marching bands

Michael,

This is the site of the marching band of the University of Michigan which is considered to be one of the best:

http://mmb.music.umich.edu/merchandise/items.asp?category=4

My daughter played her French horn and marched with her high school band (which is one of the best in Illinois) for four years. She also was the Drum Major (the leader) of the band in her Junior year.
Those bands, on top of playing during sport events, compete against each other, and my wife and I found ourselves traveling long distances to watch the top 20 bands of the state playing in the finals.
Though it looks easy, the ability to play music, count steps and move in tandem with another ninty marchers requires a lot of practice.

I enclose a Picture of my daughter's school marching band.

Regards,

Haim

Michael,

John Phillip Sousa wrote and conducted a lot of marching bands music.

http://www.amazon.com/Sousas-Greatest-United-States-Mar...7576-6507141?ie=UTF8

http://www.dws.org/sousa/

Regards,

Haim

Sousa is a great study in that genre. I remember more of them being played when I was a kid growing up in West Point NY and Wash. DC in the late 50s. I just remember th pain of trying to stand still under teh steady critical gaze of my father for what seemed like eternities. No mucking about like I see kids today, my life depended on being still. Tho I do remember really liking the whomping sound of the bass drum as they passed and the pounding in my chest. Certainly gets your blood going and patriotic spirit up. Our local classical DJ was going on about a favorite British composer who did a lot of band work, but I can't remember the name. Some he played were just wonderful tho. I think he also did a lot of film scores during and after WW2 if that clue helps any.

Another composer was Charles Ives. He came from Connecticut I believe, first half of the century, wrote insurance policies, but also composed for fun. He has a quirky take on bands and loved to throw in the odd sound, out of tune notes, or singers, because he grew up with a band conductor father who had to bring untrained people together in small town events and told Charles they were just perfect the way they were. Also, he often included bits and pieces of traditional American tunes drifting in and out in his larger works. He's very entertaining to listen to.