With just two weeks remaining in the Marshall Municipal Band's 86th season, there are still several opportunities to hear the band. The first will be Wednesday evening, Aug. 1, in historic Arrow Rock.

The band will begin the John Emerson Memorial Concert at 7:30 p.m. on the Tavern green. The band will return to the Saline County Courthouse lawn Thursday evening, Aug. 2, to perform its regular concert that also begins at 7:30 p.m.

"In addition to the two concerts this week, we will be preparing for three concerts next week," said Director Kevin Lines. "Besides our final evening concert next Thursday night, we will perform two concerts for the opening day of the Missouri State Fair."

The Thursday concert will begin with Ralph Vaughan Williams' majestic fanfare "Flourish For Wind Band."

The fiery circus march "From Tropic To Tropic" will follow. Written by Russell Alexander, this march can be performed at several different tempos but this week's performance will be at a true circus speed.

Clare Grundmans' "An Irish Rhapsody" includes some of the best-known Irish melodies. They are: "The Moreen (The Minstrel Boy)," "I Know Where I'm Going," "Shepherd's Lamb Reel," "Cockles and Mussels," "The Rakes Of Mallow" and "Kathleen O'More."

The musical collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein created some of the most memorable Broadway musicals ever. The band will perform Selections from "Carousel," which includes the songs: "Carousel Waltz," "Mister Snow," "Blow High, Blow Low," "If I Loved You," "June Is Busting Out All Over," "What's The Use Of Wond'rin'," "A Real Nice Clambake" and the memorable "You'll Never Walk Alone."

A favorite of both band and audience members alike is the music of John Philip Sousa and this week the band has selected his "George Washington Bicentennial" march.

"Sousa was as much a patriot as he was a musician and when he was given the opportunity to honor our country's founding father he created one of his finest marches," Lines said.

The band digs deep into their files this week as they perform A. M. Laurens' "Sky Pilot." This work was first copyrighted in 1901 by the C. L. Barnhouse Company. "And in actuality, A. M. Lauren was none other than Mr. Barnhouse himself. As he began writing more works for band as well as publishing them, he was concerned about his name flooding the market so he composed under several pseudonyms," added Lines.

Another prolific composer was Henry Fillmore. The band will perform his rousing "Orange Bowl" march.

The closing trilogy will begin with native Missouri composer David Holsinger and his poignant "On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss." Holsinger grew up in Hardin, attended Central Methodist College in Fayette and served as band director for the Chillicothe public schools. He now teaches on the college level and is one of the most sought-after composers in band composition.

"The Battle Hymn of the Republic" has long been associated with the history of our country. Whether being sung by Union or Confederate soldiers during the Civil War, or being performed for presidential funerals, this work is both stirring and comforting to the human spirit. The band will perform the arrangement used for the funeral of President Ronald Reagan. The concert will conclude with "Uncle Sammy."

"Don't let the 86th season pass by without hearing your Marshall Municipal Band," said Lines.