Signing up for our members-only email list
The Band has a private email list which we use for updates on concert cancellations, upcoming events, and rehearsal playlists. To receive these important messages you must sign up by sending an e-mail to mcband-subscribe@yahoogroups.com telling us your name and which section you’re in. (Already signed up? Click HERE to be transferred to the group login page.)
Percussion equipment moving roster
The current version of the roster for moving percussion is available here.
Loaner Instrument Policy
The current version of MCB’s policy on its loaner instruments is available here.
Maps for our shows
Click ‘view larger map’ on a particular map to go to a full-sized one where you can also get directions to the concert.
Flato Markham Theatre
Markham Fair
Markham Village Festival (Main St Markham and Robinson)
Orillia Aqua Theatre
RAIN LOCATION for Orillia
Details in the event of rain for Orillia
Doors to the Opera House will only be open at 5:30pm for load in. Band members can enter via the elevator entrance or front door. The elevator entrance is through the double doors – with windows – toward the back of the Opera House, directly across from the Library entrance in the parking lot.
From the elevator, the stage is on the 3rd floor. From the front entrance or ground floor, the stage is on the 1st floor (meaning up the stairs and through the double doors).
Unionville Millennium Bandstand
Message from Doug
The 12 Seconds Project
Hi folks
Reminder- no rehearsal until July 23. Enjoy the break!
I thought it might be helpful to bring everyone up to date on my plans for Twelve Seconds to the Moon. I understand that it’s a challenging piece, both technically and musically. But I think that with the accompanying artwork, it will be be a highlight of the show.
As you know, Twelve Seconds is a piece of program music telling the history of flight. Katarina Stewart, a recent Nipissing University graduate, has agreed to provide sketches to Illustrate the story. We’ll use a Powerpoint presentation as we perform.
I sent Kat the following outline, drawn from the composer’s notes and my own thoughts:
Listening Guide to “Twelve Seconds to the Moon”
Big picture: this Robert W. Smith band composition is described by the composer as “a celebration of man’s conquest of the sky and heavens above”. Elements of the piece include a representation of the Wright Brother’s first manned flight- which lasted twelve seconds- and the lift-off of the first manned ship to the moon.
Here’s a time-stamped set of the various sections of this piece. Most of the imagery is mine, so feel free to use, modify or ignore as you see fit.
0:00 Solo horn. Perhaps p.o.v. on Earth’s moon, with Earth filling the sky
0:35 Hymn of Flight. Caveman sitting on a cliff edge, his feet dangling over the edge, watching birds of prey soar in the wind currents. Changes to our caveman standing with his arms extended, wondering if he could learn to fly.
1:44 Here’s the hustle and bustle of the 1969 Kennedy Space Centre, pre-launch. Various shots might include exterior panoramas of Apollo 11 on the launch pad, and long shots of vehicles and people rushing around.
3:26 Closeup on people in the Kennedy Space Centre- scientists with test tubes and bubbling beakers developing fuel, and rows of people at video screens.
4:40 Travelling back in time to the Wright Bros. workshop, 1903. Two men toiling quietly, constructing a device that will make the first powered flight. At the end of this section, the final hammer stroke is made, and they are ready to try their first flight.
7:30 Pushing the vehicle out to the testing grounds, faster and faster, excitement is building.
8:33 Airborne- for twelve seconds! Perhaps a bird looks in, shocked to see that its space is now shared by man.
8:57 A celebration of success- the two brothers, standing with their arms around each other’s shoulders, gazing into the heavens.
9:58 Back to 1969, just before launch. Lots of busy people.
11:01 The launch of Apollo 11. Perhaps captured a few meters off the ground, lots of smoke and fire.
11:32 Outer space- success!
12:05 Landing on the moon. Perhaps the “one small step” moment.
13:18 A final image to leave the audience smiling- perhaps our caveman from the beginning has glued bird feathers to himself and he’s madly flapping his wings.
Kat responded with a very ambitious plan to provide 60 – 70 illustrations! She says, “I’m going to have a lot of fun with this. My plan is to make it scientifically accurate but in a fun and whimsical way which I think the entire audience, young or old will enjoy.”
So, if you’re not excited about performing Twelve Seconds to the Moon yet, consider playing the mp3 and read the timestamps to imagine what might be coming from Katarina.
Regards.
Doug
Playlist for Saturday June 16 and June 18
Hi folks
Sincere thanks for the vote of confidence at Monday’s AGM. I’m in the midst of planning next year’s season, and looking forward to another great year.
Our Concert Sunday series starts soon- 7 – 9 pm Sunday nights on the Unionville Millennium Bandstand. Members of the MCB exec will be on site, hosting and organizing. Feel free to come and enjoy the shows. Here’s the lineup:
June 24: Richmond Hill Concert Band
July 8: Columbus Concert Band
July 15: TYWO Summer Winds
July 22: Thornhill Community Band
July 29: Rouge River Winds
August 5: Markham Concert Band
Our next show is:
Saturday, June 16, 1:00 – 2:30, Main St. Markham at Robinson St. Green top, khaki bottoms, sunglasses and hats as needed.
As usual, the back half of the band will be on the small stage, and the rest of us on Main St. Please note that Main St. Markham will be closed to traffic. Most people find it easiest to park at the Community Centre at Highway 7 and Main St. Markham and take the ten minute walk north.. The more adventurous among you can try to navigate the side streets and try to find closer parking. The linked map has some suggestions.
The playlist for June 16 is as follows. I modified the order slightly at the request of a player who wanted to avoid three hard blows in a row. Note- no O Canada or singer!
Happy Birthday (Breen, time of performance depending on the Birthday Girl’s arrival)
Lion King
Funiculi
Eubie
Liberty Bell
Deep Purple
Chicago
Jersey Boys
Grease
Rolling Stones
Invercargill
Happy
Barry Manilow
Sinatra
Instant Concert
June 18 is our last rehearsal before our summer hiatus. Regular rehearsals resume on July 23, and we’ll be preparing for our August 5 and August 26 shows. Section leaders, keep in mind that we’ll continue to prepare some of the October show tunes. I’ll start designating them with (Oct) after the title. You may wish to adjust part assignments accordingly, depending on your October show plans.
Here’s the playlist for our June 18 rehearsal:
Danny Boy (Oct)
21st Century
Time Warp
Bob Seger
Disney Villains (Oct)
A Day at the Circus (Oct)
Superman (Oct)
Toy Trumpet (Oct)
King Kong (Oct)
Phantom (Oct)
Note that I’ve loaded demo recordings for much of October’s show into our shared Dropbox. If you’d like access to the shared folder, let me know. If you prefer, here’s a download link to the demo recording folder. I’d ask, though, that you download and save the audio files, rather than just streaming from my Dropbox. Don’t want to bump into Dropbox limits.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/asaqipdp5gif8pz/AABLOO1D2OXLvenllVJGMXQ6a?dl=0
Regards.
Doug
Playlists for June 11 and June 16
Hi folks
MCB- or at least Adam and Wendy- made the front page of the June 2018 Markham Snapd. There’s also a brief article and another printed picture. You can visit https://markham.snapd.com/events/view/1136392 to see ten event photos, or go the the Markham Snapd website and search for event pew74fp. Our own Yuki K. got print credit for her photos that the paper used!
Our next show is:
Saturday, June 16, 1:00 – 2:30, Main St. Markham at Robinson St. Green top, khaki bottoms, sunglasses and hats as needed.
As usual, the back half of the band will be on the small stage, and the rest of us on Main St. Please note that Main St. Markham will be closed to traffic. Most people find it easiest to park at the Community Centre at Highway 7 and Main St. Markham and take the ten minute walk north.. The more adventurous among you can try to navigate the side streets and try to find closer parking. The linked map has some suggestions.
The playlist for June 16 is as follows. Note- no O Canada or singer!
Happy Birthday (Breen, time of performance depending on the Birthday Girl’s arrival)
Lion King
Funiculi
Eubie
Liberty Bell
Deep Purple
Jersey Boys
Grease
Chicago
Rolling Stones
Invercargill
Happy
Barry Manilow
Sinatra
Instant Concert
At our June 11 rehearsal, we’ll rehearse Happy Birthday, Jersey Boys, Rolling Stones, and Barry M., and then touch on the rest as time permits.
My apologies for not having a clear plan on revising the rhythm in Barry M. I hate wasting your time at rehearsals like that. No sacrifice being too great, I researched at the foot of the master to clarify my thoughts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=591d-XV5rEo. It is a shame that Barry had to sing in that back brace…
Tbones and euphs, here’s the plan:
Bars 137, 138, 141, 142 revised rhythm is dotted eighth, sixteenth tied to quarter tied to eighth, three eighths
Bars 138, 143 revised rhythm is two eighths, sixteenth, dotted eighth, quarter, two eighths
See you Saturday.
Regards.
Doug
Summer info
Reminder- our confirmed summer gig list is:
Saturday June 2, 11:30 am – 12:30, Unionville Festival
Saturday June 16, 1 pm Markham Village Music Festival
Sunday August 5: Sunday Concert Series, Unionville Bandstand, 7 – 9 pm
Sunday August 26: Orillia Aquatheatre, picnic at 4:30 pm, concert 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Sunday Sept. 29: Markham Fair, likely 5 – 6 pm
We’re hosting our usual Concert Sunday series starting June 24, skipping July 1, and continuing until our appearance on August 5. If you’re free on the first five Sundays, we can always use a hand to distribute flyers and run the 50/50. All shows are 7 pm – 9 pm.
June 24: Richmond Hill Concert Band
July 8: Columbus Concert Band
July 15: Metropolitan Winds of Toronto
July 22: Thornhill Community Band
July 29: Rouge River Winds
Aug 5: Markham Concert Band
And re our Monday rehearsals, we’ll take a break June 25, July 2, 9, and 16, and there’s no rehearsal on August 6 and 27, or September 3.
Regards.
Doug
