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Yes, This America Is Still Around
While shooting the State Fair on Military Appreciation Day, I came upon a band, and decided just to roll tape and see what I could get. There’s something so American about this scene, and so wonderfully ordinary. It’s about 1:35 when I realized I was having one of those days you only get at the Fair.
Feel a bit better about things? I did.
(In case you were wondering why I was backing up at the beginning, I was getting the master shot, in case I wanted to detach the audio and use it as a bed for a video with many other scenes.)
Published in General
Which Mahler?
Just go to startribune.com and search for “lileks” – I have seven more uploaded, each nice and short. (1:30 or so.)
Absolutely fabulous. Reminded me of the days when I was a kid back in the early 1950s when we would assemble at a local park for the celebrations Memorial Day and The Fourth of July. There was never a dry eye. The love and pride of country was something we all wore on our sleeves. Some of us still do.
In my brief career as a station staffer I was the VOCA guy. Just when you thought it was safe to whistle along with the Mayberry theme I showed up to ruin it.
Mahler’s Second. It was the piece Levine conducted in 1971 which put him on the map. They persuaded Levine to come back to Ravinia, motorized wheelchair and all, to conduct it one more time. Yeah, it’s not Sousa but . . .
Amen!!
Wonderful. Makes me miss my dad. He would have enjoyed that performance.
Because nobody was shooting at the band so you knew you’d be stuck with them for a long, long time?
I find it so Minnesota that the pavilion is an A-frame.
Maybe there yet remains a glimmer of hope for these fair lands…
I was a “band mom” for 12 years to our off-spring going through high school. “The Stars and Stripes Forever” is such a great song! Every band has to play it. Sousa knew what he was doing! One of my sons was given the John Phillips Sousa award by the local Marine group on the base near where we lived. It was given each year to a band/orchestra student in the school who “showed great dedication” to the music department. It’s one of the coolest prizes he ever received in high school.
Sweet. I still dream of being able to attend the Fair one year, but some obligation always comes up. You’re very fortunate to have the MSF at your doorstep.
Nuts…. the Anne Arundel County Fair, which is only 5 mile from my house will be starting on Wednesday Sept 14th a few days after “His Cheekiness” will be on his way to his next patron. It is not a large affair, but it capture all of the glorious oderificness of american farming. Pity
Love it. I’m surprised that no one has mentioned the rather attractive piccolo player with raging tat on on her right arm. That thing is going to be a full sleeve in a year or two. Funny contrast with the crisp white uniform.
As I watched, a few observations occurred to me: Nice tatts on the piccolo player’s arm (when did the military start allowing anyone other than sailors to sport tattoos?). What was that giant squirrel on the building in the background? Why didn’t someone punch out that annoying videographer walking around and getting in front of everyone?
And when @jameslieks asked “Which Mahler?” I thought he was asking whether it was Gustav or some other Mahler (Ralph?).
All I want to know is whether they had butter sculptures at the Minnesota State Fair?
The trombone part of “Stars and Stripes Forever” (listen right at the beginning, around 0:16; it repeats) is THE reason to play trombone.
Before we became parents, Mrs. Dunphy and I had season tickets at the Hollywood Bowl every summer. No matter how beloved the program might be, whether classical or pops, my favorite moment at every concert was when the orchestra opened with “The Star Spangled Banner.” Even the Hollywood folks (you know, Rob Long’s people) stood and sang along. I hope they still do.
Thanks for the post, James.
Butter sculptures are a mainstay of the Fair.
Princess Kay of the Milky Way
That’s a statue of Fairchild, the Fair Mascot. He celebrates his 50th this year. I interviewed him – the one who walks around and waves, not the statue – for another video.
Heh. I’m always careful not to block people’s views; the point where I settle down before the piccolo player gets up I was crouching by a big tree. And I was crouched down as far as possible when I walked past the stage.
Ralph’s symphonies are junk. All cowbell and kazoo.
A much-belated thank you for your informative response! [I’m going to have to check out Ralph’s symphonies – maybe they’re on YouTube?]