The Gainesville Community Band
Will Play Its Annual Bright Christmas Concert
Wednesday, December 8, 7:30 p.m.
Trinity United Methodist Church, 4000 NW 53rd Ave., Gainesville
This concert benefits the Weekend Backpack Program, which feeds chronically hungry children. An offering will be taken to support
the program.
Our Concert Program:
On Florida Shores March
By C.E. Duble; arr. Andy Isca
Charles Edward Duble (1884-1960) played trombone in, and composed music for, circus bands. He composed this march in 1926.
Three International Carols
Arr. John S. Kitts-Turner
Karen Adair, Soprano
The three carols are Germany's "O Tannenbaum," England's "The Holly and the Ivy" and France's "Noel Nouvelet."
Christmas Swing
Arr. Dizzy Stratford
This arrangement is based on the carol, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." "Dizzy Stratford" is the pseudonym of popular Dutch-born
composer Jacob de Haan.
The Christmas Song
By Mel Tormé and Robert Wells, arr.Jerry Nowak
Gary Langford, Trumpet
In July 1945 Mel Tormé (1925-1999) drove to the California home of his lyricist and collaborator Robert Wells. He found lyrics lying
on the piano. Wells explained, "It was so . . . hot today, I thought I'd write something to cool myself off. All I could think of
was Christmas and cold weather." Tormé replied, "You know, this just might make a song. The Christmas Song was written in about 45
minutes later that day. Tormé quickly showed the song to his friend Nat Cole, whose 1946 hit recording is now a beloved holiday
classic. ."
The Dreydl Song
Arr. John S. Kitts-Turner
Karen Adair, Narrator and Soprano
This arrangement is based on the traditional Hanukah song, "I have A Little Dreydl." A dreydl (also spelled dreidel) is a
four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side. It is used during Hanukkah to play a popular children's game that
involves spinning the dreidel and betting on which Hebrew letter will be showing when the dreidel stops spinning.
Christmas Recollections
Arr. John Edmondson
John Edmondson earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida in 1955, served two years in Army bands, then
received the Master of Music degree from the University of Kentucky in 1960. Christmas Recollections is a medley that includes
"Frosty The Snowman," "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town," "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Have
Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."
Playful Variations on Good King Wenceslas
By John S. Kitts-Turner
John S. Kitts-Turner, who wrote or arranged four of the numbers on this program, is professor emeritus of music, having taught
bassoon and Music History at the University of Florida for 34 years. He is still very active in music, and among other interests,
serves as the Gainesville Community Band's principal bassoonist.
Holiday Carol Sing Along
Arr. by John S. Kitts-Turner
A medley consisting of "Lo, How a Rose e'er Blooming," "Oh Christmas Tree," Oh Come all ye Faithful," "God Rest ye Merry,
Gentlemen," "What Child Is This?" and "Joy to the World."
Twas the Night Before Christmas
By Newell H. Long
Gary Langford, Narrator
Who wrote "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (more popularly known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas")? First printed in an 1823 Troy,
New York, newspaper, it was credited to "anonymous." But in 1844, Clement C. Moore acknowledged that he had written the work. Or
did he? There are those who now believe the popular poem was, in reality, written long before 1844, by Henry Livingston, a poet of
Dutch ancestry who lived in upstate New York. No matter who the author, it is still a Christmas perennial, especially in this
musical setting by Newell H. Long, and especially with Gainesville's favorite trumpet player, Gary Langford, narrating it!
A Christmas Festival,
By Leroy Anderson
Who doesn't love the music of Leroy Anderson (1908-1975)? Anderson, one of the most successful composers of semi classical music in
the 20th Century, also achieved popular success; his Blue Tango, for example, made #1 on the 1952 Hit Parade. That same year
Anderson wrote this medley, which consists of "Joy to the World," "Deck the Halls," "God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen," Good King
Wenceslas," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "The First Noel," "Silent Night," "Jingle Bells" and "O Come All Ye Faithful."
Sleigh Ride
By Leroy Anderson
Like Tomé's, "The Christmas Song," this cold-weather piece was written in hot weather. Shortly after his service in World War II and
being released from active duty, Anderson and his family spent the summer at Painter Hill in Woodbury, Connecticut. It was here in
Woodbury, during a heat wave, that he wrote of one of his most continually popular compositions, Sleigh Ride.
Featuring:
Karen Adair: Karen Adair's voice has been described as "crystal clear and so strong that when she sang everything else on stage
melted away" (Ocala Star Banner), "powerful and polished" (Daytona Beach News Journal), "Warm and opulent . . . Hers is a most
expressive voice." (The Times Herald-Record, NY). The Florida Times-Union Fine Arts writer wrote, "Her voice made hearts shudder".
She has appeared with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the Sofia [Bulgaria] Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensamble Rosario
(Argentina), Ormond Beach Symphony Orchestra, Valdosta Symphony, First Coast Opera, and Florida's First Coast Arts Festival. She
emerged professionally with the Central Florida Symphony, members of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, the Dell'Arte Opera Ensemble
(NYC), and the Orlando Opera Company, for whom she was a Resident Artist.
Gary Langford: University of Florida Professor Emeritus of Music and popular jazz trumpet/flugelhorn player Gary Langford will play
with the band and narrate "The Night Before Christmas." After graduating from the prestigious University of North Texas Jazz
Studies Program, Professor Langford began a 37-year career at Florida, where he served as Professor of Music, Assistant Director of
the School of Music, and Director of the Concert Band, the Marching Band and the Jazz Band. An accomplished arranger, Professor
Langford has completed over 400 arrangements for marching band. He was recognized by the International Association of Jazz Educators
as a recipient of their Outstanding Jazz Educator Award. He was honored twice by the University of Florida as Teacher of the Year.
He introduced thousands of students to jazz through his popular Jazz History class.
Gainesville Community Band: The Gainesville Community Band was founded in 1974. Four years later, the Gainesville City Commission
passed a resolution designating the GCB as the Official Community Band of Gainesville, and over its 35-year history of performance
the band has earned a reputation as the premier adult concert band of North Central Florida. Eighty-some members from all walks of
life currently play in the band. Dr. Gerald Poe, the band's music director, earned his B.A. degree from Western State College in
Colorado, M.M. Ed. from Florida State University and D.M.A. from the University of Colorado. Much in demand as clinician, conductor
and performer, Dr. Poe is listed in Who's Who in American Music, Who's Who in American Universities and most recently in the 2004
edition of Marquis Who's Who in America. Dr. Poe is active in Florida Music Educators, Music Educators National Conference, Florida
Bandmasters Association, and the Association of Concert Bands.
This concert is family friendly, and admission and parking are free.
To read more about the Gainesville Community Band, its history and its personnel, direct your web browser to www.gnvband.org .
Historically, Gainesville Community Band concerts have been free. Unlike school groups, the Gainesville Community Band has no
booster organization or "band parents group" to raise funds and underwrite activities. Band members buy their own uniforms. They
pay annual band membership dues. Most play personal instruments in rehearsals and concerts. Many donate money over and above dues
to keep the band going. Yet, costs of music arrangements, playing venues and other expenses continue to rise. After every concert,
pleased audience members ask how to contribute, how to help sustain the band and its active playing schedule. The Gainesville
Community Band is an IRS Sec. 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Charitable Organization, and all contributions are gratefully accepted. They
are tax deductible, and they support North Florida's premiere adult concert band. Send your check to Gainesville Community Band,
PMB 183, P.O. Box 147050, Gainesville, FL 32614-7050. At contributions of $25 or more, please specify whether the band may list
your name as a Patron in its concert program. For further information, see the GCB web site (www.gnvband.org) or contact the music
director at gpoe918@bellsouth.net, 352-472-7224.
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