New Horizons band to host fifth annual concert

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Marigold Cultural Centre in Truro. Tickets are $10.

Four different levels of players from the Truro area and Pictou County will combine to present a mix of classical and popular music starting with the ninth/10th Wave Band doing a medley of four rounds – Sweetly Sings The Donkey, The Laughing Song, Brother Martin and Frere Jacques. This novice group will also perform a medley of two Calypso songs – The Banana Boat Song and Mary Ann.

The seventh/eighth/ninth Wave Band will perform a Latin style piece written by Ron Mackay called Silly Samba, along with a medley of Dixieland favorites – When the Saints Go Marching In, Five Foot Two, Tiger Rag and Bill Bailey.

The fourth/seventh Wave Band will treat the audience to the country classic Stand By Me, two good old time rock ‘n roll tunes – Rock Around The Clock and Rockin’ Robin – and the more recent Bobby McFerrin hit song, Don’t Worry, Be Happy. This group will also play a piece of descriptive music called ‘A Prehistoric Suite’ written by Paul Jennings. As the title suggests, this selection was inspired by the majesty, strength and gargantuan size of the various types of dinosaurs who once roamed the earth. 

To round out their portion of the program, this band will perform two more traditional concert band style numbers – Grant County Celebration by Mark Williams and Ash Lawn Echoes by Robert W. Smith.

The most experienced performers in this concert – the first/second Wave Band will take to the stage to present Jay Chattaway’s old wild west-flavored ‘Western Suite,’ which consists of three movements – Rodeo, Sunride and Jamboree. This group will also offer up ‘A Muppet

Medley’ – three of the best-known songs from the popular TV show and movie series – The Muppet Show Theme, The Rainbow Connection and Mahna Mahna.

This portion of the show also features two original compositions by New Horizons founder and director Paul Barrett. South Branch was inspired by the beauty of the local Nova Scotian countryside in summer, and Ideatta is a piece which started as a small musical idea that was developed into a very exciting and challenging piece of music for concert band.

The Cobequid New Horizons Jazz Band, now in its second year, will present four selections in contrasting jazz styles that have been chosen by director Nick Fisher, music teacher and band director at Truro Junior High School. This part of the program will see a number of the New Horizons Band members stretching out both as jazz ensemble players and some members as jazz soloists playing improvised solos in some of the tunes.