Mummers Parade

[ellyssian]

Spent most of today watching the Mummers Parade. Starting last year, Deb, aequitaslevitas, and I kept score on the string bands... we didn't quite vote along with the judges or the viewers choice, so we'll see how we do this year! =)

Here's some videos of the string bands from last year's parade...

Up first my first choice for this year as well as one of my favorites from last year, Polish American, with Ghouls Gone Wild:

Here's South Philadelphia with Hot Native Nights!:

One of our favorites last year was Avalon with Ire-Land of Leprechauns:

Here's Quaker City with Adventures in Paradise:

Last year's winner was Fralinger, with Grab Your Partner Swing Them Round:

I'm in no wise trying to present a history of the mummers, or even an in-depth overview of the parade, but all these guys in these bands are average, every day people - they're not professional musicians, dancers, costume designers, and choreographers. They're plumbers, auto mechanics, electricians, and whatever other trade or profession people in a city might have. There's a few councilmen, judges, and so forth in the bands and clubs, but they're generally rank-and-file members. Many of the clubs are family based and then extend outward to the neighborhood.

~ ~ ~

During one of the Murray Comic Club's presentations, a mummer went into cardiac arrest... as he was playing the devil, and the theme had something to do with Hell freezing over, it wasn't immediately apparent that his fall to the ground wasn't part of the act... no word on who he is or his status but I hope, first off, that he's okay, and, if that fails, at least he went out doing what he loves.

Comments

Maybe Silly, but...

[patrixa.livejournal.com]

... Are You sure they are called STRING bands?

Re: Maybe Silly, but...

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Yes.

Re: Maybe Silly, but...

[patrixa.livejournal.com]

So... they are fronted with string saxes? It seems that the string bands of the Mummers are not really string bands, so why are they called thusly? Of the clips I saw and heard, I cannot say strings were prominent.

I do agree with your choice of the PA "Ghouls Gone Wild" as the best. I'm trying to figure out the best way for Aunt Stella to see them.

Re: Maybe Silly, but...

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Previous link mentioned the banjos being highlighted. Thought it would go into more of a detailed definition, but the upright bass is also a big part of the reason why it's a string band. Some of the bands use violins, although they don't often seem to get the solo breaks that the banjo section gets, and they aren't as visible as a monster bass!

String Bands
String Bands provide the most elaborate performances and are most audience members' favorite part of the street parade. Limited to unamplified strings, reeds, and percussion; string bands feature banjos, saxophones, accordions, bass viols, drums, glockenspiels and violins in musical numbers tied to a theme presented by the captain, drill team and floats. Historically, String Bands performed mostly in military drill formations. Harrowgate (now Uptown) String Band's first prize winning railroad tunes with Broadway-style dance in 1976 changed that. String Band shows are now the most elaborate of the street parade, outdone only by the Fancy Brigades indoor show.

-- from Wikipedia

Re: Maybe Silly, but...

[patrixa.livejournal.com]

... "mostly string bands" would be truer ... or "SRP Bands" ... or mixed up music bands or... well surely someone involved with the genre could have come up with a better name, 'sall I'm saying! Not that I want to argue the point or anything ... actually, arguing over nothing, I think your GrandpaM has taken over my mind...