Brass, Reeds, and Percussion

In recognition of Bastille Day on July 14, this edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion features French music. The turning point of the French Revolution is considered July 14, 1789, the day the Bastille was stormed. The Bastille was a prison and armory in the center of Paris and was considered a symbol of the French king's abuse of power. Every July 14, the French celebrate Bastille Day with one of the oldest regular military parades in Europe and with the president of France reviewing the troops and bands, of course.

This edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion celebrates Robert Browne Hall Day. Robert Browne Hall was born in Bowdoinham, Maine, in 1858. Both his father and mother were musicians. By age 18, he was the solo cornettist of the summer band in Old Orchard, Maine. By age 24, he was a solo cornettist with the Baldwin Cadet Band of Boston. He composed over 200 marches, but only 62 were published. Nevertheless, several are famous and popular around the world. For example, the "10th Regiment March" is frequently performed at almost any British brass band concert.

Elbeblech is a German brass quintet. At least four of the five members were taking lessons on brass instruments before the age of 10. All are members of various symphony orchestras around Germany. The group came up with concept album: music attributed to Johan Sebastian Bach, but not actually composed by him and music from the same period as Bach that was as good as Bach.

In 1993, a comedy horror film premiered with the character Ash Williams as a time traveler transported from the modern day to the Middle Ages armed with a chainsaw. As might be expected, the main character has a quest: to find the Necronomicon, which can be used to return to the present. But he has to fight the undead to succeed in his quest. Born in 1958, Joseph LoDuca wrote the music for the Army of Darkness and won awards for his efforts.

Today’s edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion opens with a 1932 hit written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. It’s called “You’re Getting To Be a Habit With Me.” It was one of three songs by Warren and Dubin composed for the film musical 42nd Street. Warren was of Italian descent, born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1893. He composed mostly for film, but 112 of his songs not only appeared in movies but also in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons. Dubin was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1891.

Our listeners tell us that the best thing about Brass, Reeds, and Perucssion is the variety. Today, is the perfect example. Among other things, you’re going to hear the following on today’s edition: music from the 1300s, 1600s, a transcription of some opera music, jazz from the 1920s, and original music composed for band from the 20th century. We’ll open today’s show with a “Jubilee Sounds March, composed by Ernst Uebel, a German wind-band composer who lived from 1881 to 1959.

We open today's edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion with a march by the Czech composer Karel Padivy, born in 1908. Since his father was both the village tailor and member of the village band, Karel learned how to play violin and wind instruments at a young age. In fact, by age 14 he was playing in a Czechoslovakian military band. Eventually, he became a member of a military band in what is now Slovakia, where he was also the bandmaster of a firefighter's band.

One of the war horses of band music is the “Light Cavalry Overture,” by Franz von Suppé. His father never encouraged von Suppé to become a musician, but the local bandmaster did. Living from 1819 to 1895, he composed over four dozen operettas—hardly any of which are performed these days. Nevertheless, his music remains alive in three places: transcriptions of his works into band music; on the program of pops concerts, such as those conducted by the Boston Pops; and in cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny, Popeye, Mickey Mouse, and Dudley Dooright.

Wind-band music is often a musuem of little-known opera music. So it should be no surprise that this edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion will feature an overture to the opera "Fatanitza" by Franz von Suppe. Von Suppe was the first composer to successfully compete with Frenchman Jules Offenbach for the hearts of Vienna opera afficionados. His first three-act operetta was "Fatanitza," which premiered in 1876. It's the story of a Russian Army officer named Wladimir who dresses as a woman, whom he names Fatanitza.

Since it’s the 2020s, you may have noticed that we've been airing a fair amount of music from the 1920s. So today’s edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion continues that practice by opening with a 1929 composition called “The Ramble,” composed by Charlie Lawrence. Here’s what we know about Charlie Lawrence: He composed a number of jazz tunes during the 1920s. He played the clarinet, saxophone, and piano.