A 'DITHYRAMB' WAS, IN ITS EARLIEST FORM, A SIMPLE SONG OF PRAISE TO GREEK GOD DIONYSIUS. TODAY IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A MUSICAL WORK OF A FREE AND PASSIONATE NATURE, THE BASIS OF THIS WORK BY MICHAEL LECKRONE, DIRECTOR OF THE WISCONSIN MARCHING BAND.
highschool bands jazz bands college bands all region bands community bands concert bands honor bands interlochen arts academy marching bands national music camp tmea all state bands university bands
Artist picture
Contemporary band compositions, classical music arrangements, marches, jazz, symphonies, overtures. A collection from bands that I have played in throughout hi
Hello and welcome! "Symphonic Band Performances" is a compilation of recordings from several high school and college bands that I played in including the TMEA (Texas) All State Band, the TMEA Region X All Region Band, the Interlochen Arts Academy National Music Camp, the Cal Poly Tech Band, San Luis Obispo, the USAF Golden West Band, and recordings from my h.s. band, Beaumont H.S. and a few band recordings that were passed down to me. Also included are various All State groups and college and university bands. I participated and played in the large majority of these recordings. There are no professional recordings here and every recording is Public Domain. Most are available for free download. Each song has been converted from the original analog or digital source and edited with Audacity or Dak software. In the majority of these recordings, I play the tenor sax or alto sax, b flat or e flat clarinet, or directing. I was drum major for 2 years in high school, I have a BA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where I studied music ed, composition and theory. I had about 500 more recordings I was planning to digitize and upload, but this past Nov. 20th, my home was completely destroyed by fire, and all the contents, including all my music and instruments. So, this is it. Please feel free to post a comment here or on my member page. If you like, please become a fan by clicking "I'm a fan" below.
Song Info
Genre
Classical • Contemporary
Charts
Peak #68
Peak in subgenre #21
Author
Michael (Mike) Leckrone
Rights
public domain
Uploaded
February 17, 2010
Track Files
MP3
MP3 9.4 MB • 224 kbps • 5:52
Story behind the song
Michael (Mike) Leckrone has been the director of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band since 1969. He is noted for his extraordinary ability to remember the names of all the past and present members of the band, as well as where they were from, and what instrument they played. Leckrone grew up in North Manchester, Ind. His father, Harold Leckrone M.M. '57, was the high school band teacher, but never pressured his son to follow in his professional footsteps, which included a contribution to the score of the 1986 film Hoosiers. Instead, Leckrone entertained thoughts of becoming anything from a basketball coach to a chemical engineer. When it came down to making the decision, though, he couldn't deny his love for making music. A native of Indiana, Leckrone received his bachelor and masters of music at Butler University and studied at the doctoral level at Indiana University. He eventually became the director of bands for three years at his alma mater, Butler University. In 1969, he became the director of the marching band at the University of Wisconsin?Madison. He has composed or arranged many pieces, and over 200 of his compositions for marching and concert bands have been published. When Leckrone became director of the Wisconsin Marching Band, interest in the program was very low. By creating a new demanding marching style, "stop at the top", a pre-game run on, and emphasizing showmanship, he turned the program around. The growth and success of the Wisconsin Marching Band is his proudest accomplishment. Talking about his half-time shows, Leckrone said, "I have always patterned my shows around the old Ed Sullivan Television Show. The most important thing the Sullivan Show had going for it was variety. If you didn't like an act that Ed introduced, you knew that in a minute or two, there would be something entirely different." He also extended his efforts off the football field by establishing the Varsity Band to play at other sporting events.
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