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Archive for the ‘Ocean Grove Musical Event’ Category

Music history in OG: Jason Tramm and company triumph at the “Music of the Spirit” concert. Gwyneth Walker’s debut with her “Songs of Faith” is magnificent.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove memories, Ocean Grove Musical Event, tagged on February 26, 2022| 1 Comment »

Great Auditorium. Music of the Spirit concert. August 26, 2018. Paul Goldfinger photograph ©  Click to enlarge.

 

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net   Crank up the volume for the video below.

 

The video below is from the final part of this 6 part composition—Songs of Faith.   It is called “Where Moses Stood.” This section includes choir, organ, brass and percussion.  The words from the last two stanzas are:

“Oh, Mary, oh Mary, oh Mary. No! No! No! No! No! No!

“Don’t you weep and don’t you mourn.

“If I could, I surely would stand on the rock where Moses stood.

“Pharaoh’s army got drownded, oh, Mary, don’t you weep, don’t you mourn.”

 

 

 

August 26, 2018.  Ocean Grove, New Jersey.  Concert Review:

 

The Songs of Faith is like an exciting 6 chapter short-story book that unfolds with beauty, grace, emotions, unexpected plot twists, and wonderful melodies.  Each part captures your mind  in a way that as each one draws to a close, you wish it would stay a bit longer but you also anticipate the next surprise.

Composer Gwyneth Walker borrows from time-worn hymns and gospel tunes while punctuating them with lively and modern hooks and tempos.

It is a great privilege for the audience last night that this piece was performed in the Great Auditorium of Ocean Grove, and the OG Camp Meeting Association deserves high praise for their willingness to sponsor such an original commission, in association with the Summit Music Festival in Summit, New Jersey.  And to present this production at no cost is remarkable indeed.

The presentation included the 120 voice OG Choir, the MidAtlantic Brass Ensemble with percussion, Gordon Turk on the Hope-Jones Organ, and soloists including Monica Ziglar (soprano) Katherine Pracht (Mezzo-Soprano,) Justin Beck (Baritone Soloist) and Ronald Naldi  (Tenor Soloist.)

Jason Tramm conducting.

They were all marvelous, and JoAnnn Lamolino (trumpet soloist in Part 4) was so good with her rendition of “Were You There” performed with Gordon Turk that she received an expansive round of applause–well worth the acclaim.

After the concert, I bumped into soloists Ronald Naldi and Justin Beck walking briskly outside, on the dark tent side of the Auditorium.  Beck was already in shorts, while Naldi had loosened his tie.  They were chatting amiably and smiling as they downed some well-earned soft drinks.

As they breezed by I  told them that their concert was terrific, but their smiles and pace indicated that they knew the event was a success—and so it was.

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The Ushers’ March. Choir Festival 2018

Posted in Around town with Jean, Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association Activity, Ocean Grove events, Ocean Grove Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove Musical Event, tagged , on December 16, 2021| 3 Comments »

 

Paul Goldfinger ©. 2012. Ushers March in the Great Auditorium during Choir Festival.

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Covid cancel: A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening

Posted in Ocean Grove Musical Event, tagged on September 24, 2020| 1 Comment »

The Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, NewJersey. by Paul Goldfinger. 2012

The Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. by Paul Goldfinger. 2013

You know, coming to a show in the GA this summer would be a lovely way to spend an evening. You bring your favorite person, take a walk by the ocean and then have a casual stroll through the Pathway gardens. You catch a breath of moonlight and then you enter this remarkable building to enjoy the music.

THE INKSPOTS:

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Choir Festival rehearsal in the Great Auditorium of Ocean Grove

Posted in Classical Music on Blogfinger, Ocean Grove Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove Musical Event, tagged , on June 10, 2020|

Choir Festival rehearsal. July 12, 2010. Paul Goldfinger photo ©. Click to enlarge.

Choir Festival rehearsal. July 12, 2010. Paul Goldfinger photo ©. Click to enlarge.

 

By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor @Blogfinger.net

This is what a Choir Festival rehearsal looks like–this photograph is from July 2010.   The OGCMA Choir Festival is one of the most incredible musical events in America.  Don’t miss it.

It will be a challenge to prepare safely, but everything ought to be fine by the new date of August 30, 2020 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.

This will be the 66th Annual Festival.

Below is a sample of the sort of sound you will hear, although this version is by a choir from Germany.

There are no recent professional recordings of the Ocean Grove Choir with orchestra, but if you know of any, please let us know.

 

ST THOMAS CHOIR LEIPZIG.     “Psalm 42   Op.42”  Mendelssohn

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A Man For Many Seasons: Harry Eichhorn, Musician. (1927-2019)

Posted in Ocean Grove Musical Event, tagged , on November 19, 2019| 4 Comments »

Harry Eichorn will conduct the Atlantic Wind Ensemble on Saturday, May 25, Memorial Day weekend. 8 pm in the GA. Paul Goldfinger photo. ©

Re-post from 2013.    Harry Eichhorn will conduct the Atlantic Wind Ensemble on Saturday, May 25, 2013.   Memorial Day weekend. 8 pm in the Great Auditorium.  This will be his 61st summer season.  Paul Goldfinger photo. ©

Harry Eichhorn grew up spending summers in Ocean Grove. His family owned a house here for over 100 years.  As a high school student, he was a lifeguard at South Beach. “The South Beach was less crowded and a better place to meet girls,” said Harry, who is 86 years old and will be entering his 61st season as conductor of the Ocean Grove Summer Band, which appears on Wednesday nights at the Boardwalk Pavilion. There his 65 musicians play everything from Berlin to Beethoven.  The sound of their music bubbles up and out over the beachfront, harmonizing with seagulls,  surf and summer breezes.

Harry has his fans who don’t fail to miss one of these summer concerts and Harry doesn’t disappoint them.  He’s always wearing pressed pants, shirt and tie. He always has a joke or two, and the “boys in the band”  (and ladies too) humor him because there’s something touching and reassuring about traditions and music that have staying power despite time passing by.  The beach, the boardwalk, ocean and even the town of Ocean Grove itself  also echo that theme.

Summer Band musician warming up by the Pavilion. Paul Goldfinger photo ©

Summer Band musician warming up by the Pavilion. Paul Goldfinger photo ©

On Saturday, May 25, in the Great Auditorium, Harry Eichhorn will be conducting the Atlantic Wind Ensemble in a free Memorial Day concert.  The Ensemble is smaller than the Summer Band and it performs all year round.   All the musicians are from the “shore area” and many are professionals–including 8 music teachers.  Unlike an orchestra, there are no strings.  Clarinets  and flutes help take the place of violins, and there is only one person per part, although they double up in the trumpets and clarinets.

Harry likes to vary his programs, but there is a certain similarity  to prior concerts.  There are always a few Sousa marches, two major works by a classy composer like Beethoven, and two Broadway medleys, one of which is current.  This year he will be doing “Les Miserables.”  In fact, there is a song in Les Mis which could be Harry’s theme song.  It’s called “Master of the House.”  They will also perform “The Armed Forces Salute,”  “The Spiritual Rhapsody” by Yoder and “Five Spirituals for Piano” featuring first clarinetist Linda Freilick on piano.

The concert will include the Festival Chorus, a group that has about 45 vocalists.

In looking back over the years, Harry recalls growing up in East Orange.  His father was a musician, and Harry received his BA at Montclair State College and his Masters at Rutgers and Trenton State.   He taught  music at Neptune H.S. for a few years and then 36 years at Manasquan High.  Some of the current musicians were his students.  Two of his children play in the group.  Harry’s main instrument was the trumpet, although now he mostly conducts.

Summer Band (undatet---probably 1950's) Harry is on the right, back row. Summer Band (undated—probably 1950’s) Harry is on the right, back row.  Click right for more detail. Courtesy OGCMA

There is only one musician left in the Summer Band who was there in 1953 when Harry started the tradition.  Her name is Cleta Weber White, and she plays the trumpet.  Harry says that when he began, he had a vocalist in his chorus who sang with John Phillip Sousa.   Oh, and speaking of Sousa, of course Harry will conclude with America’s March:  “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”   And as for Sousa, his ghost will probably be having ice cream in Days while tapping his toes to Harry’s beat and listening carefully to that Stars and Stripes piccolo solo penetrating the salty night air.

The Memorial Day free concert begins at 8 p.m. and donations will be accepted.

—Paul Goldfinger, editor @Blogfinger

UNITED STATES MARINE BAND:  John Phillip Sousa’s  “Washington Post March.”     (Reminder:  Visit Sousa’s portrait at the Historical Society of Ocean Grove on Pitman Avenue.  Sousa is still hanging around in the Grove.)

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The Orchestra of St. Peter’s By the Sea

Posted in Ocean Grove Musical Event, tagged , , on October 24, 2019|

 

Re-posted from 2012 by popular demand.   At that time,  Father Alphonse Stephenson, conductor, presented a concert in the Great Auditorium honoring Marvin Hamlisch, who scored the music for A Chorus Line.  Hamlisch died in 2012

Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

Father Alphonse Stephenson  is well known to Ocean Grove audiences.  He and the Orchestra of St. Peter’s By the Sea have appeared many times before in the Great Auditorium.  Father Stephenson worked with Marvin Hamlisch while conducting “A Chorus Line” on Broadway—something Father Stephenson did for nearly 3,000 performances.

Father Alphonse Stephenson

The tribute for Hamlisch  included an “Overture to A Chorus Line.”   The show never actually had an overture. In addition, an unpublished song, called “The One Song,”  written by Mr. Hamlisch, with lyrics by the Bergmans, will be sung by Chris Pinella, with Father Alphonse at the piano.

This concert, sponsored by the OG Camp Meeting Association, was presented on Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

Here, from the original cast album is “One”–from “A Chorus Line.”

—Paul Goldfinger

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The music man returns.

Posted in Ocean Grove boardwalk, Ocean Grove Concert, Ocean Grove Musical Event, tagged , on October 8, 2019|

Paul Eichlin still making his “carousel music” on the OG side of the North End boards. Some day the area behind him will be filled with stores, condos and a hotel. Paul Goldfinger photo. Oct. 2019. ©

Link to a 2018 post about Paul:

Paul Eichlin Blogfinger post 2018.

 

 

WURLITZER CAROUSEL MUSIC:

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Ocean Grove Summer Band led by Harry Eichhorn.

Posted in Ocean Grove beachfront, Ocean Grove events, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove magic moments, Ocean Grove Musical Event, Ocean Grove summer time, tagged , on August 7, 2019| 2 Comments »

Ocean Grove Summer Band in the Boardwalk Pavilion. 7/5/15. By Jean Bredin, Blogfinger.net staff. ©

Ocean Grove Summer Band in the Boardwalk Pavilion. 8/5/15. By Jean Bredin, Blogfinger.net staff. ©    Click to enlarge

Re-post from 2015.   “Around Town With Jean:”

“Harry Eichhorn’s Summer Band is a treasure. It is reminiscent of days gone by.
Where else can you hear a rousing song, feel the ocean breezes, then stroll for ice cream?”

–Jean Bredin, Blogfinger staff.

Here is a link to a 2013 article which we posted about Harry :     Wild about Harry

VINCE GIORDANO AND THE NIGHTHAWKS

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Summer Band signs off for this year in the Great Auditorium

Posted in Ocean Grove boardwalk, Ocean Grove events, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove Musical Event, Ocean Grove summer time, tagged on August 24, 2018|

 

 

From Jean Bredin  (video)  Around Town with Jean:

“The Ocean Grove Summer Band performed a variety of songs tonight at the Great Auditorium. this is  Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever”—a traditional march to get toes tapping and hands clapping at the conclusion of an OG concert.
There was a nice crowd who came out to hear the music.
Harry Eichhorn treated us by leading the band for a number of songs .
This is their 66th year.
Here is a Blogfinger link from 2015.

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Katherine Pracht (mezzo soprano) and Gordon Turk (organist) in the Great Auditorium on July 4, 2018

Posted in Ocean Grove July 4, Ocean Grove Musical Event, tagged , on July 5, 2018| 1 Comment »

Introduction to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”      Ms. Pracht’s beautiful voice blended with the Hope Jones organ. After this, the audience rose to join in singing Mr. Berlin’s loving tribute to America. Berlin was an immigrant who came here and magically understood the greatness of the USA such that he could write music like  this.

This performance was part of Mr. Turk’s organ concert, “Pipes and Stripes.”

 

 

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News from the Jersey Shore Arts Center

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Jersey Shore Arts Center, Ocean Grove Musical Event, Ocean Grove neighborhood event on February 3, 2018|

 

DUKE ELLINGTON AND HIS BIG BAND: (Vocal–Doris Day)

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The Imperial Brass present a brilliant concert in the Great Auditorium with standout soloist performances.

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove magic moments, Ocean Grove Musical Event, tagged , , , on July 7, 2017| 1 Comment »

Facebook Imperial Brass

By Paul Goldfinger, music editor @Blogfinger.net.  Eileen Goldfinger video clips

July 6, 2017 in the Great Auditorium of Ocean Grove:

We enjoyed this concert by the Imperial Brass very much, as expected, but there were some “knock your socks off” special moments.

As many of you know, the famous trumpeter Phillip Smith has a summer place in Ocean Grove. His tone and technique are so good that it makes you want to jump up and cheer, which is what happened.  Phil Smith played an intricate duet with Mitch Brodsky called “Deliverance.”  In the second half he soloed on an amazingly complex piece called Scherzando.

Phil told the audience that he has missed playing in the Great Auditorium and how much he loves the salt air and the pleasures of being back in his little cottage on Pilgrim Pathway.   Phil retired from his  long-term position as principal trumpet with the NY Philharmonic and now he is on the faculty at the University of Georgia.

Other highlights included a lovely trombone solo of an African American spiritual “Swing Low” by Robert Tiedemann. (We have a brief video from that below.)

We have been attending musical performances in the GA for years, but my greatest wish, until now ungranted, was to hear authentic live jazz in that terrific venue. Tonight the Imperial Brass granted that wish in what I suspect was the first time a real jazz man played, without amplification, on our stage.

Warren Vaché is an acclaimed jazz cornetist  from New Jersey who had two beautiful solos with the Brass, but the one that I savored was his rendition of Charlie Chaplin’s  “Smile”  Vaché delighted the crowd with a vocal chorus as well as a jazz solo.  Hopefully we can get some more jazz players at the Grove.

If you like jazz, check with the Axelrod Theatre in Deal where they often feature first rate live jazz.  Last year they had John Pizzarelli.  Also, Shanghai Jazz in Madison is a fine restaurant that features jazz and has done so for years. It is worth the trip.

www.shanghaijazz.com

The Imperial Brass is such a fine ensemble, and they vary their content so that you never get bored.  The instrumentation is thrilling for you brass fans–a diverse collection of horns— baritones, French, euphoniums, trumpets, and more that I couldn’t identify.  But the end result is a magnificent sound where the components come together in a remarkable way.

They have a web site if you want to sign up for their mailings or buy their recordings:

Imperial Brass

The group astonished the crowd with their last number, a most unusual rendition of the “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Phillip Sousa whose premier march is often played in the Great Auditorium, but it is always done “straight.” However tonight the Brass astonished us with a raucus, jazzy, 21st century version of this piece including the classic piccolo solo done tonight by a marvelous soprano cornet player.  I wish Sousa could have been there.  Below is a bit of that march:

 

But there was an actual composer present–Joseph Turrin, who got to have a standing O because some of his brass compositions were performed tonight including a marvelous tribute to New York City called “Landmarks.”

Here is a brief segment of Robert Tiedemann’s trombone solo: “Swing Low”  Video by Eileen Goldfinger

And here are two selections from the Imperial Brass & Friends CD.

PHILIP SMITH (Trumpet)  with a hymn that he loves  (he introduced it and played it tonight.)

WARREN VACHE´ (Trumpet)  “April in Paris.”  ( I could not find a recording of “Smile”)

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Embury Avenue Annual Music Bash fills the Grove with live music for 9 hours

Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove events, Ocean Grove feature article, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove Musical Event, Photography by Paul Goldfinger, tagged on September 27, 2015| 3 Comments »

Embury Avenue beach block, Ocean Grove, Saturday, September 26, 2015

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @blogfinger

Crowd begins to show up for the big event. All photos and videos by Paul Goldfinger. ©

Crowd begins to show up for the big event. All photos and videos by Paul Goldfinger. ©

There are many unique aspects to life in Ocean Grove, but one of the most amazing is the Annual Embury Avenue Music Bash where bands show up all day long and make music in a tent erected on a Victorian front lawn.   7 groups appeared and performed on a strict schedule, and it all came about like clockwork.

There were 3 big bands and the rest were ensembles that specialized in dixieland, swing, jazz and pop—most often from the Sinatra era. Jimmy Nicoletti, a smooth relaxed baritone, sang some tunes reminiscent of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, including some of the arrangements from that era. Jimmy performed with the Colts Neck Swing Band, a polished throwback to the 1940’s..  (see video on top)  He told me that he wanted to “keep that music alive.”

Other performers included the Bill Henry Trio and Vanguard Jazz Ensemble  (video below) ; The River City Trombone Quartet and CaNTique; The Dixie Six; The Nocturnes Big Band; Mark Cohn, Cid Citarelli and Friends; and John Nobile’s Summer Swing Orchestra.

The music was impressively performed by these groups, and the outdoor venue was marvelous, with the audience changing and evolving as the day went on.  People sat on folding chairs and enjoyed food and drink.  It was like Woodstock only with older music and people.  Nobody took off their shirts, got soaked in the rain, dressed like hippies or smoked dope, but everyone had a great time.  The only drugs at the event included beta blockers and Lipitor.

Chairs are set up all over the block.

Chairs are set up all over the block.

I have been to these bashes before, and it always is incredible that such a musical event, free and open to all, could be happening in our town.  This region obviously has a wonderful plethora of great musicians. It is so special. The organizers have to be congratulated for bringing such a unique musical extravaganza to the Grove.

Link to last year’s event, when it rained.  2014 bash

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