Local News

Stars, stripes and seated forever

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Following in the footsteps of the great bandmaster John Philip Sousa, the Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band hardly ever marches, playing concerts firmly seated in its chairs.

Founded by band director Liz Dreisbach 22 years ago, it plays "music that is fun and fun for everyone from the golden age of band music, 1880-1940."

Billed as "the finest non-marching Sousa band in all of Ballard," it also features the world's only sedentary majorette, Edith Farrar, who takes her place on a folding chair at the front of the 40-or-so-member band.

The band says she "has literally caused audience members to leap to their feet while admiring (and avoiding) her fabulous twirling trickery."

The band's next event is today at 2 p.m. at the Broadview Library grand opening. It's free, as always.

And as the band says, "Ya Sousa, you betcha."

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

Founder and band director Liz Dreisbach becomes a human applause meter, judging the audience's favorite encore selection - Sousa's 1893 march, "The Liberty Bell." Founded 22-years-ago the band plays "music that is fun and fun for everyone from the golden age of band music, 1880-1940." Dreisbach says Sousa had a concert band, not a marching band, and the great bandmaster only did 4 or 5 actual marching and performing events in his career.

Clarinetists James Grennan, left, Bernice Maslan, director Liz Dreisbach and Eben Sprinsock enjoy the rousing music. Following in the footsteps of the great bandmaster John Philip Sousa, the Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band almost never marches, playing concerts firmly seated in their chairs.

Billed as "the finest non-marching Sousa band in all of Ballard," the Sedentary Sousa Band also features the world's only sedentary majorette, Edith Farrar, who takes her place for a march song or two on a folding chair at the front of the 40-or-so member band. This Saturday the band has its last concert of the year at the Grand Opening of the Broadview Library, 12755 Greenwood Avenue North.

Eyes wide, tuba player Clayton Murray and the band do another Sousa march. Performing free concerts annually at the Ballard Locks and the Folklife Festival at Seattle Center, their next event is this Saturday at the Broadview Library grand opening. It's free as always.

Jerry Allen, center, has been with the band for about two decades. The all-volunteer, unpaid members have uniforms that do not match with many bought on-line. Though they claim to "not march under any circumstance," they once and only once had to walk-and-play in the annual Norwegian Constitution Day Parade when their vehicle did not show up. The oldest member had to drive along, following the group and would occasionally blow her trombone out the window.

ALAN BERNER, PHOTOGRAPHY / THE SEATTLE TIMES