February 20, 2011

This concert recognized the music of the band’s namesake, Karl L. King, in celebration of his birth on February 21, 1891.

The music 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 publishing business behind his wife's Ruth King Music Shoppe.

Conductor Jimmerson drew music for this concert from a variety of historical resources.  First, several of the compositions on the program were published 100 years ago in 1911, when Mr. King was a 20-year old young man traveling with the Yankee-Robinson Circus.  These selections included the marches Aviation Tournament, Wanderlust, and Woody Van’s, and an aerial waltz, Amorita.

Secondly, Mr. King directed his first concert with the Fort Dodge Military Band on January 10, 1921, about 90 years ago.  Selections chosen from that concert included the overture Oberon, by von Weber, along with a medley of grand opera classics entitled Operatic Masterpieces, a touch of ragtime with The Booster by M. L. Lake, and Melodie by Rudolph Friml, one of the popular composers of that era.

Closing this special concert was an exciting circus galop, Circus Days, and a concert march, Diamond Jubilee, both written by Mr. King.  This last selection was written for the 75th anniversary of the C. L. Barnhouse Co. in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the major publisher of Karl King’s music.  It includes portions from seven of Mr. King’s most famous marches, two of which were written in 1911, and it ends with his most famous and recognizable march, Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite.  The Barnhouse Company will celebrate its 125th anniversary this year.