The Hill Country Community Band to Play Popular Polkas and Fugues

By Oda Lisa, published in The Wimberley View 2/10/22

On Saturday, February 19, at 3:00 p.m., the Wimberley Community Center will be the venue for a lively, free concert by the Hill Country Community Band. The playlist features a sound spectrum of polkas and fugues composed by John Philip Sousa, Sergei Rachmaninov, Henry Mancini, Jaromir Weinberger, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Johann Strauss. A preview perusal of the concert’s program revealed the following information about the chosen compositions:

Pie in the Face Polka,” by Henry Mancini, arranged by Johnnie Vinson, might be the most familiar of the selections. The song was made famous as part of the soundtrack from the classic movie, The Great Race, starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood. It’s uproarious tone is well suited for the pie fight scene. The HCCB clarinet section takes center stage in this piece.

The HCCB percussionists, Dan Stephens and Nathan Deans, and Mike Thielen on timpani, play prominently on “Thunder and Lightning”, also known as “Unter Donner und Blitz” (Polka Schnell), by Johann Strauss. This arrangement by Larry Daehn highlights Bass drum, timpani rolls, cymbal clashes, and “flashing woodwinds” to simulate thunder and give the illusion of lightning.

“The Thunderer March,” by John Philip Sousa, arranged by Brion/Schissel, was dedicated in 1889 to Columbia Commandery No. 2 of the Knights Templar of Washington, D.C., and was Mrs. Sousa’s favorite march composed by the “March King.”

“Contrapunctus V,” from The Art of the Fugue, by Johann Sebastian Bach, also arranged by Larry Daehn, was One of the most famous fugues from Bach’s final magnum opus. Another musical selection by Bach to be played is “Fugue on the Cross”, arranged by Jeffrey Hayman, and is described as “a passionate and powerful rendering of Bach’s dark and brooding triple fugue.”

“Italian Polka” by Sergei Rachmaninov, arranged by Elena Roussanova Lucas, was first performed in 1906. According to the program notes, “This polka is based on a melody that Rachmaninov heard in Italy, played on an old street organ.  He declared that it was the favorite of all his compositions.”

“Polka and Fugue,” from the opera, Schwanda, the Bagpiper, by Jaromir Weinberger, was arranged for symphonic band by Glenn Cliffe Bainum. The notes further state that “Schwanda and Dorotka have been married for one week when they become involved in an adventure that leads them to the Queen with a heart of ice and a Devil who cheats at cards. In this scene of the opera, the Devil loses to Babinsky, who rescues Schwanda.”

Come and lose yourself for a time to enjoy the latest (and next greatest) musical offering from the Hill Country Community Band. To stay up to date about future concert dates and for more information about volunteering with the Hill Country Community Band or making a monetary donation, visit the HCCB website at www.hillcountrycommunityband.org and follow them on Facebook.