October is a month full of contrasts: Nature prepares for winter, while numerous commemorative days offer a fascinating variety of themes – from curious and cheerful to serious and thought-provoking. For brass bands, this presents an exciting opportunity to create a concert program that is both entertaining and moving. In the following, we present selected commemorative days and show how they can be realized musically.
October 1: Pumpkin Seed Day & Raccoon Day
October begins with two unusual holidays. Pumpkin Seed Day honours the little powerhouses that are a must in autumn. Raccoon Day, on the other hand, commemorates the clever but often mischievous forest dwellers.
October 5: World Soap Bubble Day
Soap bubbles stand for lightness and transience – a theme that can be wonderfully expressed in lyrical melodies.
October 10: Hug a drummer day; anniversary of Dimitri Bortniansky’s death
A day full of contrasts: on the one hand, the humorous invitation to embrace percussionists – the driving force behind many ensembles. On the other hand, we commemorate Dimitri Bortniansky, an important composer of sacred music of the 18th century.
October 11: Girls’ Day
The International Day of the Girl Child focuses on the promotion and rights of girls worldwide.
October 15 (USA): Mushroom Day
Mushroom Day celebrates the diversity and importance of mushrooms in nature and culture.
October 16: World Bread Day
Bread is a staple food and a symbol of community and life.
October 24: World Kangaroo Day; anniversary of Alessandro Scarlatti’s death
World Kangaroo Day commemorates the Australian symbolic animal, while the anniversary of Scarlatti’s death commemorates a master of Baroque music.
October 25: Birthday of Johann Strauss Sohn
The “Waltz King” celebrates his special day – an excellent occasion to include his famous waltzes and polkas in the program.
October 26: Mother-in-law’s Day
Mother-in-law‘s Day”, a day that can be viewed with humour and provides an occasion for cheerful music.
October 28: World Confetti Day
Confetti stands for a festive mood and colorful joie de vivre.
October 29 (USA): Day of the Hermit
This day honors the return to peace and reflection.
October 30: Day of the cursed refrigerator
A curious, humorous commemoration of forgotten foods. Perhaps you will find a quirky, slightly offbeat piece that musically captures the “cursed” mood – an original program item to make you smile.
October 31: World Savings Day; Magic Day (USA)
World Savings Day stands for retirement planning and the future, while Magic Day celebrates magic and mystery.
Conclusion: A concert program full of variety
The commemorative days in October offer a unique opportunity to create a concert program that combines both whimsical and serious elements. From light-hearted pieces to rhythmic highlights and meditative moments – the combination of these themes appeals to a wide audience and makes every concert a special experience.
musicainfo.net recommends: Use this diversity in www.musicainfo.net as inspiration for your next concert planning. In this way, you can create a varied program that musically informs, entertains and stimulates thought. The mixture of curious charm and musical depth will make your performance in October unforgettable.
