GDG- "Gettysburg Festival"

[Chuck May]

George,

This is the old "Gettysburg Brass Band Festival" which has apparently been
co-opted by the "Arts and Croissant" crowd and the "Economic Development"
interests. When it was a gathering of bands and other brass ensembles, many
of them with a Civil War theme, performing casually at a variety of
locations in the park and around town I really enjoyed it ('though I admit
my Naval Academy Drum & Bugle Corps service leaves me a bit biased). I
thought the impromptu gathering of the Federal City Brass Band, all playing
ORIGINAL (i.e. not recreation) 1860s brass instruments, on the steps of the
PA Memorial at sunset a couple of years ago was sublime.

In this year's program the only group I recognize as a "period" band is the
Wildcat Regiment Band. Many of the traditional brass ensembles have given
way to jazz and other genres, and the time has been filled up with visual
art and dance, plus fund raising dinners golf tournaments, and tea parties.
Too bad, but perhaps it will die as a victim of its own growth.

In any event, I don't agree with the commercialization of Warren (or any
other part of the field), but remember these are the same times which
feature a daily comic foot race between four of our most revered Presidents
at the Washington ball park!

In all, though, I think an arts festival is less obtrusive than bike week,
though there are some who don't understand the difference between a trombone
and a Harley (You can tune a Harley!) (Did I mention that my instrument in
the Drum & Bugle Corps was Snare Drum? <g>)

Chuck May
Gettysburg PA
ChuckMay at may-engineering.com

-----Original Message-----
From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com [mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com]
On Behalf Of George F
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 1:30 PM
To: gettysburg at arthes.com
Subject: GDG- "Gettysburg Festival"

Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:


I brought up the Warren statue and the sax
photo-shopped on to it.  I was and am outraged.

I dont live in Gettysburg. And I know people have
to pay the rent. But I think on the heals of the
145th, this is a real disgrace - or worse.

Here is what the "Festival" web site says. You
judge for yourselves (see below).

BTW - I was one of those little kids climbing on
the cannons, monuments and rocks in July 1963.
Sure I am not the only one here that got started
that way.

Cheers,

George Franks
Daniel Donnelly House
Williamsport, Md