Tag Archives: father

January 29, 2025 · 12:16 am

28 January 2025

Most days no introduction to the playlist is provided. Today, as does every January 28, marks an exception.

About today’s playlist.
Fifty-one years ago today, my father, William H. Koenig, died in a plane crash. A private pilot, he was flying with a colleague to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to advocate for funds for the Grove City school district where they were working. My father served as the assistant superintendent.

They did not make it to the state capital. The plane went down. Both men died.

Prior to becoming a school administrator he had been a high school band director. He kept his hands in music as he career moved in a different direction. He played string bass in the pit orchestra for high school musicals and he was the first director of the hand bell choir at our church.

He also directed a community band for several years. For two years, I played baritone horn in that band.

One or another of the bands my father directed, played almost all of the songs on this playlist at some point. Many of them I played under my father’s direction.

Dad – since it fell unto your lot
That you should rise and I should not
I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call
Good night and joy be with you

Walking. North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center.
Unless otherwise noted, the artist performing the songs is the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein.
Light Calvary Overture – London Festival Orchestra
Semper Fidelis
The Thunderer
Washington Post
Hands Across the Sea
Radetsky March, Op. 228
Under the Double Eagle
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Stars and Stripes Forever
The British Grenadiers
Rule Bittania
The National Emblem
Rakoczy March/Hungarian March
March of the Toreadors from Carmen, Suite No. 1
Coronation March from Le Prophete
March from the Love for Three Oranges, Op. 33a
War March of the Priests from Athalie, Op, 74
Grand March from Aida
Procession of the Sardar from Two Caucasian Sketches, Op. 10
March from Symphonic Metamorphoses
Pomp and Circumstance
Scotland the Brave – The Pipes & Drums of the Royal Tank Regiment
Anchors Aweigh
Le Marseillaise
Fest March from Tanhauser
Colonel Bogey

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January 29, 2024 · 9:48 pm

28 January 2024

Most days no introduction to the playlist is provided. Today, as does every January 28, marks an exception.

About today’s playlist.
Fifty years ago today, my father, William H. Koenig, died in a plane crash. A private pilot, he was flying with a colleague to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to advocate for funds for the school district where they were working. The plane went down. Both men died. My father served as the assistant superintendent.

Prior to becoming a school administrator he had been a high school band director. He kept his hands in music as he career moved in a different direction. He played string bass in the pit orchestra for high school musicals and he was the first director of the hand bell choir at our church.

He also directed a community band for several years. For two years, I played baritone horn in that band.

One or another of the bands my father directed, played almost all of the songs on this playlist at some point. Many of them I played under my father’s direction.

Dad – since it fell unto your lot
That you should rise and I should not
I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call
Good night and joy be with you

Walking. Apartment. Germantown.
Unless otherwise noted, the artist performing the songs is the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein.
Semper Fidelis
The Thunderer
Washington Post
Hands Across the Sea
Radetsky March, Op. 228
Scotland the Brave – The Pipes & Drums of the Royal Tank Regiment
Under the Double Eagle
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Stars and Stripes Forever
The British Grenadiers
The National Emblem
Rakoczy March/Hungarian March
Light Calvary Overture – London Festival Orchestra
March of the Toreadors from Carmen, Suite No. 1
Coronation March from Le Prophete
Grand March from Aida
Pomp and Circumstance

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October 13, 2022 · 7:39 pm

October 13, 2022

Every year on this date, I find myself in mind and spirit and heart at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. With my father, I sit in the right field stands watching Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

62 years ago today, my father took me out of school on Neville Island for the day. We travelled 11 miles or so to see the game, to see history.

Heavy underdogs, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Yankees when Bill Mazeroski hit a home run in the bottom of the 9th inning.

The memories of the day remain clear. But time has blurred the source, particularly in regard to the game. Some of it, I believe I still remember on my own; some is from remembering each year; some I remember from reading, seeing photos, and watching clips on TV (see below), and some is from watching the full game for the last ten years through the magic of film transferred to DVD.

Whatever the source, the memories remain of one of the most special days of my life.

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October 10, 2022 · 8:53 pm

10 October 2022 – playlist one

Walking. Gym in the Apartment.
This one is for my father. Today was his birthday. With its problems,
this was his music. Except as otherwise noted, all the songs are by Leonard Bernstein and the  New York Philharmonic – one of his “favorite groups”.
Scotland the Brave – The Isle of Cumbrae Pipe Band
Semper Fidelis
The Thunderer
Washington Post
Hands Across the Sea
Under the Double Eagle
Radetsky March, Op. 28
The National Emblem
March of the Toreadors from Carmen
Grand March from Aida
Colonel Bogey
Rakoczy March/Hungarian March from la Damnation de Faust, Op. 24
Coronation March from Le Prophete
March from Symphonic Metamorphoses
Pomp and Circumstance, Op. 39
Light Cavalry Overture – London Festival Orchestra

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January 28, 2021 · 9:45 pm

28 January 2021

Most playlists are created to reflect some level of diversity. Others focus on a specific day, event, person, or theme. Most days no introduction to the playlist is provided. Today, as does every January 28, marks an exception.

About today’s playlist.
Forty-seven years ago today, my father, William H. Koenig, died in a plane crash. A private pilot, he was flying with a colleague to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to advocate for funds for the school district where they were working. The plane went down. Both men died. My father served as the assistant superintendent.

Prior to becoming a school administrator he had been a high school band director. He kept his hands in music as he career moved in a different direction. He played string bass in the pit orchestra for high school musicals and he was the first director of the hand bell choir at our church.

He also directed a community band for several years. For two years, I played baritone horn in that band.

One or another of the bands my father directed, played almost all of the songs on this playlist at some point. Many of them I played under my father’s direction.

Dad – since it fell unto your lot
That you should rise and I should not
I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call
Good night and joy be with you

Walking. Apartment. Germantown.
Unless otherwise noted, the artist performing the songs is the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein.
Semper Fidelis
The Thunderer
Washington Post
Hands Across the Sea
Radetsky March, Op. 228
Scotland the Brave – The Pipes & Drums of the Royal Tank Regiment
Under the Double Eagle
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Stars and Stripes Forever
The British Grenadiers
The National Emblem
Rakoczy March/Hungarian March
Light Calvary Overture – London Festival Orchestra
March of the Toreadors from Carmen, Suite No. 1
Coronation March from Le Prophete
Grand March from Aida
Pomp and Circumstance

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January 28, 2020 · 11:48 pm

28 January 2020

Most playlists are put together to reflect some level of diversity, Others focus on a specific day or event or person or theme. Most days no introduction to the playlist is provided. Today marks an exception.

About today’s playlist.
Forty-six years ago today, my father, William H. Koenig, died in a plane crash. A private pilot, he was flying with a colleague to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to advocate for funds for the school district where they were working. The plane went down. Both men died.

Prior to becoming a school administrator he had been a high school band director. He kept his hands in music as he career moved in a different direction. He played string bass in the pit orchestra for high school musicals and he was the first director of the hand bell choir at our church.

He also directed a community band for several years. For two years, I played baritone horn in that band.

One or another of the bands my father directed, played almost all of these songs at some point. Many of them I played under my father’s direction.

Dad – since it fell unto your lot
That you should rise and I should not
I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call
Good night and joy be with you

Walking. Whitestone. Morningside Gardens.
Unless otherwise noted, the artist performing the songs is the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein.
Semper Fidelis
The Thunderer
Washington Post
Hands Across the Sea
Radetsky March, Op. 228
Scotland the Brave – The Pipes & Drums of the Royal Tank Regiment
Under the Double Eagle
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Stars and Stripes Forever
The British Grenadiers
The National Emblem
Rakoczy March/Hungarian March
Light Calvary Overture – London Festival Orchestra
March of the Toreadors from Carmen, Suite No. 1
Coronation March from Le Prophete
Grand March from Aida
Pomp and Circumstance

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November 2, 2019 · 1:44 pm

2 November 2019

5K walk. Morningside Heights.

Walked in solidarity with Kirk in the Hills to support Accent Pontiac. Accent Pontiac’s mission is “strengthening Pontiac’s youth and community through equitable access to intensive and consistent music making.” My father’s first jobs were as a high school instrumental teacher and band director. The last half of the play list honors him.

It was great to get some exercise, support a friend, support a great cause, and remember my father.

In Every Corner of the Forest Part 1 – Bill Miller
Stick Me for My Riches – Wu-Tang Clan
Come Alive – Eternal Summers
Old Glad – Jack Gladstone
I Could Write a Book – Miles Davis
The Wooden Shoe – John McCutcheon
Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springsteen
The Four Legged Ones – Joanne Shenandoah
El Chivo – The Chieftains with Los Cenzontles
Scotland the Brave – The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Tank Regiment
The Thunderer – Leonard Bernstein and the  New York Philharmonic
Washington Post – Leonard Bernstein and the  New York Philharmonic
Hands Across the Sea – Leonard Bernstein and the  New York Philharmonic
Light Cavalry Overture – London Festival Orchestra
Under the Double Eagle – Leonard Bernstein and the  New York Philharmonic
The National Emblem – Leonard Bernstein and the  New York Philharmonic
March of the Toreadors from Carmen – Leonard Bernstein and the  New York Philharmonic
Pomp and Circumstance, Op. 39 – Leonard Bernstein and the  New York Philharmonic
Colonel Bogey – Leonard Bernstein and the  New York Philharmonic

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October 12, 2019 · 12:25 pm

10 October 2019

There are days when I don’t feel like working out and I push myself and get the workout done. Today  the music pulled me through.

I did not want to work out; in part I blame the flu shot I received early this morning. But I had already made my playlist. This would have been my father’s birthday (he died in 1974). His taught high school band and then became a school administrator. But he kept his hands in music, directing among other groups a community band. For a couple of years I played baritone horn in the band. This playlist consists of songs the band played. Except as otherwise noted, all the songs are by Leonard Bernstein and the  New York Philharmonic – one of my dad’s favorite groups.

Gym at the Shire.
Treadmill. Walking. Core work. Stretching.
Scotland the Brave – The Isle of Cumbrae Pipe Band (we played this one with a pipe band in Grove City)
The Thunderer
Washington Post
Hands Across the Sea
Under the Double Eagle
The  British Grenadiers
The National Emblem
March of the Toreadors from Carmen
Grand March from Aida
Colonel Bogey

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January 28, 2019 · 5:54 pm

Remembering

I often post a photo of a toast to my father on this day, the anniversary of his death in 1974. This year, I have been digitizing some old family photos. It seems appropriate to post a photo of my father. We were younger then.

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Thanks, Dad. Miss you.

See you along the Trail.

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December 18, 2018 · 4:20 pm

18 Dec #Ancestor #AdventWord 2018

18 Dec #Ancestor

My dad.
And me.
When I was younger.

The Advent devotional project, #AdventWord  is offered by the Society of St John the Evangelist. Each day a word is provided and participants are invited to share images and/or reflections and to use hashtags so our reflections may be included in an Advent Calendar with others from around the world.

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