Municipal Band presents traditional July 4th concert

Members of the 2008 Le Mars Municipal Band flute section are (from left) -- Kathy Moore, Robin Venaas and Sue Ashenfelter. [Click to enlarge]

Patriotic tunes will fill the air in Foster Park at 8 p.m. Friday evening as the Le Mars Municipal Band presents its annual Fourth of July concert.

Jerry Bertrand will conduct the band, and the Rev. Gary Landsness will announce the concert. This is Bertrand's 21st year as director.

The band will open the concert with "The Washington Post," one of John Philip Sousa's most popular marches. The band will then play "The Spirit of '76," a piece by Clare Grundman based on songs of the time of George Washington and the American Revolution. Included in this piece are "Washington's March at Trenton," "Yankee Doodle," "Norah, Dear Norah," "Girls and Boys," and "Chester."

Members of the 2008 Le Mars Municipal Band double reed section are (from left) -- Karin Swanson and Heidi Venaas on oboe and Rick Lacy on bassoon. [Click to enlarge]

Featured soloist for this concert will be bassoonist Rick Lacy of Sioux City. Lacy has held the position of third bassoon/contrabassoon with the Sioux City Symphony for 10 years and has played as principal with the Sioux City Municipal Band for 15 years. He is in his third year with the Le Mars Municipal Band.

Lacy began his studies on bassoon in fifth grade and has played extensively ever since. He chose to pursue a career as a software developer, earning bachelor of science degrees in mathematics and computer science from Morningside College. He currently works as a programmer for Great West Casualty Company in South Sioux City, Neb.

Lacy will perform a theme and variations on "Beelzebub," written in 1932 by Andrea Catozzi.

The band will continue the program with the Civil War suite "The Blue and the Gray" by Clare Grundman. Included in this suite are "Kingdom Coming," "Marching Through Georgia," "Tenting Tonight," "The Yellow Rose of Texas," "The Bonnie Blue Flag," "Aura Lee," "Dixie," "Battle Cry of Freedom," and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

Next on the concert will be "Star-Spangled Salute!," a medley of George M. Cohan's music which includes "Give My Regards to Broadway," "Harrigan," "All in the Wearing," "Over There," "Yankee Doodle Boy," and "You're a Grand Old Flag."

This will be followed by selections from "The Music Man" by Meredith Willson. Included in this medley are "Seventy-Six Trombones," "Till There Was You," "The Wells Fargo Wagon," "Lida Rose," "Marian the Librarian," and a reprise of "Seventy-Six Trombones."

The band will then play "National Emblem," a march by Edwin Bagley. Next on the concert will be "Lest We Forget" by James Swearingen. The band will conclude the concert with the national march of the United States, "The Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa.

Refreshments at this concert will be sold by Le Mars Municipal band supporters. The group will be selling Bomb PopsŪ for donations to the Le Mars Municipal Band. The Bomb Pops are being provided in part by the local Fareway store.

A new format for funding the band began July 1, 2008. The City of Le Mars will match up to $7,500 in donations to the band. An average concert costs $1,700. The number of concerts for the summer of 2009 will depend upon the amount of donations received plus the city match. Donations may be given to director Jerry Bertrand, announcer Rev. Gary Landsness, or any band member. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.

Admission is free for all Le Mars Municipal Band concerts. Concert goers are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets, sit back and enjoy the music.