June 22, 2014

The 2014 Summer concert series continued on June 22, with another special concert.  Conductor Jerrold P. Jimmerson and Assistant Conductor Dr. David Klee led the band in a "Salute to Iowa", with many selections on the program written by Iowa composers.

Marches on the program included Karl L. King's "Iowa Centennial" and "The Iowa Band Law", along with his galop, "Prestissimo" and his intermezzo, "In a Moonlit Garden".

Other marches included former conductor Reginald R. Schive's march, "The Fort Dodge Messenger", and "Land of Plenty", which introduced the "Iowa Corn Song", by C.L. Barnhouse from Oskaloosa, King's friend and publisher of many of King's songs.

The classical treat was the "Finale from the New World Symphony", composed by Antonin Dvorak, with many of the ideas from this well-known work generated during the time he spent in the Bohemian community of Spillville Iowa.

A lighter number included highlights from Mason City native Meredith Willson’s popular Broadway musical, "The Music Man".

The special guest soloist was Bob Patton, baritone, from Gowrie.  Mr. Patton attended the University of Northern Iowa before joining the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants in Washington, D.C.  Mr. Patton performed highlights from George Gershwin's 1935 opera, "Porgy and Bess", with such well-known songs as "Summertime"; and "It Ain't Necessarily So", followed by the humorous "If I Were a Rich Man" from Fiddler On The Roof.

During his twenty year career in the military, Patton soloed with the National Symphony and the Boston and Cincinnati Pops Orchestras.  He also performed with the Washington Civic, Baltimore, Wolf Trap, Northern Virginia and Annapolis opera companies.  In 1991 he returned to Gowrie IA and became editor and publisher of The Gowrie News, the fourth generation owner of a 110 year-old family business.  He is now retired from the newspaper after a 20-year career, but is still very active and much sought-after as a vocalist throughout the Midwest.

Thanks to Susan Swaroff for these photos.

The concert closed in the traditional way, with the playing of our National Anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."