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Forgotten American Music
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About James M.
Fulton
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Trip the Mason City Iowa, where James Fulton directed the first Mason City Municipal Band
(Photo by Mt Auburn Cemetery) This great American Composer who wrote SO MUCH music, doesn't deserve to be lost to history. If you would like to contribute anything to a fund to purchase a Headstone for James M. Fulton and his wife Catherine Fulton, please contact me!
The following is a summery of the info obtained from this meeting....
Loras has heard of James M. Fulton and happens to enjoy his works. He enjoys and occasionally performs Fulton’s “The Aviator March.” He also enjoys some of Fulton’s Band Arrangements particularly of Victor Herbert’s Shows although he couldn’t remember the specific one! He listed Herbert’s 4 main arrangers, of which Fulton was not mentioned. He told me that Fulton worked for the publisher “Whitmark” which specialized in musical theatre publications. He mentioned that he was asked by the Waterbury (CT) Symphony Orchestra to provide an orchestra version of Fulton’s “Waterbury American March.” OLD PERFORMANCE PRACTICES: Cymbal and Bass Drum together ALWAYS until otherwise noted. Even during the trio! NO BELLS. Most of the time, bells were not written for, and shouldn’t be played unless they are specifically called for in the DRUM part. The fact that the were later added to performances has its roots in the school band where there was an excess of drummers and were given a flute part to keep them happy! He notes that the US Coast Guard Band puts bells in everything they play, which he wished they didn’t do. He believes it makes everything sound the same. Parts marked as “Bb Bass” were really TC Bass Trombone and Bass Sax Parts. Dogfights are not a basis for dating a piece. Dogfights existed early in band music (EX Washington Greys 1848) The inclusion of a dogfight in a march was completely up to the composer and most of the time didn’t mean its was a lesser quality march. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fulton Folio of Melody Marches for Band. Published in 1934 by the Oliver Ditson Company. & The Wurlitzer Progressive Band Book. Published in 1904 by The Rudolf Wurlitzer Company.
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