Canton Community Band prepares for busy summer season

The Canton Community Band performs at the 2023 Memorial Day ceremony. (Candace Paris photo)

With the approach of Memorial Day weekend, the Canton Community Band is preparing for its busiest time of the year. The organization is known especially for playing during the summer months, beginning with the Memorial Day ceremony (where it plays with the Canton High School band) and a concert in front of the Rodman Administration Building in early July. The band also makes appearances beyond Canton, playing in parades and concerts in towns around the area not only during the summer but also the rest of the year, including Veterans Day in Sharon.

To fulfill its scheduled obligations, the band obviously needs to maintain a certain number of musicians. Bob Brown, band manager and a Mansfield resident, estimated that about 25-30 members attend weekly rehearsals, although the total roster is larger. Ideally, it would have more members. “We’re always looking for just about any instruments,” Brown said.

He would especially like to encourage bassoon, oboe, saxophone, trumpet and drum players to consider joining, noting that the group may have never had a bassoonist.

The band has a long, proud history in Canton dating back to 1927. It has always been associated with the American Legion, although there is no official connection. Brown explained that many towns had bands in the “good old days” before radio and television. Town bandstands provided an important entertainment venue for people to hear live music. Following World War I, more bands were formed by veteran groups. Many veterans had played in the bands common to all military units, so plenty of talent was available.

Formation of the Canton band may have been inspired by the Milton band, which was one of the first in the area. Brown said that Canton’s band first performed on Memorial Day in 1927. Details have faded with time, but it probably played in the town center, likely also marching in a parade.

Somewhat confusingly, and perhaps related to its long history, the group is known by several name variations. “Community Band” is how members typically identify themselves. On some official forms, the name is “Canton Community Band” or “American Legion Band.” Another name variation is “Canton American Legion Community Band.”

Like so many other organizations, the band struggled during the pandemic. Rehearsals stopped, as did all performances. Several members quit, and a few passed away, although none specifically from COVID. For a while, the group had no leader. Things started turning around when the band played a small concert in Milton toward the end of the pandemic. Gary Good, who had retired from teaching music at Milton High School, was in the audience as a friend of a band member. He subsequently became director of the band, a position he holds today.

The effort to rebuild membership, however, continues. Brown, who joined the group in 1978 and became manager in 1997, is an enthusiastic promoter of band music. A trombonist himself, he said, “It can be boring playing alone, but with a group there’s camaraderie.”

Brown also cited “uplifting music,” good feelings that come from a rehearsal, applause and the reward of entertaining people as reasons to join. He noted that it’s common for members to join after years away from playing in high school and college and that playing music is a lifelong activity.

Of the total group, about six current members are from Canton, seven are veterans, and one is a former member of the Canadian navy. Brown himself is a veteran and a member of the American Legion. His career was in civil engineering; he noted that, curiously, engineers are strongly represented in community bands. A wide range of ages and abilities are also represented in the group. “Everybody’s welcome, including high school students,” Brown said.

The band has no professionals; an approximately high school level of proficiency, including some ability to read music, is needed. Anyone interested in playing who doesn’t own an instrument may be able to borrow one from another member. Several people own multiple instruments, especially drum sets and sousaphones or other big horns. The group’s music programs are varied and include traditional band music by such composers as Sousa and Bagley, pop and show tunes, big band music, and popular classical pieces like Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, von Suppé’s Light Cavalry Overture, and Pachelbel’s Canon in D. Rock music, however, has not been a part of the repertoire.

As the band looks forward to its 100-year anniversary, its players will continue to help foster patriotism and a sense of community in Canton and beyond. While its glory days of travel to Legion conventions and other special events may be past, it has a strong future and Brown would love to inspire more people to get involved.

“There’s nothing better than coming out and sitting on the town green hearing acoustic music,” he said.

Band rehearsals are held Thursday nights from 7-9 p.m. in the Brayton Library at the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. Note that members are not required to participate in both concerts and parades; most do both but some do only one. For more information, go to www.cantonband.org.

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Posted by Candace Paris on May 24 2024. Filed under Features. Both comments and pings are currently closed.