Ice cream social and band concert absolutely fabulous

The Sunday afternoon ice cream social and Hot Springs Concert Band performance was a great time for everyone.
The ice cream and silent auction presented the perfect way to get out and see neighbors from across the Village. The band concert satisfied the soul.
Dr. Craig Hamilton recently celebrated his tenth year as the music director and conductor of the band and I believe each program he selects is better than the last. The music selections for this concert were as always fun and presented new challenges for the group of amateur and professional musicians.
Each concert starts with a stirring rendition of The Star Spangled Banner arranged by John Philip Sousa. This always pulls at my heart strings and prepares me for what is to come.
Ralph Vaughan Williams' English Folk Song Suite for Military Band was in three movements. The first light, lilting and percussive, the second warm, embracing and sometimes fluttering like a butterfly. The third bouncing and rollicking like the best dance. What fun.
George Percy Grainger's Irish Tune from County Derry uses the popular Irish song Oh Danny Boy as its basis. The piece was almost dirge-like, deep and stately.
Scott Joplin's Combination March had the essence of ragtime in a march. This selection was new to me and I want to hear it again. This number cooked from note one and kept Hamilton dancing at the podium. A smart and dapper piece.
Jan de Haan's Susato Variations was the essence of Renaissance music with American Indian drumming. It was engaging and clever. This was the type of music to put on your CD while cleaning house. It would keep you moving until your house gleamed. It sounded like a great soundtrack for an Indiana Jones adventure.
The concert was dedicated to a lost colleague, David Anderson. Anderson was a bass drum player in the band. He passed away October 29, 2010. Anderson's empty chair faced the audience filled with small percussion instruments.
W. Paris Chambers Horstrauser's March. Hamilton said this piece reminded him of Bugs Bunny cartoons. I see his reasoning, the piece was a chase with a theme and sub-theme going at the same time. Lots of fun.
The percussion section took to the front of the stage, accompanied by accordion player Jerry Jamrich, donned their dark sunglasses and coolly played Groovin' on a Sunday Afternoon. I laughed so much I cried. It was a good opportunity to show off some of the newly purchased percussion instruments.
Giacchino Rossini's William Tell Overture Finale made everyone in the audience think of the Lone Ranger and Tonto. This piece was used to lead in the television show. I have only heard the William Tell Overture by full orchestra. This arrangement was very satisfying and well played. I always love it when the piccolos come out.
Robert Sheldon's In the Shining of the Stars was one of those pieces that makes you want to lie down and let the music wash over you. It was gorgeous and slowed back down the pace of the concert from frantic to mellow.
Johann Strauss, II's Einzug's Marsch featured the piccolo so what could go wrong. This piece had lots of fanfare and a tune meant for whistling.
Michael Sweeney's Passages was the most interesting piece of the concert. It went back and forth between pastoral sections and Celtic drumming. The drumming kept my feet moving and kept Hamilton dancing to the rhythm.
The closing piece of the concert was Robert Sheldon's Iberian Escapades. A piece showing of Spanish rhythms with lots of percussion and a big and bold sound. A lifting way to end a beautiful Sunday afternoon that fed the belly and the soul.
The Ice Cream Social and Hot Springs Concert Band program was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Hot Springs Village. It was a success and will be repeated Monday night at 6:30 p.m. for ice cream and 7:30 p.m. for the concert. It is a do not miss.