
North
Shore City, Auckland,
New Zealand
Musical
Director: Claudia Price.
OVER
THIRTY YEARS OLD AND GROWING BETTER WITH AGE – LIKE A FINE
WINE!
WOULD YOU LIKE
TO PLAY IN A CONCERT BAND?
We are looking for players all the time.
At the moment we are looking mainly for percussionists,
trombonists and sax players, but
everyone, and we mean EVERYONE is welcome!
So what is a Concert Band?
- The modern Concert Band is a development of the
American Military Band of the Second World War, and is essentially
an orchestra without the strings, although Double-Bass players are
also welcome! The instruments include Flutes, Clarinets, Oboes,
Bassoons, Trumpets, Trombones, Baritones, Horns, Tubas, Saxophones
and Percussion.
- It all started when the late, great Big-Band
director Glen Miller (and everyone knows him!) was drafted into the
Army during World War II, as Major G. Miller, Bandmaster. He had
been instructed by his immediate superior (a very straight-laced
Colonel) to play only marches during the march-past under pain of
death! Miller stood it for as long as he could, but then finally
could not take it any more. In the middle of a very important
parade, and right in the middle of the march-past, he made –
as they say in the forces – a Command Decision, brought the
current march to an end, and instructed his band to get out one of
his most famous arrangements. To the delight of the whole parade the
band suddenly broke into a beautiful march version of 'St Louis
Blues', and this was in the days when jazz was king! The platoons
were almost swinging by the podium and there was a delighted grin on
every face as the wonderful music poured out! The salutes had never
been given with such aplomb!
- Of course, after the parade, the Colonel hauled
Miller into his office and was just about to start tearing strips
off him, which would probably have led to Miller's court-marshal
(!!!) when the General who had taken the salute entered.
- "Who authorized the jazz for the parade!"
he asked.
-
"Major Miller sir!" shouted the Colonel.
-
He was just getting ready to open up when the General
cried, "Well done Major Miller! That was one of the most
delightful parades I have ever taken! We'll continue to have that
sort of music!"
- (For the full story, see the film: 'The Glen Miller
Story' starring James Stewart)
-
And the rest, as they say, is history! The Concert Band
was up and running, and is now part of the musical backdrop of the
world.
-
The Concert Band has a far wider range than the Brass
Band, and has a mellower tone. It can play anything from rock to
classical and everything in between. It is also very versatile, as
it can play indoors or out, on podiums, stages, and even on the
ground! We have played at MOTAT, The Playhouse Theatre in Blockhouse
Bay, the Pumphouse in Takapuna, in several shopping centres, and
have an annual performance in February in the Northcote Shopping
Centre, and during Christmas at the great Farmer's Christmas Parade
(in the middle of Auckland Central's Customs St/Queen St
Intersection – in the middle of the road!) and the Takapuna
Christmas Festival.
-
And by the way – we actually play a version of
'St Louis Blues' as performed by the band on that fateful day which
changed the course of musical history!
The North Shore Concert Band rehearses
in the auditorium of Birkinhead College every Tuesday evening at 7.30
pm, and everyone, whatever you play, is welcome! Any more
information, please contact your web master and concert master, Steve
Dale
Our next public
playout is the annual attendance at the Farmer's Christmas Parade on
the intersection of Queen and Customs Streets in Auckland City. See
you there!
And now some past
pics:

At the 2006
Concert Bands Contest where we won Two Silver Medals!

at the 2007
Farmers Christmas Parade.

at 2008's
Pumphouse Concert, and...

...with our guests
the North Shore Camerata, joining with us in the grand finale:
Disney at the
Movies!
Information for our coming playouts is
HERE
NORTH SHORE
CONCERT BAND –
WHERE
MUSIC IS MADE!