Friday, April 11, 2003

Even though the long-awaited Austin Symphonic Band Sousa concert was way up in south Waco, it was worth the trip, as they say. During one part of the program, as music identified with the various branches of the military service were played, veterans were asked to stand up and be recognized. The greatest number were Air Force and obviously of Korean "conflict" vintage; the only female that we could see in the entire house was a contemporary right in front of us who was Navy of Viet Nam vintage. Among the selections played were the following: Semper Fidelis March (John Philip Sousa), Semiramide Overture (Gioacchino Rossini, arr. Jim Mahaffey), Napoli (Herman Bellstedt), Serenade (Sigmund Romberg), Poor Wandering One (Gilbert and Sullivan, arr. Clifton Jones), Armed Forces Salute (arr. Bob Lowden), Light Cavalry Overture (Franz von Suppe), Easter Monday (Sousa), On the White House Lawn (Sousa), I've Made My Plans for the Summer (Sousa), Irish Tune from County Derry (Percy Grainger), Cousins (Herbert L. Clarke), Carnival of Venice (Herbert L. Clarke), The Stars and Stripes Forever (Sousa), Solid Men to the Front (Sousa), New Mexico March (Sousa), Lassus Trombone (Henry Fillmore), Washington Post March (Sousa), Fugue on Yankee Doodle (Sousa), With Pleasure (Sousa), and something called on the program "Drums Along the Potomac" that owed much to the movie Drumline, although, apart from the smart-alecs in the band who probably worked it up, we were probably the only ones there who knew it. It didn't take two bars for K. to recognize Lassus Trombone as the music most often used to accompany clown acts at the circus. "Cousins" was a wonderful show-off piece and very ably performed, one of the highlights of the evening. Before the music began, we caught a bite at T&S Seafood on the way, not causing any of the live creatures in tanks to be offered up for our delectation and enjoying the Hong Kong pop playing over the sound system. We admired the feng shui goldfish, some of the handsomest ever seen. It was a perfect evening for a track meet, and we watched some of the races before going in to hear the music.

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