San Rocco / T.V. March (Number 17)

San Rocco / T.V. March (Number 17) Performed by The Leominster Colonial Band during the filming of the Telly Award winning show "Marcia Sinfonica) directed by Carl Piermarini for Leominster Access Television. The Leominster Colonial Band performs weekly at Carter Park in Leominster and is steeped in tradition and history which dates back to its founding in 1910. The previous year, Gaspare Bisceglia, a 16 year old apprentice bandmaster, emigrated to the U.S. from his native town of San Giovanni, Italy. By the next year, enough of his fellow musicians from San Giovanni had joined him in Leominster to form their own band which was first known as the "Banda Regione Italia," and later the "Italian Colonial Band." Rich in musical culture, the Italian band soon became popular in this age before television and radio, playing at parades and in regular concerts held at the old gazebo on Leominster common.

Over the years, the band's concert venue moved from downtown to the small park near Rockwell's Pond, and then to its present location at Carter Park where a suitable bandstand was built in the 1970s. The band's name also was changed from the "Italian Colonial Band" to the "Leominster Colonial Band" to reflect the changing demographics of the band in the melting pot that was Leominster. Gaspare Bisceglia led the band until 1967, stepping down in favor of his son, respected local musician E. Vincent Bisceglia. The younger Bisceglia wielded the baton for 32 years until his retirement in 1998, ending 89 years of Bisceglia reign. Noting the occasion, the City of Leominster formally named the bandstand in their honor in 1998. Leominster native Steven Piermarini was appointed as the new conductor, poised to lead the band into the 21st century.

The music performed by the band in its summer concerts reflects its European heritage in the operatic excerpts and overtures, and its American culture in many pop titles and show tunes. In 1990 the band instituted its annual Christmas Concert, expanding its performances into the winter months and inaugurating a new tradition for music lovers to enjoy.
The center for Italian culture at Fitchburg State College has announced that the Leominster Colonial Band is this years recipient of the Italian American Achievment Award. The Band will be honored at the Center's Celebration on wednsday may 23rd 2007. link to their site www.colonialband.org

Category:

Music

Tags:

• italian
• music
• leominster
• telly
• award
• piermarini
• morin
• celli
• cormier
• redstone
• fitchburg
• state
• college

[trapezemusic]

This band does a very fine job. Thanks for posting this video.