“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band appeared in concert at the Biddeford Middle School Performing Arts Center on Oct. 14. The sponsors of this event (the Biddeford Public Schools and the Journal Tribune) are to be congratulated for their promotion because I did not spot an empty seat in the 900-seat auditorium. (There may have been one but I did not see it!)

The ensemble was a somewhat reduced one but nevertheless a very balanced one containing such instruments as a harp and double bass! They wisely also had an assistant first horn to give the overworked first horn player an occasional break. The group tuned to the the first clarinetist rather than to an oboe. The intonation at first was not l00 percent especially in the flutes I thought.

The program, selected by their director,  Colonel Jason K. Fettig, was an ecclectic one that was designed to show off the technical dexterity of the performers. From the many stripes on the sleeves of many of the musicians, it was obvious that the majority of the members had been with this group for many years, and it showed in the cohesion and disciplined playing of the group. They are an imposing looking group in their dress uniforms and their playing only underlined the fact that this was a professional group of musicians.

I would observe that their conductor was more a skilled technician than interpreter of the music performed, but given the nature of this program, this is what was required. This said, this factor became more apparent (to me) as the program progressed.

The composition by Miklos Rozsa (1907-1905), Theme, Variations, and Finale required a virtuoso group of musicians as well as a conductor who knew the score very well and this is what transpired.  Again, it seemed to me that this lengthy and taxing piece was more executed (in a military sense) than performed.

The difference in approach was more obvious (to me) when the assistant conductor, Micbelle A. Rakers conducted. The composition she conducted was by the Argentinian composer, Alberto Ginastera, (1916-1983) , “Dances from Estancia.” Her beat was clear and she was very business like in her conducting.  Yet, I felt a difference in the warmth of the sound from the group. As an encore, she put her baton down and led spirited reading of the Sousa march, “Semper Fidelis.” To be fair, this band could play almost any Sousa march blindfolded and the ones they did play, (“The Fairest of the Fair” and “Stars and Stripes Forever”) were given superlative performances. Other bands, even other service bands often play the same marches, but when the U.S. Marine Band played “Semper Fideles” and “Stars and Stripes,” it was really something special.

There were many highlights in this program. There was great trumpet playing by Daniel Ormba in his tribute to Louis Armstrong. That he could accurately hit so many notes as often as he did well above the top of the staff was incredible. I believe however that the timbre of his playing was more percussive than it needed to be. If played on a cornet things might  have been less blaring. As an encore, he played “Rocking Chair” by Hoagy Carmichael. In these selections he was ably accompanied by Colonel Fettig and a reduced ensemble. Both were justifiably given a rousing reception for their

efforts. The announcer for the band Sgt. Kenneth Bennear did double duty as vocal soloist. He has an imposing and resonant lyrical baritone which he put to good use in the medley “Pride of a People,” which was arranged by Stepehn Bulla, a marine who also arranged the piece by Gianastera for the band.

After the Armed Forces Medley, the audience gave the performers an extended standing ovation. 

The performers deserved it because everything they played displayed their superb musicianship, discipline and cohesion, resulting from the fact that they were well rehearsed and prepared.

As an encore Sgt. Bennear sang “God Bless America” with an assist from a very pleased and happy audience.  One looks forward to another appearance by this gifted group of musicians.

— Dr. Morton Gold is a composer/conductor, retired educator and an arts reviewer for the Journal Tribune.