The first of this year's three indoor Winter Concerts was held on Sunday afternoon, February 29. This concert had a two-fold theme.  First, it was a celebration of the birth of Karl L. King.  Born in Ohio on February 21, 1891, Karl King grew to love and play band music.  He joined the circus band at a young age, a decision that would influence his music for life.  When he felt the need to settle down and raise his family, he was hired in the fall of 1920 by the Fort Dodge Band to become their director, an association that would last for 50 years until his death in 1971.  During that time and still today, Mr. King is recognized throughout the world as one of the foremost composers of march and circus-type music.

This concert featured several of Mr. King’s selections, which are played in his memory each year at this time. They included Carrollton, his first march published by the C. L. Barnhouse Company of Oskaloosa, and his most well-known composition, Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite march.  Also on the program were King’s The Altar Of Genius Overture, Spanish Romance Emporia Galop, Ariel Waltz Medley, and The Walking Frog.

The second theme of this concert followed the cultural emphasis of Iowa Central Community College.  Each year, the college chooses a country or region and emphasizes their music, culture, traditions, heritage, food, and clothing.  This year, the college has chosen to honor the people of Australia and New Zealand.  The band played Invercargill March by Lithgow, which is named after a city in southern New Zealand.  They also played two selections written by the Australian-born composer, Percy Grainger, including Australian Up-Country Tune and Shepherd’s Hey.

A special feature of the concert was a tribute to the previous conductor of the King Band, Reginald R. Schive.  Mr. Schive directed the Fort Dodge Band for 25 years, and just recently passed away. The Band played two marches that he composed. The first one was dedicated to all the musicians who have worn the King Band uniform, and bore entitled The Black and Gold Line.  The second march, entitled Fort Dodge Messenger, was dedicated to the local newspaper that has supported and publicized these band concerts through the years.

The second in this series of three indoor concerts by the Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge was held on Sunday, March 21, at the Iowa Central Community College Auditorium.  This concert was the traditional Irish Concert held in part to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  Many familiar Irish songs were performed, including everyone’s favorite, McNamara’s Band, as arranged by former conductor Reginald R. Schive.  Other Irish selections on the program were Strains from Erin as arranged by Lucien Cailliet, Irish Patrol by George Drumm, The Irish Boys by Bill Wiley, and The Irish Brigade March by John Casto.

Also performed were several other selections, including Bon Voyage March by Karl King, Leroy Anderson’s The Girl I Left Behind Me from his Irish Suite, and Warren Barker’s arrangement of several traditional Irish folk songs entitled Ireland.

Special guest soloist for this concert was Dan Cassady, who is the instructor of Instrumental Music at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge.  He performed the beautiful Londonderry Air on trombone, and then was joined by other members of the trombone section to perform David Rose’s Holiday for Trombones. Also featured was Roger Netz, vocalist from Manson, who led the audience in a sing-along of such traditional Irish favorites as When Irish Eyes Are Smiling and My Wild Irish Rose.  Mr. Netz is the vocal music instructor for grades 7-12 at the Manson Northwest Webster Schools, and is a member of the Saxophone section in the Band.

The final indoor concert for the 2004 season by the Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge was held on April 18.  The overall theme for this concert reflected the sounds of the spring season.  This was traditionally a time when circus bands began their touring, or “trouping” as it was called, and was reflected by the Karl L. King compositions, Trouping Days and Wanderlust March.  Other King selections on the program were Drake Relays March, which was written for this famous event occurring each year at Drake University in Des Moines, Spirit of Springtime Waltz, and Mr. King’s first published circus galop, Excelsior.

Also on the program was the march, King Karl King, written by Henry Fillmore, and dedicated to Mr. King.  Fillmore was a contemporary composer of King’s and also a close friend, and both shared their common affection for the state of Ohio.  The afternoon’s overture was Jolly Robbers, written by Franz von Suppe, considered to be the father of Austrian operetta music.

Popular selections reflecting the sounds of the season were Irving Berlin: A Symphonic Portrait, featuring the music of this famous composer who gave us Easter Parade among many well-known and loved compositions, and Easter Monday On The White House Lawn, written by John Phillip Sousa and played frequently by Sousa’s Band in Washington D.C. at the festivities on the day after Easter.  Also performed was April In Paris, the classic Big Band piece recorded by the Count Basie Band and many other musicians.

Another special feature of this concert was the presentation of the Karl King scholarships.  Several talented students auditioned during the day.  Two winners will be recognized - a $500 scholarships to Iowa Central Community College, and a $1,000 scholarship to any 4-year Iowa college or university.   The winners were invited to join in playing a march with the Band and then the major scholarship recipient, percussionist Lee Plummer, performed his award-winning solo.

The next performance of the band will be at the traditional Memorial Day ceremonies in Fort Dodge on May 31 at Northlawn Cemetery.  The summer concerts in the Karl L. King Bandshell at Oleson Park will be held each Sunday evening at 7:30 during June and July, beginning June 6.  Starting time for the weekly Ice Cream Social is 7 PM.