Larnaca Municipal Band
Encyclopedia
Larnaca Municipal Wind Orchestra is both a marching band
and a wind band in Larnaca
, Cyprus
, that offers an extensive repertoire of music, ranging from marches to Latin, from jazz
to rock 'n' roll
, and from Greek favourites to movie soundtrack
s. Apart from playing for parades on national holidays, the band also makes regular appearances in various concerts and music festivals throughout Cyprus
and abroad, representing both Larnaca
and Cyprus
internationally.
date back to the beginning of the previous century. The first maestro was renowned Leopold Glazner, who was followed by Isaias Kalmanovitz.
The current Municipal Wind Orchestra was founded in 1987, and has been since then under the direction of the present maestro, Mr. Andreas Andreou. In 1988 the new Municipal Band made its first appearance in Larnaca
at the parade of 28th October
, a national holiday in Greece
and Cyprus
.
Since, its agenda has been full of important appearances and achievements in Cyprus
as well as in Greece
, in various occasions to Bulgaria, in Thessaloniki, in Rhodes, Corinth, Athens, Ilioupoli City, Czech Republic, Saint Petersburg, Romania, Hungary. In 1991 Larnaca Municipal Wind Orchestra made its appearance in Bulgaria
, in 1993 in Greece
, in 1994 in Rhodes
and also in 1994 in Cyprus
at a Band Festival of numerous bands from abroad which was organised by the Municipality of Larnaca.
The climax of the Wind Orchestra's accomplishments was its grand appearance at Saint Petersburg, Russia
, in 2000. Other highlights include performances at the 2001 European Festival that took place in Thessaloniki, Greece
, at the 2004 European Festival in Cheb, of the Czech Republic
, and at the 2007 Celebrations of Europe Day
in Buchurest, Romania
, where the Band represented Cyprus
alongside the other 24 member-states of the European Union
.
Today, Larnaca Municipal Wind Orchestra is composed of people of all ages and professions, with a common interest in music. With the help of the Larnaka Municipality, which can always be relied on to support in every way, the Wind Orchestra runs smoothly, and, staffed by old and new performers and is also actively involved in Cyprus's cultural development.
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
and a wind band in Larnaca
Larnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, that offers an extensive repertoire of music, ranging from marches to Latin, from jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
to rock 'n' roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
, and from Greek favourites to movie soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s. Apart from playing for parades on national holidays, the band also makes regular appearances in various concerts and music festivals throughout Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and abroad, representing both Larnaca
Larnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
and Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
internationally.
History
The first efforts to establish a Wind Orchestra in the Municipality of LarnacaLarnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
date back to the beginning of the previous century. The first maestro was renowned Leopold Glazner, who was followed by Isaias Kalmanovitz.
The current Municipal Wind Orchestra was founded in 1987, and has been since then under the direction of the present maestro, Mr. Andreas Andreou. In 1988 the new Municipal Band made its first appearance in Larnaca
Larnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
at the parade of 28th October
Okhi Day
Ohi Day is celebrated throughout Greece, Cyprus and the Greek communities around the world on October 28 each year, to commemorate Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas' rejection of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on October 28,...
, a national holiday in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
.
Since, its agenda has been full of important appearances and achievements in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
as well as in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, in various occasions to Bulgaria, in Thessaloniki, in Rhodes, Corinth, Athens, Ilioupoli City, Czech Republic, Saint Petersburg, Romania, Hungary. In 1991 Larnaca Municipal Wind Orchestra made its appearance in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, in 1993 in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, in 1994 in Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
and also in 1994 in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
at a Band Festival of numerous bands from abroad which was organised by the Municipality of Larnaca.
The climax of the Wind Orchestra's accomplishments was its grand appearance at Saint Petersburg, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, in 2000. Other highlights include performances at the 2001 European Festival that took place in Thessaloniki, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, at the 2004 European Festival in Cheb, of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, and at the 2007 Celebrations of Europe Day
Europe Day
In Europe, Europe Day is an annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe. There are two separate designations of Europe Day: 5 May for the Council of Europe, and 9 May for the European Union...
in Buchurest, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, where the Band represented Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
alongside the other 24 member-states of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Today, Larnaca Municipal Wind Orchestra is composed of people of all ages and professions, with a common interest in music. With the help of the Larnaka Municipality, which can always be relied on to support in every way, the Wind Orchestra runs smoothly, and, staffed by old and new performers and is also actively involved in Cyprus's cultural development.