Monday in the park with the Band of Liberty

The diversity of events in our region never ceases to amaze and delight me. Perhaps it is the result of a happy confluence of history and military presence.

Like me, you may have not heard of, or heard playing, The United States Air Force Band of Liberty. Stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base – an electronic counter measures research site and home to a military population of 3000, including family members – the Band of Liberty is a 60-strong ensemble of talented musicians who play music from jazz to swing to military marches and the classics.

On Monday, Minuteman National Park played host to the Band of Liberty on an afternoon sunny enough to drive the audience to find shade, but breezy enough to give the musicians timing problems as they made repeated attempts to turn over their sheet music.
The program, which ran for nearly almost two hours non-stop on this Memorial weekend, had a strong theme of remembrance, but not in a morbid or overtly solemn sense.
Rather, the tunes themselves offered up their own memories, featuring classics from the eras of past conflicts – WWI to Vietnam. Nor was the music limited to instruments, thanks to fine singing renditions from three of the service members.

A serviceman with a distinct gravelly 'James Earl Jones' voice narrated portions of past presidential speeches, as relevant today as when they first given life.
It is not possible to capture the quality of musical performance in my words. Trust me, this is a very accomplished set of musicians.

I checked the bands website and music is available for streaming, but not for purchase. Indeed, the only way to hear it in CD quality is for your local library to request a set of CD's from the Band of Liberty directly and then to borrow the discs from the library.
Here's a brief sample from The Band of Liberty website:

From On Silver Wings, released in 2007:
1. On Silver Wings (10.29 MB)
2. Air Force Hymn (7.06 MB)
3. No Finer Calling- An Airman's Symphony- Movement I (5.41 MB)
4. No Finer Calling- An Airman's Symphony- Movement II (6.86 MB)
5. No Finer Calling- An Airman's Symphony- Movement III (15.08 MB)


From Salute to the American Spirit, released in the wake of the tragedy of September 11, 2001:
1. Fantasia in G (5.43 MB)
2. America Is (3.9 MB)
3. When You Believe (4.85 MB)
4. Let Freedom Ring (4.44 MB)
5. George Washington Bicentennial March (4.18 MB)

Photo's from the event