John D. Baker's Performing Arts Page

Selected Symphonic Band Discography

Fiesta , Dallas Wind Symphony/Howard Dunn, Reference Recordings, RR-38CD
Trittico , Dallas Wind Symphony/Frederick Fennell, Reference Recordings, RR-52CD
Pomp & Pipes -- Powerful Music for organ, winds, brass & percussion , Dallas Wind Symphony/Frederick Fennell, Reference Recordings, RR-58CD
Under the BigTop: 100 Years of Circus Music , The Great American Main Street Band, Angel, CDC 54728
Recall! Step Off on Hullaballoo! -- The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, Vol. VII , The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band/LtC. Ray E. Toler, Texas A & M University, TAMU-1
1894--1994 Centennial, Vol. VIII , The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band/LtC. Ray E. Toler, Texas A & M University, TAMU-2
Husa, Copland, Vaughan Williams, Hindemith , The Eastman Wind Ensemble/Donald Hunsberger w/Wynton Marsalis, CBS Records Masterworks, MK 44916
British and American Band Classics , Eastman Wind Ensemble/Frederick Fennell, Mercury Living Presence CD, 432 009-2
The Music of Kenneth Alford (including the complete Marches) , The Band of H.M. Royal Marines: Naval Home Comand, Portsmouth/Cpt. J.R. Mason, Chandos Collect series, CHAN 6584
Ballet for Band & Wagner for Band , Eastman Wind Ensemble/Frederick Fennell, Mercury Living Presence CD, 434 322-2
Arnaud, Vaughan Williams, Grainger , Cleveland Symphonic Winds/Frederick Fennell, Telarc, DG-10050

More to come....

Reference Recordings
Box 77225X
San Francisco, CA 94107
(800) 336-8866

Precision Marching performances.

in high school
The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band

I love marching bands. Or rather I love marching bands that actually march. That is I expect the group to be in nearly constant motion from the moment they step off until they exit the field.

In particular, I enjoy precision marching (aka ``military style''). There's a lot of breathtaking maneuvers that can be executed within the otherwise rigid framework of ranks and files. The most effective aspect of the precision style is the surprize value--the ability to move in a manner that the audience doesn't expect and do so INSTANTLY!

High School Marching and Playing Experience

I marched ``military'' with my high-school band and enjoyed the thrill of performance. Our director was from the Old School of marching bands and it greatly influenced my appreciation of this form of performing art.

My senior year, I had the opportunity to take a more active role in rehearsing a drill. To begin with, I became the de-facto Drum Major after all the other candidates failed to audition. We marched with a ``Hidden Drum Major'' (me) since I simply got the band started and all other maneuvers were dictated by the music. (Such training was to help me greatly in the next two years.)

Our director was receiving medical treatment which prevented him from overseeing rehearsals himself. He assigned a number of squad leaders (of whom I was one) to teach the drill to the band. My brother (also a squad leader) discovered timing discrepancies in the drill and we spent one evening re-writing a portion of the show. The end result worked far better than the director's original!

At one point, I designed a drill entirely of my own, with our small (36 pieces) band in mind. I'd hoped to submit it to the director to be performed, but he decided it was too complex (he was probably right).

Recall! Step Off on Hullaballoo!

I marched with The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band from the fall of 1985 to the fall of 1986 (grades, etc. got me). During that time, I grew to appreciate the real work that goes into superior performance. My training in high school taught me how to use the music as the reference for the maneuvers, so memorization of both music and drill went much more easily.

I still follow the Aggie Band's activities and now participate in the Texas Aggie Band Association's Reunion Band, including the Grand Centenial Reunion Band which performed on Kyle Field on 24 September 1994 (file 10, rank 13).

My fondest wish is to play and perform precision drills with any group of people who cares to form up. I could use the exercise, and I can't imagine a more thrilling way to get it.

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© 1995 John D. Baker, jdbaker@NoSpAm!blkbox.com
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