Corpus Christi Municipal Band has survived the decades with Sunday night summer concerts

In September 1927, an editorial in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times lamented the loss of a cultural institution in towns across America.

"Exit the Municipal Band," the headline reads.

"The weekly band concert was an institution, seemingly destined for a ripe old age. It is a dying institution today. People no longer gather in the parks or the city square to hear the music and see their neighbors."

How surprised that editor might be to hear the Corpus Christi Municipal Band, nearly a hundred years later, is in fact still around and playing weekly concerts in the summer twilight.

A municipal band has been entertaining crowds in Corpus Christi since at least the 1910s. Articles from 1915 and 1916 editions of the Corpus Christi Caller detail summer performances in Artesian Park, which had a bandstand. The 1927 editorial noted the abortive attempts at keeping up a city band. Money was often hard to find; at other times, band members couldn't be located. And when the stars aligned and both were found, an audience was lacking. (They blamed the automobile.)

Over the next decade other organizations sought to get a municipal band started, with both the local American Legion and VFW making suggestions for getting the enterprise off the ground. In 1938, 17 musicians joined together to form a municipal band, with Mrs. Charles Bradfield selected as director. They played frequent concerts at Artesian Park, but with the advent of World War II, mentions of the band disappeared.

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During the war, the Navy's band performed frequently and then in the post-war years the Elk's and American Legion's bands gave public performances, along with members of the Local 644 American Federation of Musicians. In the summer of 1952, a new band formed under the direction of Loren Hall, and for years gave performances at the band shell on the Peoples Street T-head.

In a 1979 interview, longtime municipal band member Chester Malins, a clarinet player, recounted how the band ran into some controversy in the 1950s because the concerts took place on Sundays. That was considered church night, and secular events weren't scheduled then.

"Some of the ministers in town didn't like us playing at night in the old days. They were afraid it'd interfere with church services. We worked with them, though, hoping we could pacify them.

"We ended up bringing a different one out each week to say the prayer."

The City Council approved funding for an official municipal band in 1962, in cooperation with the city's parks and recreation department and Del Mar College.

In the summer of 1976, the concerts moved to the new amphitheater in Cole Park and concerts remained at the park until 2007, when they moved to Heritage Park and eventually to Del Mar College's campus on Baldwin Boulevard.

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David Irving is currently the manager of the municipal band. Though retired as a music professor from Del Mar, he has kept up his work with the band. He started with the band in 1958 as a junior at Miller High School, playing the French horn. During college he would play with the band during summers home, then in 1972 he was hired to teach at Del Mar and took on a larger role with the band. He's done everything from playing to conducting and emceeing.

The COVID-19 pandemic did lower the band's numbers, and the 2020 season was canceled. While the band generally had around 70 members, the 2022 season has close to 50 members, and Irving is optimistic they will rebuild their numbers. About 20 of the musicians are paid professionals and the rest are advanced high school- and college-age musicians who are capable of performing the more complex music.

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And the audience is returning as well. The first show is usually a smaller crowd, but Irving expects several hundred by the time the band performs the final concerts. Performances take place at the amphitheater at Del Mar College's Heritage Campus, between the Fine Arts Building and General Academic and Music buildings. Irving encourages everyone to come to the campus and enjoy the live performances, which has music to appeal to all ages.

"(Last) Sunday we played an 'Avengers' song. There were several marches, classical pieces," Irving said. "It's enjoyable for all.

"It's a fine concert, and great music. I recommend everyone comes out."

IF YOU GO

Corpus Christi Municipal Band summer concerts

When: 8 p.m. Sundays through July 3

Where: Del Mar College Heritage Campus amphitheater, between the Fine Arts Music Building and General Academic and Music Building II off Kosar Street. Bring a lawn chair or blanket

Cost: Free

Info: 361-698-1211 or yrodrig@delmar.edu

Allison Ehrlich writes about things to do in South Texas and has a weekly Throwback Thursday column on local history. Support local coverage like this by checking out our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe.  

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi Municipal Band has survived the decades