June 8

Marches were the main part of this first concert of the season.  Performed were the Robinson’s Grand Entree March and Hawkeye Glory, both written by the band’s namesake, Karl L. King, along with former conductor W. B. Green’s march, Trumpets Up, and Edwin Franko Goldman’s famous march, On The Mall.  Other Karl L. King selections included the circus favorite Sunshine Galop, along with the beautiful aerial waltz, Enchanted Night and the catchy Ragged Rozey.

In addition, former bass drummer of the King Band, Dick Johnson, was in attendance to donate an original hand-written manuscript of Karl King's Hawkeye Glory to the archives.  The band, in turn, played Johnson's march, Regi-Men, which is dedicated to the King Band.

This week's overture was the Light Cavalry Overture, by von Suppe.  On the lighter side was Eric Leidzen's arrangement of the highlights from the Broadway musical Oklahoma, by Rodgers and Hammerstein; as well as the Dixieland favorite Dixieland Jamboree, featuring the King Band’s own Dixieland Combo out front.

The concert closed with our National Anthem, The Star-spangled Banner.

This concert featured patriotic music in observance of Flag Day.  Marches included on the program were Flying With The Colors by W. B. Green, Emblem of Unity by J. J. Richards, National Emblem by E. E. Bagley, and everyone’s favorite, The Stars and Stripes Forever, by John Philip Sousa.  The march, His Honor by Henry Fillmore, was played in honor of Father’s Day.

Music from all five branches of the military service were played during the Armed Forces Salute medley.  Other patriotic selections included American Overture For Band by Joseph Wilcox Jenkins, Phantom Regiment by Leroy Anderson, highlights from the NBC television series Victory At Sea, and the Carmen Dragon arrangement of America, the Beautiful.

A special feature of this concert was a trumpet trio which played the well-known selection, Bugler’s Holiday, by Leroy Anderson.  They also performed the Carnival Variations, arranged by Don Jacoby, which is based on the musical theme, Carnival of Venice.  Trio members included Jim Perkins of Boone; Tim Miller of Humboldt; and David Swaroff, from Dayton.

The concert closed with our National Anthem, The Star-spangled Banner.

True to the band’s tradition and heritage, this concert featured several marches, including Garland Entrée, and The Huntress, both written by Karl King, along with his circus galop, Homestretch.  Additional marches on the evening’s program included The New Colonial by R. B. Hall, and Fort Dodge Messenger, written by former conductor Reginald R. Schive.

Other selections on the program included the tone poem, Finlandia, by Jean Sibelius.  Lighter sounds included in the program were a medley of Cole Porter’s most familiar songs, along with the musical highlights from West Side Story, by Leonard Bernstein.  Also in keeping with a beautiful evening in Oleson Park was Karl King’s lovely serenade, A Night In June.

Members of the Clarinet section, playing the familiar Clarinet Polka, provided a special feature during the concert. They were featured on Leroy Anderson’s popular song, The Syncopated Clock.

This concert highlighted several styles of band music.  Classic band works included Barber Of Seville Overture, by the Italian composer, Rossini; the Mississippi Suite by Ferde Grofe, and the Pilgrim’s Chorus, from the opera Tannhauser, by the German composer, Richard Wagner.

Well known popular selections were also heard.  They included George Gershwin Symphonic Portrait, which included songs made popular in the operetta Porgy and Bess by one of America’s finest composers, and the calypso sounds of Paul Yoder’s Relax.

Marches are always popular, and there were plenty on this concert, including Woody Van’s by Karl L. King, Brooke’s Chicago Marine Band by R. F. Seitz, John Philip Sousa’s Fairest Of The Fair, and Them Basses by G. H. Huffine.  Other Karl King selections included Broadway One-Step and Eclipse Galop.

The Star-spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key closed the evening's concert.

The Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge had a special concert planned for Sunday evening, July 6th.  This concert was a musical tribute to the July 4th holiday.  Many selections had a patriotic flavor, as one might expect.  Songs heard included the music of George M. Cohan in Star-spangled Spectacular, and the American Patrol, by F. W. Meacham.

Also on the program were Battle Hymn Of The Republic, arranged by Wilhousky; and Irving Berlin’s well-known composition, God Bless America.  The evening’s classical offering was the Overture to The Royal Fireworks, by the English composer, G. F. Handel.

Marches were the order of the day, and included The Chimes Of Liberty by Edwin Franko Goldman, along with Semper Fidelis and The Stars and Stripes Forever, both composed by John Philip Sousa.

Two special events were planned for this concert as well.  First, Roland Jenson, band director at Pocahontas Area Middle School in Rolfe, performed Paul Yoder’s composition Dazzling Drums, which is based on the traditional snare drum solo, Connecticut Half-time.

Also, Major General Barry Griffin (retired), directed the King Band in Morton Gould’s American Salute.  Following that number he made a few remarks in keeping with the July 4th observance.  Major Griffin, originally from the Humboldt area, closed his portion of the concert with Americans We March by Henry Fillmore.

There was a special treat for concertgoers on July 13.  The popular area Brass Quintet, Jive For Five, performed at 7:00 p.m., preceding the King Band.  The members of this group are all area musicians who perform regularly with the Karl King Band.  They include: Tim Miller, Humboldt, on trumpet; Dave Swaroff, Dayton, on trumpet; Kathy Yoakum, Humboldt, on french horn; Dan Cassady, Fort Dodge, on trombone; and Bob Hoffmann, Humboldt, on the tuba.

In addition, Thomas J. Hatton returned to sign copies of his recent book Hawkeye Glory, which is the history of the Karl L. King Municipal Band.  Books were available for purchase that evening, and persons already owning the book could bring it to have it signed by the author. Mr. Hatton was originally from Fort Dodge, and played saxophone in the Karl King Band while in High School and college.  For many years, he was an Associate Professor of English at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Now retired, he and his wife Lois live in the Kansas City area, where they remain active in various music endeavors.

Director Jerrold P. Jimmerson and assistant director Keith Altemeier again put together an outstanding hour of band music, with a special emphasis on Iowa composers, performers, and musicians. If your interest is in popular music, then The Music Man Highlights, written by Mason City native Meredith Willson might have been your favorite.

Especially for those who enjoy marches, Hawkeye Fair and Iowa Centennial by Karl L. King, Oleson Park by former King Band trumpet player John Erickson, Spencer Fair by former King Band conductor Reginald Schive, Spirit of Fort Dodge by Dan Scheidler, and Iowa March by E. F. Goldman were played. Unfortunately, John Erickson of Carroll died the Wednesday before this concert was performed.

The Finale from the New World Symphony by Antonin Dvorak, which was partially composed during his stay in Spillville, Iowa, was performed.  This provided a traditional touch to the evening.

Bob Patton, from Gowrie, was the special guest soloist for this evening's concert.  Mr. Patton is a well-known vocalist in the area, having sung with the Karl King Band on numerous occasions, along with several other area performing groups.  Originally a native of Gowrie, he served with the Singing Sergeants in Washington D.C. for many years, performing at the White House on several occasions.  He is now the publisher of the Gowrie News, which has been in his family for several generations.

Mr. Patton performed the selections The Blind Ploughman and Without A Song  in tribute to another former vocalist with the King Band, the late Jack Dodgen, who was from Humboldt.  Karl King regularly featured Mr. Dodgen on several concerts with the King Band through the years, and Mr. King once wrote in a newspaper editorial, “I would not trade our own Jack Dodgen for all the juke-box singers I have ever heard!” Mr. Patton also performed America, The Beautiful.

This concert promised to provide just the right mix of standard band works along with marches and other popular favorites, including Orpheus Overture by Jacques Offenbach, and a medley of some of Glenn Miller’s best known songs, In The Miller Mood, as arranged by Warren Barker.

The music of Karl King, the band's namesake, is always popular with audiences, and this concert included his marches Samson and Diamond Jubilee, along with the Walsenberg Galop.  In addition, other marches included the classic Italian march Florentiner by Fucik, and the Norwegian march Valdres, by Hanssen.

Andrew Glover, nationally prominent composer and arranger, was the guest conductor.  Mr. Glover is a native of Missouri, and was educated in the public schools of St. Louis.  He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Central Methodist College.  While still a college student, Mr. Glover performed for three seasons with the Detroit Concert Band, conducted by Leonard B. Smith.  In addition, Glover served as librarian and executive assistant to Dr. Smith.

Mr. Glover began writing and arranging for band while a student in high school, and has more than 150 publications in print.  He taught instrumental music in St. Louis area public and private schools for nine years.  In October, 1998, he joined the C. L. Barnhouse Company of Oskaloosa, IA., as staff composer, arranger, and editor.

The Karl King Band performed his composition Centennial March, and his arrangements of Intermezzo from Pagliaci, and Russian Sailor’s Dance, along with Mournful Maggie, written by Karl King.

There was also a special performance by the Brass Quintet, Jive For Five.  They were featured, accompanied by the King Band, on A Sousa Collection, as arranged for the Canadian Brass, along with Karl King’s Dixieland-style piece, Broadway One-Step.

The Karl L. King Fort Dodge Municipal Band closed their 2003 summer season of concerts on Sunday evening, July 27, with their final concert at the Oleson Park Bandshell.  Karl King compositions again highlighted the evening, including such march favorites as Cyrus The Great, March Ponderoso, along with Circus Days Galop on the program. In addition, the band played March Grandioso, composed by Seitz.

Other selections on the concert included Two Excerpts from the Pathetique Symphony by Russian composer Tschaikovsky, Introduction to Act III – Lohengrin by German composer Richard Wagner, and Opera Mirror as arranged by Tobani.  Lighter sounds included Pavane by Morton Gould, and Rhythmoods, featuring the music of Duke Ellington.

Guest soloists for the evening included three vocalists from Fort Dodge’s own Comedia Musica troupe, founded and directed by Larry Mitchell.  Singing highlights from their upcoming Fall production of Lerner and Lowe’s popular musical, Camelot were Terry Goodman, a professional actor for more than 30 years and presently director of musical theater at Iowa State University, along with Joe and Teresa Jackson, Fort Dodge.

The band closed their season in the traditional way, by playing Auld Lang Syne March by Karl King, followed by the playing of the National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.