The scene was pure Americana: blankets on the grass, lawn chairs, families with kids playing, dogs, picnic baskets, people talking to each other.And while everyone was enjoying this picnic atmosphere at El Dorado Park recently, an even greater treat was in store for them: The outstanding Long Beach Municipal Band playing the music of one of America s greatest composers, George Gershwin.You could have heard a pin drop as pianist Ed Martel dazzled everyone with his playing of Gershwin s brilliant Rhapsody in Blue.
My wife and I were in the crowd of more than 4,000 people who gave Martel, the band and conductor Larry Curtis a rousing standing ovation for their electric performance.What better way to spend a Friday evening in Long Beach?And it was all free, but more on that later.This concert was the last of the summer for the historic, 40-member Municipal Band which celebrated its 105th birthday this year, making it the oldest professional ensemble in California other than the San Francisco Opera.The band was created in 1909 by community leaders to attract more tourists and residents. At one point, the band was playing hundreds of concerts every year. Some of the shows were broadcast nationally on radio. Over the years shows have dwindled.
Unfortunately, because of city budget cutbacks, the band has had its summer season reduced from previous years to 20 concerts at public parks throughout Long Beach this year. The summer season was spread out over five weeks with evening performances at Whaley Park, Bixby Park, Los Cerritos Park, Marine Stadium and El Dorado Park. Each week the band s music focused on a different theme. The first week featured patriotic songs, the second week Broadway musicals, the third week ragtime music and Dixieland, the fourth week Latin music and the fifth week George Gershwin music.
George Chapjian, director of Parks, Recreation and Marine, said the 20 concerts cost about $15,000 each for a total outlay of approximately $300,000.In a report to City Manager Pat West, Chapjian said the 2014 band budget included $165,000 from the city, which includes $65,000 from the Tidelands Fund, $50,000 from Refuse and $50,000 from Gas Oil. The remaining $135,000 came from private fundraising, such as the Partners of Parks pass the bucket donations, estimated at $85,000, and $50,000 from the Port of Long Beach, Chapjian said.
Next year s band budget calls for the same $300,000, which means five weeks of performances. To add a sixth week would cost approximately $65,000.Larry Curtis, the band conductor for 21 years, and many others would like to see more concerts. He estimated that about 11,000 people a week attended the weekly band concerts. The band is a city and state treasure, he said. The state Legislature proclaimed the first week in July as Long Beach Municipal Band Week. Our band is the best of its type in the country; our musicians are first-rate. I m very thankful for the support we get, but we shouldn t have to exist on handouts and people with buckets. This is the city s band.
Those in attendance at the final concert at El Dorado Park this summer would agree.Curtis was loudly applauded when he told the audience, This is our largest crowd of the summer. Thank you for supporting us. We are your community band, and you are our community. Rich Archbold is public editor of the Press-Telegram and a member of the Los Angeles News Group editorial board.