
What a remarkable achievement.
John Cryder is one of only two remaining musicians with over 70 years in the band. The only other one is Glenn Hinton, and the band awarded his plaque to him in 2021.
There are some things you should know in order to better see what kind of person and what kind of musician John Cryder is.
John is a veteran. Several years ago, John Cryder chose to get involved in a national cemetery in his area. They have so many funerals that they developed a Monday Squad, a Tuesday squad, etc.,
John has shared that on his day, he has played "Taps" for as many as 18 funerals. And that isn't just in the warm, Chicago Spring and Summer weather. That is in the Chicago cold, the Chicago wind, the Chicago snow, the Chicago ice, the Chicago sleet, etc.
And, though he long ago lost any official count, he figures that over the years he has played "Taps" for anywhere between 6,000 to 7,000 funerals for veterans!
The band congratulates John Cryder on his continued service to the Adelphi Community Band and to his community!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF BAND STORIES...for now
END OF BAND STORIES...for now