In 1989 , Bandmaster Brian Bowen invited me to accompany the NYSB on their tour to the far East and Australia , a wonderful opportunity to make music and enjoy the band fellowship . I knew from the start that it would be a challenge , as I knew Brian to be an accomplished musician , who demanded the very best in performance . My knowledge was confirmed as the Bandmaster meticulously took us through some of the great literature with an incredible understanding of what he wanted and what the music demanded . There were some very challenging moments in rehearsal , to say the least , but we persevered and it paid off .
One of my favorite memories was early on in the tour was in Tokyo at the end of a festival as we played the encore , The Appian Way from Respighi ’ s The Pines of Rome . It was some of the best playing on the tour , and it was one of those rare moments when it all seems so magical . Brian led those last few thrilling moments with the look of exhilarated glory , conducting the last chord with a downbeat reminiscent of a great Samurai warrior . Truly a moment to remember .
Brian asked me again in the early 90 ’ s to play with the NYSB on their trip to England .
Again , the experience gave me great insight into a level of leadership that was absolutely at the very highest level . Brian could be very demanding , some might even say tough , but I always felt that he got the most of out the musicians that sat in front of him , no matter how proficient they may or may not have been . His keen sense of humor helped him through the challenges of leadership , but he never wavered from wanting the very highest standard to be upheld .
Brian and I later joined Mark Freeh in creating a small Northeastern Brass Band Championship festival where I became keenly aware of his intellect and musical skills . His insight and knowledge were of the highest standard and he had an ability to analyze a performance that was truly amazing . I ’ ve had the great privilege to meet and work with several of The Salvation Army ’ s great musicians , and I would have to say that Brian figures prominently with all of them .
— BY MIKE ORFITELLI
As a bandsmen growing up in England , I followed the ISB , listened to ISB records and was aware of the ‘ names ’ playing in the band - Brian Bowen was one of those names . Little did I think that when I attended the Tylney Hall Music School in 1968 , he would be the bandmaster of my band . Furthermore , little did I then know that some 18 years later we would be playing in the Montclair Band together and that I would return to the NYSB , under his leadership , leading up to the Far East Tour in 1979 .
When Brian arrived in the US , I reached out to this ‘ fellow Brit ’ even though I was somewhat in awe of him as I had now played and appreciated his music . He visited our home often , including watching and cheering England scoring in a 1986 World Cup game causing our one-year-old son , Ian , to wake up and scream !
In 1990 Brian was part of the Montclair
18 NYSB BULLETIN SUMMER 2023
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