A favorite summer tradition – a Sunday band concert in the park, often accompanied by a family picnic – has always been a great American pastime in many towns and cites.
“The American bandstand has always been popular,” writes Professor Jonathan Elkus, noted band conductor and musicologist. “Yet at its best and most influential, these concerts have welcomed the new, revived the forgotten and revitalized the mainstream.* The American Bandstand has provided a friendly stage for soloists and ensembles. And it is to the widespread impact on American musical values that these concerts are dedicated.
The outdoors is almost an exclusive venue for bands. “Other ensembles which lack its acoustical properties and mobility cannot function with similar success,” writes Fredrick Fennell in his book Time in the Winds.
In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries John Philip Sousa, (1854-1932) was a household word. He did more to insure the success of the band movement in the United States than anyone before or since. Before Sousa, were Patrick Gilmore and his famous bands and after Sousa came Herbert L. Clark and Arthur Pryor, Sousa’s former soloists.
The tremendous popularity of the bands and of the outdoor concerts in the park started to wane as the population was drawn to other forms of entertainment such as radio and live orchestral concerts. We are fortunate in the Bay Area to have some of these traditions of yesteryear still available to us.
The Golden Gate Park Band in San Francisco was founded in September 1882 and has been in continuous operation ever since. When it started it played year-round until funding became harder to obtain and now they only play from April to October. It is still a popular Sunday afternoon attraction.
In the East Bay one can enjoy the Oakland Municipal Band in Lakeside Park at Lake Merritt in Oakland. They play an abbreviated summer schedule on Sunday afternoons. The concerts are an eclectic program of classical, marches, jazz, big band, pop and show tunes. This band dates back to 1912.
If you are planning a trip to Hawaii don’t miss a concert by the Royal Hawaiian Band. This band dates back to 1836 and was started by King Kamahamaha. It is the only full-time municipal band in America and has been operating continuously since it was founded. They play every Friday at noon at the Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu plus many other locations in the islands. The band is a real treasure and a true example of an historic American tradition in the present day.
According to Michael Wirgler, conductor of the Golden Gate Park Band, the Sunday band concerts are drawing interest from a growing number of younger people. This is a good omen as it is vitally important to keep this great form of Americana alive and well.
*Program notes by Jonathan Elkus
Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net. Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.