Big Band

One of summer's pleasures is to pack a picnic and spend some time improving your mind -- or at least your mood -- at one of many arts programs held in parks, plazas and waterfront amphitheaters.Free cultural programs and events in the area range from big band concerts to outdoor performances of Shakespeare. Following is a sampling of what the area has to offer:MUSICThe city has a summer tradition of municipal band concerts dating back to 1860, when Baltimore became the first city in the United States to fund its own band.

Clarinetist Albin Grden doesn't know much about the finances of Baltimore's Municipal Concert Band these days. But he does know one thing:In 1952, when he began playing, the paycheck from the band was his best source of summer income. This year, with fewer concerts to play, his retirement check plays that role.For 23 dates this year, the city's Concert Band and Big Band continue carrying on a tradition from more than a century ago. The two bands -- the Concert Band plays traditional music such as marches, while the Big Band offers more contemporary music -- perform around the city.

Clarinetist Albin Grden doesn't know much about the finances of Baltimore's Municipal Concert Band these days. But he does know one thing:In 1952, when he began playing, the paycheck from the band was his best source of summer income. This year, with fewer concerts to play, his retirement check plays that role.Yet, for 23 concert dates this year, the city's Concert Band and Big Band continue carrying on a tradition from more than a century ago. The two bands -- the concert one playing traditional music such as marches, with the Big Band offering more contemporary music -- perform around the city.

Bart Howard, 88, a songwriter and pianist best known for his composition "Fly Me to the Moon," died of complications from a stroke Saturday in Carmel, N.Y. Born in Burlington, Iowa, Mr. Howard moved to Los Angeles in 1934 with dreams of writing music for movies. He later relocated to New York, where singer Mabel Mercer added his song "If You Leave Paris" to her repertoire. From 1941 to 1945, he served as a musician in the Army. "Fly Me to the Moon" - also known as "In Other Words" - first gained fame in 1960, when Peggy Lee sang it on The Ed Sullivan Show.

DESPITE ALL the budget cuts and revisions over the years, a quaint paragraph survives in the city charter. Among the recreation and parks director's duties is to "provide concerts, symphonies and other musical entertainment for the people of Baltimore City." As a result of this 141-year-old mandate, the Municipal Concert Band and a separate big band will hold 33 concerts next month around the city. The kickoff will be at 8 p.m. July 2 at Northwestern High School, 6900 Park Heights Ave. "Baltimore is one of the very few cities that has a band like this whose members are professional musicians," says George Gaylor, who joined the concert band 38 years ago as a tympanist and is starting his 18th season as its conductor.

Ever since the nation's first municipal concert band was created here in 1860, outdoor band concerts have been among Baltimore's summer pleasures. Indeed, the city charter decrees: "Music shall be provided for the citizens of Baltimore."The 35-piece municipal concert band -- staffed with professional musicians hired for the occasion -- kicked off its 132nd concert season this week at Northwestern High School. The audience loved it.Not only did the band play familiar tunes but it invited the audience to sing along.

Bassist Milt Hinton once recalled how Cab Calloway's big band traveled in grand style in its own Pullman train. Once he peeked into the baggage car and his eyes "nearly popped out. In the middle of all these trunks and instruments was Cab's big green Lincoln. . . Everywhere Cab went he took that beautiful car with him, and when he got into a town the rest of us would get taxis, but Cab would roll that old Linc down off the train, with his coonskin coat on and a fine Homburg or derby, and drive off. . ."

WHEN FIREFIGHTERS were faced with the dangerous train fire in a Baltimore tunnel, the Anne Arundel Alarmers Association answered the call. The Alarmers - a Ferndale-based volunteer group that provides firefighters and police officers with food, drink and a place to rest - pitched in to help for four straight days, said Alarmers member Bill Sieglein. Because so many firefighters were involved and because they were so spread out, the Box 414 Association, a volunteer canteen unit in the city, called Anne Arundel Alarmers for assistance.

As folks sipped cocktails and perused the silent auction at the Hunt Valley Marriott, who knew the landscape was about to change? But change it did, to something more like Las Vegas as soon as the ballroom doors opened with the announcement: "The tables are open. The games have begun!" Inside, a Frank Sinatra impersonator -- complete with big band -- welcomed the 250 guests to the St. Joseph Medical Center Auxiliary's "Red Carpet Casino," where gaming tables and buffet tables lined the room.

ONCE A year, the Four Rivers District of the Baltimore Area Council Boy Scouts of America honors an adult member who made an outstanding contribution to the organization and the youth of the area. This year, Linthicum resident William D. MacLeod, assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 550, was selected to receive the District Award of Merit, and it was presented to him at a recognition dinner June 11 at Pasadena Methodist Church. Troop 550 is part of the Four Rivers District that encompasses most of Anne Arundel County.