The Gersthofen town band processed impressions of a stay in the USA at the spring concert in the town hall. And that resonated with the audience.
In October, the All Gersthofen Band die USA. There were also many members of the Gersthofen town band. The successful trip was organized by its 1st chairman Dr. Rainer Schaller. It was therefore obvious to tie in with the American impressions when designing the program for the spring concert.
The concert evening was titled “Hands Across the Sea”. That was also the motto of the joint concert with the Stonewall Brigade Band in Staunton (Virginia). With the march of the same name by the American “march king” John Phillip Sousa, the city band made the connection across the ocean sound impressively. There should also be a sequel. The visit of the Stonewall Brigade Band to Gersthofen is currently planned for June 2024.
Gersthofer Stadtkapelle brings along US compositions
The town band also brought some original compositions from Staunton and incorporated them into the programme. The concert started with “Burst of Glory”, a march in the typically relaxed American sound. After that, three brass music compositions could be heard, all of which have a connection to Virginia. In the powerful and joyful “Appalachian Overture” catchy folkloric melodies are processed. The varied “Augusta Variations” are dedicated to Augusta County, in which Staunton is also located. The calmly flowing tone painting “Shenendoah” is named after the national park in southern Appalachia and a river. The medley “Moments for Morricone” is peppered with famous movie melodies from spaghetti westerns. Especially “Play me the song of death” caused goosebumps.
A highlight of the evening was “Farmer’s Tuba”, a piece that demands a lot from the soloist, both technically and rhythmically. Tobias Mittelmaier mastered the demanding solo on his tuba with flying colours. The drummers also convinced with stylish funky and Latin rhythms. This was followed by the march “Euphoria” by M. Scharnagl.
Farewell march for Gersthofer honorary member Hermann Fertig
Johannes Schuster moderated the evening in the tried and tested manner. Before the “March of the Medici” began, Hermann Fertig, honorary member and long-time 1st and 2nd chairman and active trombone musician for more than 60 years, took the floor. He wished for his favorite march to say goodbye because, due to his age, it was the last spring concert for him.
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With “Panorama USA” the city band once again spanned a wide arc across the pond. The multitude of well-known American melodies encouraged people to clap along. Conductor Gerhard Kratzer took over the orchestra only a year ago. Under his sovereign direction, the musicians were in top form. Rarely had one heard the town band at the spring concert so compact, so dynamic and so differentiated in terms of sound. The audience loved it. Only after two encores, the Sousa march “Washington Post” and the repetition of “Burst of Glory”, did the curtain fall. (THE)
