February 19, 2012

The first program of the Winter concert season always recognizes the music of the band’s namesake, Karl L. King, who was born on February 21, 1891.  The music performed reflected a wide variety of King’s musical styles and tastes, and was heavily influenced by his career as a circus musician.  When Karl King arrived in Fort Dodge in the fall of 1920 with his wife Ruth and young son Karl, jr., he was already a well-established performer, conductor, composer and publisher of band music.  He continued to write music along with directing the local Municipal Band for 50 years, and eventually opened his own music store and publishing business here.

The music for this concert was drawn from a variety of Karl King's publications.  Most of the compositions on the program were published 100 years ago in 1912, when Mr. King was a 21-year old young man traveling with the Sells-Floto Circus.  This was one of the larger and more famous circuses of the day.   These selections included the marches Garland Entree, and Royal Hussars, and a march written under his pseudonym, Carl Lawrence, Salute To The Sultan.  In 1912, the director of the Sells-Floto band was W.P. English, and Mr. King was the Baritone player that year.  King and English collaborated on a march called Howdy Pap, which was published a year later in 1913.

There was a collection of well-known compositions popular during this same era on this program.  This collection of five songs, published between 1909 and 1914, are in a medley entitled Themes Like Old Times, arranged by Warren Barker.  Some of the songs to be heard in this medley are Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Peg O’ My Heart, and the 12th Street Rag.   Featured on this special birthday concert was Mr. King’s most famous and recognizable composition, Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite, published in 1913.