1964 PHS Band Halftime Show Music

This video is about the music of the 1964 Portsmouth NH, Portsmouth High School Clipper marching band. The music was recorded on stage in the Portsmouth NH High School Auditorium in 1964. The pictures in the video are misc photos I had of the band over various years, and also of the Portsmouth Junior High marching Band and the Golden Eagle Drum & Bugle Corps, also from Portsmouth, NH, when I was in them. The Golden Eagles shared many of the same people as the PHS Band. Admittedly, many of the photos are of poor quality, but hey, this video is about the music. The marching band was heavily weighted towards the lower brass, with many concert band woodwind players switching to trombone, baritone or tubas for the marching season. All music was played from memory, which was unheard of in NH high school bands at the time. This era was before artistic dance routines and before stationary percussion instruments were used. The PHS Band was directed by William Elwell. Most of the arrangements were written by Warren Muchmore as were the marching arrangements. Warren also directed the Golden Eagles drum & bugle corps and did all their arrangements. The PHS Clipper marching band at the time was about 125 people strong and performed at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, at Fenway Park for a Patriots football half time show, at all the PHS football games and many parades around the state of NH. The PHS marching band was considered equal or better than many college marching bands at the time, and was easily the best high school band in the state for many years running.

[@robertday8521]

Brings back some memories... Well done!

[@whodgdon]

Thanks. I've had this recording all these years but finally got around to doing something with it to share. Yup, it sure does bring back memories. Hours after school out back of PHS practicing 6 to 5, trying to memorize the music and the maneuvers at the same time, always getting it perfect on the first try...ok, ok, perhaps it took a few trys. But hey, we were pretty good back in the day, weren't we!

[@suzannejohnson1471]

@@whodgdon Anyone have an actual video of us doing maneuvers?