Under the vision of Dr. G.M. Huggins and William Patterson, the first Macomb Municipal Band (MMB) was formed in 1852, with 12 members playing Eb clarinet, Bb clarinets, cornets, bugles, French horns and ophicleides.
Led by Patterson, the first engagement of the band occurred July 4, 1852.
Now, 174 years later, the Macomb Municipal Band, led by Mike Fansler and Bruce Briney, continues, and under Conductor Fansler, will once again entertain the masses July 4 when they perform at Macomb's fireworks extravaganza to celebrate McDonough County's Bicentennial and the country's 250th birth at Vince Grady Field.
According to a Macomb Journal article, at that first July 4, 1852 performance, the band sat on a wagon and trawled from Col. Bailey's, around the square, west on Jackson Street, and ending at the what is now the 4-H grounds, which was owned at that time by the daughter of Edward McDonough. The Macomb Journal reporters declared the performance a success writing, 'The boys of 1852 performed wonders and the spectators could readily recognize the tunes they attempted to play.' Fansler noted that previous to 1852, there had never been an organized brass band in McDonough County.
In the late 1890s, Pierre Olker, who was the orchestra director at the Macomb Normal School and Business Institute (MNSBI), led the band and set the stage for Western music directors to be involved. For the past 60 years, the majority of the concerts have been led by the director of bands at Western Illinois University. Fansler, WIU's current director of bands, took over the reins in 2009.
'We’ve had so many musicians play for our town’s band and many are considered legends by those who come to hear us each year,' Fansler said. 'There are far too many names to list, but our main attraction is Bruce Briney, who has remained our solo cornetist and now co-conducts the group.'
Briney was the conductor of the MMB from 2003-2008; however, the retired WIU School of Music professor, who also is the conductor for the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, has been involved in the MMB since first joining in 1993. Briney conducts two of the band's performances each year (most recently in May and again Sept. 24), while Fansler conducts the four summer performances (Heritage Days/June 25, July 4, July 24 and Aug. 22). All concerts, besides Heritage Days and July 4, are on the front lawn of Macomb City Hall, aka the 'City Hall on the Lawn Series.'
The Macomb Municipal Band is the featured kick-off entertainment for Heritage Days each year, playing on the mainstage beginning shortly after Mayor Mike Inman's welcome, around 5 p.m. The Heritage Days line-up will feature a variety of tunes, including the National Emblem March (Bagley), Let Freedom Ring (Nowlin), American Overture (Jenkins), American Hymnsong Suite (Milburn), Stars and Stripes Forever (Sousa), while the Fourth of July performance, which will include music before – and during – the fireworks display will be entirely made up of American anthems and songs relating to the U.S.A.
Both conductors usually will pick a theme for their performances, be it show tunes, marches, major orchestral pieces, concert band music and the list goes on. The band, which is comprised of 38 members, rehearses before each performance – typically twice when Briney is at the helm, and once under Fansler's direction, with practices taking place at Western. Not everyone plays every concert, but collectively there may be as many as 200 opportunities for various players to play within a season.”
'I like to have two rehearsals before we perform, Mike is more of a gambler,' Briney said with a laugh.
That lighthearted approach is what makes MMB tick, and work, along with the generosity of the City of Macomb, which provides the financial backing, Fansler added. While most of the musicians, who range from high school and college students to WIU School of Music faculty, community members and retirees, are seasoned players, the band is intended to be a fun, creative outlet for the performers and a way to bring arts to the community in a relaxed setting.
'The Macomb Municipal Band welcomes all players and enjoys the status of being a true community band. The group does pull off some amazing performances, and we're not stuffy or formal,' Fansler added. 'The reason the Macomb Municipal Band has been able to continue its success is because of incredible support from our mayor, a never-ending assortment of selfless musicians and a community that still loves to attend and listen to live music in their own beloved community.”
Briney has been a member of the band for 33 years, but there's another member – also a retired WIU music professor – who has him beat by seven years. James Caldwell joined the Macomb Municipal Band in 1986, and continues to play trombone in the band. He joined a year after he and his wife, Nancy, moved to Macomb for his job teaching music theory and composition at Western.
'I had played trombone since fifth grade and studied for four years in college. In grad school, I played much more intermittently, and I've never taught trombone or played professionally very much, but playing trombone has always felt like part of who I am and has been meaningful to me,' Caldwell said. 'I started with the Municipal Band in the summer of 1986 when Forrest Sycott, who was the dean of the College of Fine Arts, was the conductor, and have played every summer since. I have found a niche as 2nd trombone. I’ve felt fortunate to be able to play with so many fine and enthusiastic musicians over the years, many of them my colleagues at WIU and local music educators.
'When I started, we got some support from the Music Performance Trust Fund of the American Federation of Musicians, and I’m grateful that the City of Macomb has been willing to provide so much support for so many years. Don't tell Mike or Bruce, but I’d play for free,' he added. 'I especially love playing the Broadway musical medleys and folk-song settings that are such an important part of the band literature, and the off-beat accompaniment patterns in 'Bugler’s Holiday.' I think our audiences enjoy those pieces as well. '
Briney added the group meshes well together, and you'll find them joking on stage during performances, while still taking their craft seriously to put on a concert the audiences will enjoy. The men explained that most formal, or professional, concert bands play at a 'grade 6' level (note: Not as in sixth grade, but a music-level grade), and the Macomb band is in the mid-range level at 3-4. Yet, the band can – and will – reach that level 6 when it's 'stacked,' Fansler said 'While we are there for everything other than perfection, we are basically just people who are performing live music and we love it,' he said with a smile. 'If it wasn't lighthearted and fun, I'm not sure I'd be doing it. For an adult musician, this is like a kid playing in the dirt. It's just fun.'
In addition to Fansler and Briney handing off the baton to co-conduct, guest conducters – such as longtime (now retired) Macomb Marching Band Director David Wetmore – lead the band when life outside the MMB calls the two co-conductors away. And Fansler even serves as a guest conductor during the summer months; this year, he'll be in Sterling July 22 to lead that community's band.
The City of Macomb provides a small stipend to the band, which is used to pay the performers, and to assist with the band's expenses. Many of the players return the money, because, like Briney and Fansler, they do it because they love it.
'It is a lot of work, but clearly, we love it enough to volunteer to lead this organization,' Fansler pointed out. It’s a big commitment, but I'll continue this until the right person decides to step in and take over.'
Having a co-conductor in place like Briney, as well as the guest conductors, does give the men – who also conduct as part of their 'day jobs' – a bit of a break as well. Fansler is responsible for the band's budget, and both men take time selecting the music, getting rehearsals scheduled and getting ready for performances.
'Without the mayor and the city's support, it wouldn't happen,' Fansler concluded. 'Not to mention the crowd. We appreciate them coming out to hear us. They fuel our fire, and if they show up, we'll show up.'
According to Mayor Mike Inman, the city's investment in the Macomb Municipal Band provides a significant advantage to the community and region.
'It's such a nice time together,' he added. 'It's truly an opportunity for people to come together to enjoy excellent music performed by excellent musicians. It harkens back to 'The Music Man,' without the grift. Music draws so many people together, and to offer this for 174 years, and now on the 'front porch' of City Hall is really spectacular. It's part of our small-town charm.'
