One More Time Around Again Portland
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OMTAAMB: The One More Time Around Once more Marching Band
A adventure to be young again, exist part of a musical family, march downwards Broadway, enrich life and take smashing fun
By Marlys Chapman, Showtime published in Open up Spaces Magazine, 2005
PORTLAND, OR — Many of the states in the Northwest have seen and heard the fabulous One More Time Effectually Again Marching Ring (believed to be the largest permanent marching band in the world) at Portland's Thou Floral Parade. Information technology does extend for 3 blocks! Shouts, smiles, applause from delighted fans greet the musicians and colour guard. Some are immature, some older, some amateur, some professional — all having the time of their lives. Most are former high school, college and military band members.
How did this group get its start? In 1985 Clayton Hannon, and then executive director of Rose Festival, saw similar music-makers performing at the Florida Festival of States and brought the idea back to Portland. He advertised in The Oregonian for players, accepted all comers, and ended with 75. Neb Chisholm became the start bandleader and do was held on a local high school field. By the 3rd year the grouping had nearly tripled in size, gained a sponsor and purchased xanthous bowling shirts and white pants for its public debut in the Grand Floral Parade.
During contempo years the OMTAAMB has played around the country — at the Seattle SeaFair, the San Antonio Fiesta Flambeau, the St. Petersburg Festival of States and, in 1990, at the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. Sponsors have been generous and proud of their clan. Delta Airlines donated two planes and Red Lion, two hotels, for the Pasadena trip. This yr's sponsor is Standard TV and Appliance.
Tin can you imagine organizing and leading 500 musicians so that everyone starts together, ends together and sounds rhythmic and vibrant in betwixt? Mary and Jay Bengel accept washed just that for six seasons. Meeting in the band, Mary was the Drum Major and Jay playing the drums, they had each traveled professionally with musical groups. Plainly both love and leadership ability sparked, and Jay joined Mary as married man and co-director.
Mary rehearses the band, usually 300-400 stiff at practices, and acts every bit spiritual and emotional omnibus — exhorting depth and feeling in the music and generally serving as "mother-figure." (She in one case conducted a concert while ix months pregnant as Jay monitored her pulse to preclude overexertion.) Jay chooses music, fifty to 60 songs, selects uniforms, hats, pins — and leads the band. He keeps the music current — all of his duties commanding a commitment of many hours each calendar week. Together, they "alive" the band — forth with the able assistance of a strong, long-term logistical staff and Rose Festival directors. What communication and attention to particular it must take to keep this system going — especially when virtually who are involved accept jobs, families and other time constraints!
While the majority of members live in the Portland area, several fly in each year only to perform with the group. Near recently, players have come from California, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Japan and New Zealand. Quite a few members are band teachers and professional musicians who love the camaraderie and joy of making music. Their expertise is also appreciated! Occasionally, at that place is a visiting guest conductor or creative person. The Kingsmen of Louie Louie fame, symphony usher Norman Leyden, and pianist Michael Allen Harrison accept performed with the group. Mary Bengel teaches music at a middle schoolhouse and the band currently rehearses there. On warm jump and summertime evenings, doors and windows in the surface area open broad as neighbors enjoy the unofficial concert. Residents of an assisted living facility nearby are an especially appreciative audience.
Mary and Jay stress that this ring is really a big family and that they, as leaders, gain as much every bit they give. Frequently, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters play together and people stay around for a long fourth dimension. Thirty-2 charter members are withal members! In some cases, when the body is no longer so adept at marching, there are other jobs to practice — working with volunteers, logistics, checking on instruments and players. Marriages do have identify, divorces and deaths happen — all eliciting emotion and support from the group. Joys and losses are shared and securely felt. Members say that they go on to grow, to learn more virtually music and about themselves — enriching their own lives while contributing to, and entertaining, their community. Through music, there is a motivating reason to continue going through rough patches, to learn skills from others, to create a bully sound together. Music creates a common ground, a shared wavelength. After 9/xi there was a special patriotic suite of music played at 2002 performances where the rendering of America the Beautiful, Amazing Grace and Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever brought tears to anybody'southward eyes. There is great economic and social diversity within the group — people coming from many dissimilar backgrounds. There is non much prejudice in shared music!
Nowadays, applications are fabricated and auditions are conducted for all prospective members. We all can visit their web site (www.omtaamb.org) to check procedures, repertoire, current schedules, to view photos and to learn more. Songs for this twelvemonth's performances at Rose Festival events in Portland will include Land of i,000 Dances, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, Shake, Dark-green Onions, Watermelon Man, Hold on I'thou Comin', Messin' with the Kid, Then Very Hard to Go, Groove Me, Play That Funky Music, Georgia on My Mind, and Louie, Louie. Doesn't it all sound like fun?
Related story: Portland's giant marching ring invites adults to join and march "one more time"
"The One More Time Effectually Once more Marching Band" by Marlys Chapman�was start published in Open Spaces (Volume 7, Number three, 2005), www.open-spaces.com. This copyrighted�article is reprinted hither�past permission of Open Spaces and�the writer.
Photos by Marching.com
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