Posted by glennled on May 4, 2015
Washington District 1 and Northwest Little League Champions, comprised of Pacific Little League All-Stars, played in the 2014 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Is there a future Seattle Mariners baseball star in the Pacific Little League? The huge crowd in Lynnwood on 25 April 2015, might reasonably hope so, given the exceptionally strong performance of its All-Stars last year when they played in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Celebration of their significant accomplishment highlighted this year’s Pacific Little League Day.
Glenn Ledbetter, VFW Post 1040 Bugler, sounds “To the Color”
And for the fourth year in a row, I was privileged to participate by sounding “To The Color,” this time on my new Getzen bugle, while Girl Scout Troop #44193 presented the colors to the hundreds of players and their fans at Harry H. Moore Field, Lynndale Park.
Every season opening is filled with excitement and hope, for “every day is a new day, with no mistakes in it,” as Anne of Green Gables says in the movie. For more information about and photos of the very special Pacific Little League, this venue, and this annual event, see my previous blog posts of 22 May 2012, 26 May 2013, and 7 June 2014.
Unless otherwise identified, these photos are by Carol Sheldon, Michelle Corsi, and Nancy MacDonald. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Echelbarger Fieldhouse at Harry H. Moore Field, Lynndale Park, Lynnwood, WA
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Color Guard, walk-through rehearsal prior to the ceremony
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Glenn Ledbetter organizes Girl Scout Color Guard before ceremony begins. Photo by David Pan, Editor, Lynnwood Today.
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Parade of Players – 1
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Parade of Players – 2
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“My first drone!”
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Demonstrating how to make a sound on a bugle (with mute in bell)
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Standby….
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Color Guard awaits the command, “Present the Colors”
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Color Guard, Girls Scouts Troop #44193, in position during “To the Color”
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“To the Color” by Glenn Ledbetter, VFW Post 1040 Bugler
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“Star Spangled Banner” by Jaymie Studioso
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Reciting the Little League Pledge
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2014 Washington District 1 and Northwest Little League Champions – Robley Corsi, NW Regional Coach of the Year
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Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling throws ceremonial first pitch
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: bugle, bugler, Getzen, Girl Scouts, Little League World Series, Lynndale Park, Mayor Dave Earling, mute, Pacific Little League, To the Color, VFW Post 1040 | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 4, 2015
Getzen Field Trumpet, M2003E, with B-flat tuning slide
Getzen Bugle with 3C Mouthpiece and Carrying Case
On 17 February 2015, UPS delivered a carefully wrapped package from Getzen Company, Inc. of Elkhorn, Wisconsin directly to my front door. Instantly, I knew what was inside—my new Getzen Field Trumpet!—commonly known as a bugle. I played it publicly for the first time with the Honor Guard, VFW Post 1040, on the following Saturday at a graveside service at the IOOF Cemetery in Monroe, WA. It’s sonorous!
I bought model M2003E with a clear lacquer finish. It bears logos for Getzen and Bugles Across America (BAA) and a special etching on mine: John 15:13. As you know, that’s where Jesus says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
The bell is one piece, hand-hammered yellow brass. Like all Getzens I’ve ever played, it blows easily, with minimal resistance, and the tone is solid and rich. I bought the extra G tuning slide, too. I plan to use the G tuning slide for “Taps” and “Funeral March” and the B-flat slide for most other bugle calls. The U.S. Army and Navy use at least 67 bugle calls.
In addition to being Post Bugler for VFW Post 1040, I am also a member of BAA, a national organization that furnishes live buglers for military funerals, memorials and ceremonies. The designation, “American Heritage Elite,” is given by Getzen to those field trumpets purchased by members of BAA. See http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org. For more about Getzen instruments, see http://www.getzen.com.
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Getzen Carrying Case
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Bugle with G Tuning Slide
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: BAA, bugle, bugler, Bugles Across America, field trumpet, Funeral March, Getzen, Taps, VFW Post 1040 | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 3, 2015
Royal Theatre, Victoria, B.C., Canada
My, oh, my, how they saw love in Scotland and Italy in the early 1800’s! Sir Walter Scott published his novel, The Bride of Lammermoor, in 1819, and Donizetti produced his opera, Lucia di Lammermoor, based on the novel, in 1835. It’s said to be a drama tragico written in the bel canto tradition. What’s that? Well, to me, an opera novice, that sounds like the opera is a tragedy, probably turgid or melodramatic, in which the singers belt out a lot of fast-moving notes over an extremely wide range…i.e., a very sad story told through very difficult, sometimes beautiful music.
Gaetano Donizetti, c. 1835
So, what happens? Sure enough, three protagonists die in the third act, one by murder, one by suicide, and one of a broken heart that induces insanity. That’s early 19th century love for you! Only the villain, Enrico, survives. As he manipulates others in his own struggle for power, casualties fall dead on the stage, one by one, including his helpless sister, Lucia and her two suitors, one of whom she loves passionately but tragically. In the end, Enrico is forced to see what he has wrought, and his pain and guilt hang heavily and darkly over the final scene.
My wife and I have now seen two operas in Victoria, B.C. (see my post of 2 June 2014, regarding Richard Strauss’ Ariadne Auf Naxos). We saw this second opera on the evening of Valentine’s Day, 14 February 2015. It was performed in the Royal Theatre by Pacific Opera Victoria with the Victoria Symphony and the Pacific Opera Chorus. Lucia di Lammermoor is generally considered Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti’s masterpiece among his ~75 operas.
Posted in Professional Concerts | Tagged: Ariadne Auf Naxos, bel canto, Gaetano Donizetti, Lucia di Lammermoor, music, opera, Pacific Opera Chorus, Pacific Opera Victoria, Richard Strauss, Royal Theatre, Victoria Symphony | 2 Comments »
Posted by glennled on May 2, 2015
2015 NSD 6th Grade Honors Orchestra (left), Choir (center), and Band (right)
In a stellar performance, three honors groups—the best NSD musicians of 2015—entertained a packed house at Northshore Junior High School in Bothell on 10 February at the annual Northshore School District’s (NSD’s) Sixth Grade Honors Concert.
NSD 6th Grade Honors Band (right), Choir (center), and Orchestra (left)
First was the Honors Orchestra, conducted by Jim Rice of Inglemoor High School. Next was the Honors Choir, conducted by Kyra Renstorf of Woodinville High School and Leota Junior High School. Finally was the Honors Band, conducted by Janie McDavid of Shelton View Elementary and Kenmore Junior High School. [Incidentally, Mrs. McDavid’s husband is Dr. Brad McDavid, Director of Athletic Bands, University of Washington, who is featured in numerous posts in this blog.] Each group performed four pieces. The program was emceed by Ted Christensen of Inglemoor High School (IHS), who is Music Coordinator for the Northshore School District. This is his 32nd year at IHS.
Below is a gallery of photos from the concert. As usual in this blog, I highlight trumpeters in the band, three of whom I teach at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell. In all, Skyview contributed 12 musicians to the Honors Band. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Jim Rice conducts 2015 Honors Orchestra
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Ted Christensen emcees the 2015 Honors Concert
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Krya Renstorf conducts 2015 Honors Choir
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Janie McDavid conducts 2015 Honors Band
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Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: band, choir, concert, Dr. Brad McDavid, honors, Janie McDavid, Jim Rice, Kyra Renstorf, Northshore School District, NSD, orchestra, Shawn McGinn, Ted Christensen, trumpeters | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 30, 2015
Vietnam War Commemoration Flag
On 7 February 2015, some 150 veterans, family members, and friends gathered at the Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center, north of Everett, WA, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. The theme of the ceremony was “Welcome Home,” exemplified by displaying the new Vietnam War Commemoration Flag.
In a Proclamation (see http://www.vietnamwar50th.com), President Barack Obama declared that the period 28 May 2012 through 11 November 2025 is designated as “Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.” He called upon federal, state, and local officials to honor, with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities, “our Vietnam veterans, our fallen, our wounded, those unaccounted for, our prisoners of war, their families, and all who served.” That’s just what the hosts did on this occasion. The sponsors were the Tulalip Veterans Center and the Washington State Gold Star Mothers (see my posts of 06/17/2014 and 06/19/2014).
USS Koiner (DE-331)
Some 15 symbols on the flag are explained at http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/about/about_the_flag. Martin Spani of VFW Post 1040, Lynnwood, spoke about each one. The message at the bottom of the flag has special meaning to Vietnam vets: “A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You.” The keynote address was presented by Vietnam veteran, Michael Reagan, of the Fallen Heroes Project (see my posts of 11/19/2011, 11/19/2012, and 06/17/2014).
To open the ceremony, I sounded the bugle call, “Assembly.” At its conclusion, I sounded “Taps.” I also am a Vietnam War veteran—Lt., USNR, served in Operation Market Time off Vietnam in 1965-67, USS Koiner (DE-331), Operations Officer. The Koiner was home-ported in Agana, Guam during the Vietnam War. She was named for Ltjg. James Duval Koiner who died during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942.
You may click on any image to enlarge it.
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Assembly, bugle, Commemoration Flag, Koiner, Martin Spani, Michael Reagan, Taps, Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center, VFW Post 1040, Vietnam War, Washington State Gold Star Mothers | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 29, 2015
Mr. Jim Rice conducts IHS Symphonic Band
This year’s “Winter Holiday Concert” at Inglemoor High School’s (IHS’s) Performing Arts Gymnasium in Kenmore on 18 December 2014, started with about 30 minutes of music by the school’s jazz band, as the full-house audience arrived and got seated in the grandstands. They played Bernard’s “Winter Wonderland,” among other tunes. Mr. Jim Rice is the Jazz Band Director, and he also conducted the Symphonic Band (including “Themes from ‘The Nutcracker'”) and String Orchestra (Holtz’s “In the Bleak Midwinter”).
Mr. Ted Christensen directed both the String Orchestra (Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride”) and the Wind Symphony (including “Flourish for Wind Band”). The Wind Ensemble featured 8 new cornets in “The Sussex Mummers’ Christmas Carol” by Richard Franko Golman. Mr. Christensen is not only the IHS Band Director but also the Northshore School District Music Coordinator. This is Mr. Christensen’s 32nd year at IHS. The Wind Ensemble took a trip in April 2015 to play at the “Ring of Fire” Concert in Carnegie Hall in New York City.
The Concert Choir, Belle Voci, and Chamber Choir were directed by Teresa Sullivan, who is both IHS Choir Director and Music Department Chair.
Below is a photo gallery of the concert. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Jim Rice (left), IHS Jazz Band Director
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Flugelhorn solo
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Teresa Sullivan conducts IHS Concert Choir
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IHS Symphonic Band (left)
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Jim Rice conducts IHS Symphonic Band
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IHS Belle Voci (right)
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IHS Belle Voci
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Jim Rice conducts IHS String Orchestra
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Ted Christensen conducts IHS String Orchestra
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Curt Hayes, Inglemoor Instrumental Music Boosters
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IHS Chamber Choir
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Teresa Sullivan conducts IHS Chamber Choir
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IHS Wind Ensemble (left)
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Ted Christensen conducts IHS Wind Ensemble
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For a more smooth, mellow sound, the Wind Ensemble uses 8 new cornets
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Posted in Inglemoor High School, School Concerts | Tagged: band, Carnegie Hall, choir, concert, cornets, IHS, Inglemoor High School, jazz, Jim Rice, music, orchestra, symphonic, symphony, Ted Christensen, Teresa Sullivan | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 28, 2015
Lianna Bennett sits at the headstone of her grandfather, U.S. Army Col. William W. Etchemendy, during Wreaths Across America’s ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
Every December, every year, the crowds keep getting bigger as the Wreaths Across America ceremony spreads and becomes more well-known. Here in Seattle, it was celebrated for the fifth time on 13 December 2014, at the Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Evergreen-Washelli. The prime sponsor of the local event is Navy Wives Clubs of America #277, led by Lorraine Zimmerman.
The 1st Corps Command Honor Guard performed Color Guard duties. For the fifth year in a row, the Honor Guard of VFW Post 1040 in Lynnwood furnished the rifle team and bugler for the rifle salute and bugle calls, “Assembly” and “Taps,” and as you know, I’m 1040’s Post Bugler. I’ve posted two other articles in this blog about this annual event (see my posts of 12/16/2011 and 1/9/2013).
This ceremony has its roots in the patriotic experience of the owner of the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, in 1992, when he and others took some surplus wreaths to be laid at selected tombstones, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. At the third website in the list below, you can read the history of how this ceremony has spread nationwide since 2007, when the non-profit organization, Wreaths Across America (WAA), was formed.
In 2010, WAA and its national network of volunteers laid more than 220,000 memorial wreaths at 545 locations in the USA and beyond. One year later, Navy Wives Club #277 joined that group of volunteers in bringing the ceremony to Evergreen-Washelli and Seattle.
For additional information, please go to the following websites:
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Arlington National Cemetery, Assembly, bugle, bugler, Evergreen Washelli, Navy Wives Club #277, Taps, Veterans Memorial Cemetery, VFW Post 1040, Wreaths Across America | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 27, 2015
HIMS 2014 Winter All Bands Concert concludes after Dan Rowe conducted “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson
One of the outstanding music programs in Seattle did it again—four Hamilton International Middle School bands gave a great “Winter All Bands Concert” at Lincoln High School Auditorium on 11 December 2014.
Each band performed four pieces. Among those by the 48-member Beginning Band, conducted by Angela Babbitt, was “March Miniature” by Dan Rowe. The other three bands were conducted by Mr. Rowe himself. The 72-member Cadet Band was next, and two of its pieces were by Mark Williams, “Drive” and “Bryce Canyon Overture.”
Beginning with the 66-member Concert Band, some soloists and an ensemble started to emerge from the two remaining bands. The ensemble was featured in “Drums A-Plenty,” arranged by Lew Pollack. And finally, when the 70-member Symphonic Band took the stage, the spotlight fell on an accomplished xylophone soloist, playing “Galop” by Dimitri Kabalevsky.
A gallery of photos of the four bands follows (below). Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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HIMS Beginning Band, Angela Babbitt, Director
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HIMS Cadet Band, Dan Rowe, Director
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Friends of Music at Hamilton International (FOMAHI)
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HIMS Concert Band, Dan Rowe, Director
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“Drums A-Plenty”
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HIMS Symphonic Band, Dan Rowe, Director
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Xylophone soloist performs “Galop” by Dimitri Kabalevsky
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Trumpeters love to “neigh” in “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson
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Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: Angela Babbitt, bands, concert, Dan Rowe, drums, ensemble, FOMAHI, Hamilton International Middle School, Leroy Anderson, Sleigh Ride, soloists, symphonic, trumpet, trumpeters, xylophone | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 23, 2015
“It’s a Merry Christmas Eve!” sung on a city sidewalk by townspeople and carolers
I confess–I love musicals more than I love opera. I’m simple. After most musicals, I walk out of the theater with some song in my head, some melody in my heart, some lyrics on my lips. I like that. But although some opera music is magnificently beautiful and I like it, too, I often can hardly hum even my most favorite arias.
And so it was when I was invited to play trumpet with the orchestra of Alderwood Community Church (ACC) last Christmas season. Each year, ACC stages a Christmas play, and in 2014, the choice was the superlative religious musical, “A Time for Christmas” by Paul McCusker, David T. Clydesdale, Steven Amerson, and Lowell Alexander.
Mistress Lewis and children sing and dance at the orphanage in 1850 to “With A Little Bit of Faith”
The plot features the very hard-working Bill, a young businessman who gives lip service to Christmas but is too busy to celebrate it, and his consultant, Mary, who understands the meaning of Christmas and loves the joy and hope found in the celebration of it. In a dream, Bill encounters Bartholomew, a mysterious stranger, who leads Bill on a journey through five scenes of various Christmases past, from the birth of Christ to the present. It awakens Bill—through watching others in other times and places, he begins to realize what he’s missing and warms to Mary.
The orchestra and choir were conducted by Linda Collins, and the musical was dedicated to Dave Ballbach, “whose support and encouragement has inspired this endeavor for two decades.” It was presented five times during the weekend of 5-7 December at the church, which is located in Lynnwood near the intersection of I-5 with 196th St.
What tune was I singing when I left the church after the performances? Well, sometimes it was “With a Little Bit of Faith,” but more often it was “It’s a Merry Christmas Day!” And you know it’s a truly special musical when there are TWO songs stuck in your mind and heart!
The photos in the gallery below were provided courtesy of the professional photographer, John Crozier of Edmonds (see http://www.crozierphotography.com). Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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The Overture, “Festive Celebration,” Linda Collins, Music Director, Alderwood Community Church, Lynnwood, WA, 2014
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A city sidewalk, Christmas Eve
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Bill, the workaholic, persuades Mary, a consultant, to do some work on Christmas Eve, despite her protests
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Bill works as Mary sings “No Time for Love”
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Bill dreams, late Christmas Eve
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Bartholomew arrives to take Bill on a musical journey to Christmases past
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A Bethlehem hillside
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In the first century, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and Gabriel sings “A Savior”
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Bill resists Bartholomew
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A medieval feasting hall in 1450
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Pastor Gunning and worshippers in a small church sanctuary in London, 1657
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Puritans banned Christmas church services in mid-17th century England
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In a Victorian orphanage in 1850, Sarah sings a solo, “I Had a Dream”
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Cheer up, kids!
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Bill likes being mistaken for Santa Claus
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“Here We Come A-Wassailing” by the Twenties Carolers
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“Go Tell It on the Mountain” by the Forties Quartet
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“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by the Fifties Quartet
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“The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy” by the Sixties Trio
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“What Child Is This?” a Nineties Instrumental performed by Rob Rankin
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In Mary’s Church, “I Believe”
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In Mary’s apartment
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Mary comes to fetch Bill on Christmas morning
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Curtain call
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The Finale, “It’s a Merry Christmas Day” and “He Is Our Hope”
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Trumpets, ACC Orchestra
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The Choir and Orchestra, Alderwood Community Church, Lynnwood, WA, 2014
Posted in Church Music | Tagged: A Time for Christmas, Dave Ballbach, It's a Merry Christmas Day, Linda Collin, lyrics, melody, musical, opera, Rob Rankin, song, trumpets, tune, With a Little Bit of Faith | 2 Comments »
Posted by glennled on April 16, 2015
On 4 December 2014, the two elementary bands (1st year and 2nd year) which are affiliated with Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell played their first concert of the school year in front of an adoring, proud crowd of parents, relatives and friends in the cafeteria/auditorium. Below is a photo gallery of the concert, with an emphasis on the brass section, whom I teach. Shawn McGinn, Director of Instrumental Music, conducted the concert and graciously allowed me to conduct the final piece by the 2nd-year band. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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1st-year elementary band prepares for the 2014 holiday concert
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Featuring the 12 flutes
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Featuring the 18 clarinets
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Featuring the 6 trumpets and 6 trombones
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Featuring the 13 percussion
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2nd-year elementary band
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Mr. Shawn McGinn, Director of Instrumental Music, Skyview Jr. High, Bothell
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Posted in School Concerts, Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 