MUSIC reminding us of famous personalities from the entertainment industry will be the focus of the City of Greater Bendigo Brass Band in October.
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The band will perform its major concert for the year at The Capital on October 9.
Tribute to the Masters is described as a eulogy for legends who have recently passed.
Prince, David Bowie, Leonard Nimoy and Ronnie Corbett will be remembered in the brass band’s concert.
City of Greater Bendigo Brass Band musical director Cally Bartlett said the band had expanded from just remembering musicians.
“We are looking at the arts as a whole. Actors, musicians, movies and TV shows,” she said.
“There is a very wide range of music on the program including some traditional brass marches for the people who enjoy that.
“Included on the program is the theme from MASH, Lawrence of Arabia, the Star Trek theme, David Bowie’s Life on Mars and When Doves Cry by Prince.
The Two Ronnies sketch will feature guest artists filling the role of the actors.
“It is a a fantastic skit that they originally performed with the Aldershot Brass Band,” Ms Bartlett said.
“It is made up of traditional marches with comical lyrics.”
Ms Bartlett said sadly there was no shortage of options in filling the program with music inspired by legends who have passed away.
“We ended up having to cut some stuff out. Unfortunately we lost a lot of great artists in the past two years.
“That was (the impetus) in putting the theme together. It was a shock at how many legends we had lost.”
Unfortunately we lost a lot of great artists in the past two years.
- Cally Bartlett
The brass band’s concert is its major performance for the year and has been an annual event since 2011.
“This is the major concert. We started doing a gala in 2011 at The Capital and have run one each year since, generally with a different theme,” Ms Bartlett said.
“Since mid-July we have been rehearsing.
“We also did the state bands conference in August, where we finished in fourth position in C-grade.”
The City of Greater Bendigo Brass Band began in 1862 and currently has about 35 members.
Ms Bartlett joined in 2006 as a playing member and was named musical director in 2011.
She has also directed the Bendigo’s Youth Brass Band.
“We regularly have between 30 and 35 members involved in the brass band. The concert has around that number playing,” Ms Bartlett said. “But we are always happy to welcome more people.
“Membership has grown in the last five years and we have had a steady number in there for last couple of years.
“With the youth band we encouraged kids to come there and get to a good standard.
“We also utilise school music programs, which give students the opportunity to play outside of school.”
The City of Greater Bendigo Brass Band’s Tribute to the Masters concert is on at The Capital on October 9.
For more information log on to www.bendigobrass.org.au or find them on Facebook.