July 23

Marches are always a special Sunday night treat, and this concert featured Samson and Cardiff Giant, both written by Karl King, along with Black and Gold Line by former King Band conductor Reginald Schive, and Lights Out by Earl McCoy.  In addition, the band performed King’s Walsenburg Galop.

Lighter selections included a medley of Frank Sinatra’s biggest hits, Recorded by Sinatra, along with Paul Yoder’s Carolina Clambake, Karl King’s intermezzo Spanish Romance, and Just a Closer Walk With Thee, as recorded by the Canadian Brass.

The overture for this performance was from the opera, Stradella, by Friedrich von Flotow.  This opera was his first important work, having been introduced in Hamburg in 1844.  Von Flotow was descended from Prussian nobility, and received his musical training at the Paris Conservatory.

A special treat this week was the preview of the new musical, CARDIFF, which will be presented in its entirety in November by the local Comedia Musica group.  This new musical, created by Deann Haden-Luke and Larry Mitchell, recalls the story of one of the greatest hoaxes in history.  The music has been adapted from the works of Karl L. King, so it will be very familiar to most concertgoers.  However, with the addition of lyrics, King’s music has taken on new life and character.

Four soloists sang excerpts from their roles during this concert.  Soloists included Mark Jorgenson, Fort Dodge; Larry Hall, Humboldt; Alyssa Sparks, Fort Dodge; and Larry Mitchell filling in for Bob Patton of Gowrie.

CARDIFF's co-creator Larry Mitchell was guest conductor of the King Band
for this presentation as well as performing the part of P.T. Barnum.

The performance of Leroy Anderson’s Bugler’s Holiday, one of the most requested selections in the King Band repertoire, was another special treat.  The trumpet trio included Jim Perkins, Boone; Tim Miller, Humboldt; and Harlan VandeBerg, Fort Dodge.

Closing the band’s concert was the performance of our national anthem, The Star-spangled Banner.
 

July 30

The Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge closed their 2006 summer season of concerts with this final concert July 30.   March Ponderoso and Majestic Galop by Karl King were on the program.  In addition, the band performed Ringling Bros. Grand Entry March by Al Sweet, and Gardes du Corp March by R. B. Hall.

Dan Cassady, recently retired director of bands at Iowa Central Community College, was the guest soloist for the evening.  Mr. Cassady is a long-time member of the King Band, and performs locally with the Brass Quintet, Jive For Five, and plays in numerous area dance bands.  He performed the traditional trombone solo, The Old Home Down On The Farm, by Fred Harlow.

The entire trombone section performed the 3rd Movement from Concerto for Trombones by Norman Leyden.

 

The evening’s classical offerings ranged from the overture to the opera Oberon by the German composer Carl Maria von Weber, to Ballet du Plaisir by the French composer Gustave Charpentier.  The opera Oberon premiered in London in April of 1826.  This opera, with its immense cast, beautiful music, and lavish sets, proved to be the final work for von Weber, for he died less than a month after he had conducted the premiere performance.  Horn solos were by Kathy Yoakam.

Popular selections featured in this final summer concert included music from the popular Broadway musical, The Music Man by Meredith Willson, and a medley of Jerome Kern Songs, which were some of Mr. King’s favorite selections.

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