L'Harmonie Municipale D'Alés

(Stereo) 'This record is a tribute from me to my friends of the Alés town band, and through them to all the brass bands and municipal orchestras of France.
These bands may occasionally provoke a smile, but they have been, indeed still are the cradle, or the melting-pot for the musical Vocation of a great many leading instumentalists: without such bands, we should never had Pierre Pierlot, Jacques Lancelot, or Paul Hongne, not to mention any others. These bands are nursery from which our great orchestras take so many talented musicians.
Of all my records, none has given me such pleasure, or so warmed my heart. It has reminded me of my youth. It has brought me back to my old friend Marcel Sauze, with whom, years ago, I went up to Paris, but who preferred to stay down the pit, in our home town, even though he could have made a brilliant career. And I have rediscovered thet joyful enthusiasm with which our local amateurs have always played. I would like to think that this record will encourage all such bands and amateur orchestras, in which music is born of friendship.
Maurice André

Our town bands were first created during the French Revolution in order to play for public festivities. They are the original source of musical education in France. One of their leaders, Captain Bernard Sarette, shortly after the Revolution, during the period of the Covention, estabilished a complete system of music teaching extending throughout the country, which served as the basis for the present-day system.
The first recorded town band at Alés was the 'Band of the Firemen-Sappers of Alais' and the 'St. Elizabeth Band' of the nearby Rochebelle coal mines, in 1907. The Alés Town Band was estabilished by municipal decision in 1938.
These bands are nothing less than centres of popular education. They make it possible for young people of very modest background to be introduced to instrumental technique. Some of today's best-known professional musicians played their first notes in such bands. One of them is Maurice André, who at the age of fourteen, when he was already working at the tough trade of the coal minder, discovered in the town band both his first trumpet teacher and the warmth of a pleasure he could share with friends.
Today, the Alés town band numbers seventy musicians, under the leadership of Claude Lagrange, who is also the director of the official Municipal Music School. The band's members come from all kinds of social background, and are of all ages. The town of Alés, aware of the role that a town band can play in the teaching and familiarising of music, has not been sparing of resources. Everything necessary is provided so that the musicians may work and improve the quality of precision and sound in their performances.
In this recording of the Alés Town Band, Maurice André shows, as he did on French TV in the Grand Echiquier series, in november 1980, that music is probably the most convival, popular and fraternal of arts.
Monsieur Roland Jacques
Deputy Mayor of Alés
Deputy for Cultural Affairs


Prise se son: Yolanta Skura
Enregistrement réalisé en septembre 1981 au Théatre d'Alés (Gard)
Texte francais - anglais
Existe aussi en musicasette MCE 8243
ERATO
au recto : photo X - maquette de Marc Geoffroy
Maurice André joue exclusivement sur trompette Selmer

p Editions Costallat 1982 c'[discogs]