As a retired accountant, I’m intrigued by numbers.
We’re always counting something, even in summer when life is supposed to be slower. How many degrees hotter is it today than yesterday? How many people are expected on RAGBRAI this year? How many pounds will the big bull weigh at the Iowa State Fair? How many days until school starts again?
For the New Horizons Band (NHB), there are also numbers to consider in the summer.
After our June concert, the band’s 40 musicians were told by our two directors that we had just thirty days to learn five new pieces for our next performance. Band members had a July-related response to that challenge: “No sweat!”
The NHB is a local group that enjoys playing together throughout the year. Our summer session typically features a smaller group and a more relaxed pace. We are ably led by director Kevin Niese (PhD candidate) and his summer assistant Pavin Esbaum (undergraduate), both from the University of Iowa School of Music and Music Education.
While the NHB may have fewer performers for the summer, we plan to make a great sound at our 2 p.m. concert on Thursday, July 25 at the Iowa City Senior Center. Our performance will also feature a special guest conductor, Dr. Adam Harry from the UI School of Music and Music Education. Dr. Harry has served as the band’s University liaison for several years and is a valued ally in our musical endeavors.
The inspiration for two of our new pieces was drawn from video soundtracks. For cinema buffs, "Great Movie Adventures" features themes from top-grossing pictures "Star Wars," "E.T.” and "Jurassic Park", all written by Oscar-winning composer John Williams. Gamers might relate to “Final Mission”, a piece described both as “massive” and “sophisticated”, was inspired by video game sounds. Its many melodic twists and turns definitely draw the listener into the action.
"Armed Forces: The Pride of America!" combines the anthems from each military branch into an inspiring musical medley. When this version was arranged in 2020, it featured tunes from the five long-time branches of the armed forces. Future renderings of this patriotic work will most likely be amended to include the newest military anthem, the “Space Force Hymn.” Meanwhile, our version still has plenty of patriotic melodies and stirring military rhythms.
There are countless songs that pay tribute to America and our July concert program contains two pieces about distinctly different areas of the country. “Appalachian Morning” reflects the heritage of the Scottish and Irish who settled in Appalachia. The expressive passages are a musical walk through the forests and mountains. Nearly five thousand miles west lies the Pacific coast. “Pacifica” blends digital effects against lyrical melodies, thereby representing the area’s scenic beauty as well as its technological advances.
The New Horizons Band always welcomes new members who enjoy playing wind band music with a group. Our fall session starts on September 3, only 40 days away! We’d love to see you at a rehearsal. Visit our website for further details: iowacitynhb.org. In the meantime, we're counting on you to be in the audience at our final summer concert on Thursday, July 25 at the Senior Center.
JoAnn Koskey plays flute in the New Horizons Band.
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