The February Concert had a two-fold theme, with the first being to recognize the music of the band’s namesake, Karl L. King.  The music performed reflected a wide range of King’s musical styles, and was heavily influenced by his career as a circus musician.  The second part of the concert included music depicting the country of Brazil, which has been selected as Iowa Central Community College’s cultural emphasis for this year.

The first march, T.M.B., was written by King and published in 1909, when he was only 18 years of age.  This march is considered by historians to be the first march published by King.  It was dedicated to H. Clark Thayer, founder and former director of the Thayer Military Band (T.M.B.) in Canton, Ohio.  This city was where Karl King moved in 1903 at the age of 8, and where he spent his boyhood growing up.  It was where he had his first job selling newspapers, and where he was to meet his future wife, Ruth.  Canton was also where Karl had his first music lessons and got his first band instrument.  It was the Thayer Military Band where King sat in and played the Baritone after first playing in the Canton Marine Band.

Enjoy a video excerpt of the first half of T.M.B. March (large file size - 14 mb mov. format)
Excerpt 2 - trio of T.M.B. March (large file size - 18 mb mov. format)

Other marches by King on this concert were The Three Musketeers, published in 1930 at age 39, and dedicated to his friend and band member, Doug Hatton. The title refers to three members of King’s Band, one of which was Walt Engelbart.  Closing the concert was King’s most famous composition and his masterpiece, Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite March, published in 1913 when he was 22 years of age.

Download a video excerpt of Barnum and Bailey's Favorite (large file size - 9 mb mov. format)
Excerpt 2 of Barnum and Bailey's Favorite (large file size - 18 mb mov. format)

Other circus music by King heard on this program were Ragged Rozey, published in 1913, when King was age 22, and reflecting the style of Ragtime, a popular form of music at that time; and The Whippet Race Galop, published in 1927 when King was 26, and was dedicated to Doc Griffen, superintendent of speed at the Iowa State Fair.

The popular Brass group, Jive For Five, was featured in this program.  Members of the group include Tim Miller, trumpet, Humboldt; David Swaroff, trumpet, Dayton; Kathy Yoakam, French horn, Humboldt; Dan Cassady, trombone, Fort Dodge; and Paul Bloomquist, tuba, Manson.  This group, all members of the King Band, performed two selections by Karl King.  They were Ragged Rozey, published in 1913, when King was age 22, and reflecting the style of Ragtime, a popular form of music at that time; and Broadway One-Step published by King in 1919, at the age of 28.

The band performed what is generally considered one of the finest overtures King ever wrote, Fountain Of Youth, which was published in 1924, when he was 33 years of age.  Also on this concert was one of King’s classic aerial waltzes, written for the high-flying trapeze artists in the circus.  Amorita Waltzes was published in 1911 when King was 20 years old.  It was published, however, under his nom-de-plume, Carl Lawrence.  Early in his career, it was not unusual for him to publish pieces under two different names.  The music is pure Karl King, though!

Download a video excerpt of Pan American March (large file size - 14 mb mov. format)

In addition to the compositions of Karl L. King, the band also performed three selections reminiscent of the South American country, Brazil.  First was the march, Pan American, written by Karl King and published in 1942.  Il Guarney, by the Brazilian composer A. Carlo Gomez was next.  Gomez was born in Brazil in 1839, but educated in Milan, Italy from an early age. The music from this opera is considered to be his claim to fame!  Finally, The Sound Of Brazil presented music by one of Brazil’s most famous modern day composers, Antonio Carlos Jobim.  This medley included the hits, Quiet Nights of Quiet Starts,  Meditation, One Note Samba, How Insensitive, and The Girl from Ipanema.

The concert concluded with the playing of our National Anthem, The Star-spangled Banner.