GCB: 2022-2023 Season Begins

Back to normal!  The GCB is now meeting regularly for in person rehearsals at Meadow creek High School on Monday evenings from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. We have several opportunities to play beginning in October. 

If you are looking to join a community group, please come to a rehearsal.  We have openings in the following sections: percussion, trumpets, tuba, and bassoon.

A quick look at some songs on our current playlist include:

• Into the Clouds: This composition is full of drama and intensity packed in 2 minutes or less. 

• The Lords of Greenwich: Inspired by the music of Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughn Williams, this original piece is written in the style of a British folk tune.

• The Syncopated Clock: Two differently pitched woodblocks mimic the sound of a ticking clock throughout this piece.  The Tick-Tock draws brief moments of attention when it syncopates the beat. Leroy Anderson creates an enjoyable and humorous song for everyone’s enjoyment.

• Symphony No. 9: This famous classical piece is arranged to share the thrills of the ‘Finale Excerpts’ “From the New World”

• Precious Lord, Take My Hand: Arranged by Robert W. Smith this piece has beautiful structures and harmonies that remind us of the timeless hymn.

• Encanto: This overture by Robert W. Smith is his most impressive festival work ever.  The brass fanfares to the rhythmic section give this song a strong and confident sound.

• A Disney Spectacular: This montage includes six hit Disney songs from three blockbuster movies.  Everyone will enjoy these selections:  Under the Sea and Part of Your World from “The Little Mermaid”; Beauty and the Beast and Be Our Guest from “Beauty and the Beast”; and Friend Like Me and Whole New World from “Aladdin.”

Upcoming Concerts:

October 8         Lilburn Daze Festival celebrates 50^th year

November 7      Mount Zion

December         Clairmont Oaks, Annandale Village, and Delmar Gardens

Follow Gwinnett Community Band on our Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/gwinnettband

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GCB: 2021-2022 Spring season

2022 Spring Season begins on January 24th

The band has returned to “in person” rehearsals in the fall of 2021, following months off for Covid. We are scheduled to present several spring concerts from March-May 2022.

If you are looking to join a community group, please come to a rehearsal.  We are in need of trombones, horns, and bassoons.

A quick look at our current playlist is below:

• Abba on Broadway:   A medley of 70’s hits including, I Have a Dream; Mamma Mia; S.O.S.; Knowing Me, Knowing You; The Winner Takes It All and Dancing Queen.

• Jitterbug:  American Jazz music has its own signature sound.  This piece will highlight the style and rhythms to give us a fun melody for everyone. 

• The Last Rose of Summer:  This popular Irish folk song is shared with several soloists throughout the band.

• Toy Story 4:      The toys have returned for a fourth movie and new songs accompany them from Randy Newman.  The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy; I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away; Cowboy Lament and the endearing You’ve Got a Friend in Me.

• Indiana (Back Home again in):    This is not the state song for Indiana but is probably the best-known nog that pays tribute to the Hoosier state.  Traditionally this song is presented during the pre-race ceremonies before the Indianapolis 500.    For years, Louis Armstrong would open every public performance with this number.

• Princess Leia’s Theme:    This memorable theme is centered around one of the central figures of the Star Wars saga.  Close your eyes and be transported to the ever-popular movie trilogy.

GCB: 2019-2020 Season begins

2019-2020 Season begins on August 12th. 

We will begin the evening with a “Back to Band” party, which will provide refreshments, time to catch up with others and make payments for band dues.  This party will begin at 6:30.  We will pass out new music and begin around 7:20.  Please share this event and invite prospective musicians.  We already have a busy season scheduled and our first concert is in September.  

Instrumental openings for GCB 2019-2020 Season:  Bassoon, Trombone, Clarinets and an Accessories Percussion player.  We still welcome other instrumentalist to come and try us out at a rehearsal.  

New Music this fall:

The Falls

Written by Rossano Galante, this musical piece will challenge us.  The Falls highlights a waterfall as it cascades over rocky terrain, sparkling wind and brass fanfares depict the water as it rushes forward before exploding over the edge.  

Jupiter (from “The Planets”)

This arrangement captures all the fire of the original orchestral version.  Written by Gustav Holst, one of Britain’s premier composers this popular work will include a true classic to our repertoire.  

Disney Razzamatazz

Some of the best toe-tapping Dixie-style songs are cleverly combined in this medley.  Several ensemble sections will make this a crowd pleaser. Includes Friend Like Me; A Spoonful Of Sugar; I Wanna Be Like You (The Monkey Song); Fortuosity and  Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.

Suite from the Star Wars Epic, Part II

Three separate movements are included in this work:  Princess Leia’s Theme (from “Episode IV: A New Hope”), Imperial March/The Forest Battle (form “Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” and “Episode VI: Return of the Jedi”) and Star Wars Main Theme.

Arachnophobia and Fugue

Imagine watching J.S. Bach composing in his studio while being pestered by a bothersome spider and you will get the idea behind this humorous as well as educational setting. We hear bits of his famous melodies while one or more xylophones represent this intrusive pest that’s swatted at by a rolled up newspaper throughout the piece.

GCB: 2018-2019 Spring season

2019 Spring

The band continues with a variety of selections this spring.  Please join us as we enjoy the following selections together. Additional instrumentalists that the band could benefit from are:  Clarinets, Horns, and Percussion.

In the Valley of the Sun

Explore the spirit of the West with this exciting overture. A rollicking Western-style theme invokes images of wild horses contrasted by a slow angular theme depicting the flowing Arizona desert.

Blue Mambo

Adds a pleasing touch of Latin to our performances this season. Opening with a lyric section featuring a solo for flugelhorn, this appealing work includes sensuous melodies surrounded by lush and bluesy harmonies. The up-tempo mambo then kicks in with an infectious percussion groove, which accompanies the melodies and riffs from the full ensemble

Carrickfergus

This Irish folksong, named after the town of Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland, is beautiful, nostalgic and lush. This intimate arrangement with ample cross-cueing is an excellent tool to teach phrasing and legato playing, while paying tribute to this colorful land

My Fair Lady

One of the most popular musicals ever written comes alive in this sparkling arrangement for developing bands!  Titles include:  Get Me To The Church On Time; I Could Have Danced All Night; I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face; On The Street Where You Live; With A Little Bit Of Luck and Wouldn’t It Be Loverly.

Duke Ellington Medley

This is a great medley of Duke Ellington tunes. Timeless melodies like Sophisticated Lady; Don’t Get Around Much Anymore; It Don’t Mean A Thing and others are expertly arranged by Calvin Custer.

Aladdin

The Animated Disney film of 1992 is brought to life in May of 2019 as the movie is re-released.  Songs in this medley include Arabian Nights; Friend Like Me; Prince Ali; and A Whole New World

Pixar Movie Magic

 Since 1995 the creative team at Pixar Studios has given us heartwarming stories and unforgettable characters that appeal to audiences of all ages. In addition, the music created for these films is an integral part of their charm and popularity. Here is a terrific arrangement of these familiar melodies that will thrill audiences everywhere. Included are: You’ve Got a friend in Me (“Toy Story”), The Spirit of Adventure (“Up”), The Glory Days (“The Incredibles”), The Big Race (“Cars”) and Ratatouille Main Theme.

GCB: 2018-2019 Season begins

The band will begin its new season in August 2018 with a welcome back party.  Please share this event and invite prospective players.  Our schedule is busy once again this fall as our first concert is about 5 weeks from when we start.  

A new Season is always exciting as we look at some old favorites as well as new challenges.  Instrumental openings in the band are present in the following locations: Percussion, Bassoon, and Clarinets.  We always welcome other players to join as our ranks increase.

New music this fall with product description:

Arsenal An exceptionally grandiose and festive concert March, which will use to begin our concerts.

Colors of Fall This piece will catch the beauty and color of the autumn season.  Opening quietly, a flowing melody is introduced by the flutes and gradually grows as additional instruments join in, building to breathtaking climax.  From there, the work quickly subsides, ending as it began, quietly and touching, creating a spell no one will want to break.

Sea Songs Originally, this setting of folk songs was the fourth movement of Vaughan Williams’ famous English Folk Song Suite. Now considered a separate work of its own, here for the first time is an arrangement playable by younger bands. Including Princess Royal; Admiral Benbow and Portsmouth, all the charm and character of the original has been authentically preserved in this outstanding setting.

The Trombone Rag   From the creative mind of John Higgins comes this spirited feature for your trombone section. Set in a lighthearted Dixieland style, it includes band parts that are easy to prepare and has plenty of room for your soloists to shine.

Kentucky 1800 Based on three traditional tunes reminiscent of the years when the pioneers were forging west, this is a folk-style tone poem in which melodic material is treated in great depth and with variety. An exceptionally popular, proven work!

Country Gardens The importance of the music of Percy Grainger to the concert band world is immeasurable. Even this simple tune from one of his greatest works displays his genius with harmony, counterpoint, and color.

The Greatest Showman Audiences loved this film, and the music was a huge part of its enormous appeal. From the powerful soundtrack, here is a dramatic and exciting medley for the concert stage. Included are The Greatest Show; Never Enough; A Million Dreams; This Is Me and From Now On.