By: Joe Sprite

The fiesta activities of the coastal barangays are over, the action has moved inland. It will be another four months before we will celebrate the town fiesta. This promised to be a big bash. Though the festivities seem to be somewhat subdued as compared to the other years the coming event has all the signs of being a big one. The Jagna LGU is taking a hand. What was noticeable to the fiesta celebrators with discerning ears is the Jagna band. Though it has grown in numbers, still it is incomplete. When a group of musicians perform, there will be those that play the main air. Then there will be the accompaniments. It compared to choral renditions, there is the soprano and its variations. The accompaniments will be the tenor who sings the high notes, the baritone who signs the lower notes and the bass.

In a complete marching band, there are the woodwinds or the reeds; the piccolos, clarinets and oboes which play the main music and the tenor. The trumpets can be with the mains. Then there will be the brass; the French horns and the trombones playing the baritone. The bombardinos and the tubas – hey man you play the tuba, you do not drink it – and the Sousaphone, which play the bass notes. The last mentioned was named after the famous bandleader and composer named Sousa. The horn is the biggest instrument of a marching band, the one, which curves over the head of the player, The saxophone, which has been used in jazz bands, had found its way into the marching band so they may be used in playing the baritone. Then come the percussions, the drums and the cymbals. All those are organized into sections. Except for the bass and cymbals, there may be at least four of each section. The most important of all is the bandleader, who does not only call the shots but also is the conductor and trainor of the group.

Jagna, being a big town with many expatriates can afford a marching band if there would be a group who will make an effort. It needs time money and will to create and maintain a band. We have good musicians but most are prima donnas and soloists. They could seldom play as a group. Besides there is no proper motivation. The band that we have now is of fire equipment quality, assembled only in occasions. Though they perform well, there is room for improvement. There was once a Jagna Band composed of men who can read musical scores. They practice on their own and they come together only when the need arises. Then there was a string band. Those men left offspring but unfortunately their sons think that music is for the birds. No one took up the trade so the old Jagna band died out. The atmosphere is not conducive to development of musicians.

The present Jagna band would make a good nucleus for a marching band. They have to motivate and train aspiring musicians to join them. Someone has to provide instruments and training facilities. We have three high schools and a college downtown. Perhaps they could provide scholarships for musicians. Or perhaps a foundation could be created so resources could be tapped to form a band. Support could be solicited from our expats.

The town of my father, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija is a small town. It has two bands. Band members are mostly farmers with basic literacy. However they could read notes. They buy their own instruments and uniforms. From time to time, a conductor is hired and they practice periodically Their repertoire runs from jazz, pop music, classical, like the overtures such as the Poet and Peasant and Tchaikovsky's 1812 and of course military airs. By contract they are hired to perform on occasions. Sometimes they perform on band competitions. If a small town like San Leonardo is able to have two respectable bands, we could be able to put up one.