March 13, 2011

The second in the series of three winter concerts by the Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge was the band’s traditional Irish Concert, in celebration of 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 included Strains from Erin as arranged by Lucien Cailliet, and two selections from Leroy Anderson’s Irish Suite, The Rakes of Mallow, and The Wearing of the Green.

A number of march selections were performed, including Spirit of Minstrelsy by Karl L. King, The Irish Boys by Bill Wiley, and The Boys of the Old Brigade by W. Paris Chambers.

The guest conductor was John McCartney, who led the band in performing Mother Machree by John Zdechlik and the Karl King march, McKinley's Own.

The featured soloist on this program was Paul Hochmuth, from Knierim.  Mr. Hochmuth graduated from Mason City High School, the University of Northern Iowa, and Red Wing Technical College. He has performed solos with bith the Mason City and Clear Lake Municipal Bands.  Paul has worked in the instrument repair department with Rieman Music in Fort Dodge since 1991 and has performed with the King Band since 2001 and the Fort Dodge Area Symphony since 2004.  Mr. Hochmuth performed the beautiful Irish ballad, Londonderry Air on the Euphonium.

Roger Netz, a member of the Saxophone section, led the audience in a sing-along of the traditional Irish favorites, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling and My Wild Irish Rose.