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Concert Band

It's like an orchestra, without the strings

Celebrating the legacy of Minnesota's real-life 'Music Man'

G. Oliver Riggs was a real-life Minnesota 'Music Man' in the early 20th century, creating and directing a few dozen bands, drumming up enthusiasm for band music, and raising money for uniforms. Now, great-granddaughter Joy Riggs is sharing his story in her new book, 'Crackerjack Bands and Hometown Boosters.'

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Ron Nelson's "Rocky Point Holiday"

Rhode Island natives of a certain age wax nostalgia about Rocky Point, a popular family vacation spot on the Narragansett Bay side of Warwick, which operated from the late 1840s until its close in 1995. There was an amusement park with rides like “The Russian Toboggan,” “The Wildcat” and...Episode details...

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Century-old Robbinsdale City Band plays notes of the past into the future

Just northwest of Minneapolis lies the city of Robbinsdale, home of the Robbinsdale City Band. Over 112 years, it has played through world wars and an unending series of changes. Like the city itself, it has managed to hold onto a timeless community strength while adapting to the times. Watch a 360 video of a recent performance!

3min 34sec

Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever!" March

On today’s date in 1897, John Philip Sousa was in Philadelphia and leading his band in the premiere performance of “The Stars and Stripes Forever!” Sousa wrote his most famous march on Christmas Day, 1896, in a New York hotel room—completing the score, he said, in just a couple of hours. The...Episode details...

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Before you go...

YourClassical is proud to offer you classical music for any occasion. As a public media service, this wouldn’t be possible without your support. Please make a gift today to sustain this music.

Del Tredici's In Wartime

On today’s date in 2003, the Wind Ensemble of the University of Texas at Austin, led by Jerry Junkin, premiered a new work for wind band by the American composer David Del Tredici. Its title was “In Wartime,” as its composition and premiere coincided with the 2003 invasion of Iraq, led by the...Episode details...

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Gould at West Point

In 1952, the West Point Military Band celebrated that famous military academy’s Sesquicentennial by asking prominent composers to write celebratory works to mark the occasion. Among those who responded with a new piece was the American composer Morton Gould, whose “West Point Symphony” received...Episode details...

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