"People all like to go out, depending on how they feel, Some of them have a blow-out, so does an automobile.”

The opening lyrics to one of the last Betty Boop cartoons and obviously related to some upcoming event. So, read on loyal subscriber.

There are a couple of truly outstanding musical events to tempt your fancy with in this week’s broadside and they’re both FREE. It kicks off this Thursday evening, Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m. in Russell Auditorium as the Georgia College concert band presents its fall concert.

With almost 70 players, the concert band is the largest instrumental group at GC. I can attest to that, having had the honor of hosting this concert a couple of times — there is barely a square inch of stage that is not occupied by a melodious musician. And over half of them are not music majors.

I know of at least one fantabulous flautist who is actually a biology major and has to put up with yours truly as her physiology professor! Yes, I do have a day job.

Conducted by the always semi-magnificent Todd Shiver, the concert band program often features a particular theme. Nothing like that this year as Todd quipped, “This semester, I just picked pieces that were as fun to listen to as they are to perform.” Doesn’t sound like a bad rationale to me.

At least a half dozen different pieces are to be featured, but I would like to mention three in particular. First is “Gaelic Rhapsody.” Composed by Elliot Del Borgo, this number is meant to evoke feelings and connections with the Gaelic heritage of Ireland, Highland Scotland and the Isle of Man.

The melodies featured by Del Borgo date back to the 1800s and include tunes like “Londonderry Air” and “Minstrel Boy.” Many of these melodies are recognizable though their titles may not always be known.

Elliot Del Borgo, by the way has composed more than 135 works for wind band, is an experienced teacher and clinician and often is sought after as a guest conductor.

Also featured in Thursday night’s performance is “Procession of the Nobles from Mlada.” Now first off, the title alone is enough to grab my attention. Nobles from Mlada are processing? Right here in Milledgeville? Does homeland security know about this? This could mean trouble right here in river city (oops — wrong idiom).

Composed by Nicholas Rimsky-Korsakov, the origins of this piece date back to the 1860s when the director of the Imperial Theater of St. Petersburg conceived the idea of staging an elaborate opera ballet based on a subject from Slavic mythology. The project was never realized but, 20 years later, Rimsky-Korsakov decided to use the subject for an opera ballet of his own. And part of that is what you will hear from the GC Concert band.

Interesting sidelight to Rimsky-Korsakov — still in his teens, he was enrolled at the Naval College of St. Petersburg and, while on a compulsory three year cruise with the navy, he composed his first symphony.

Ah, nothing like a three year cruise (as opposed to a three hour tour) to bring out your musical gifts!

But one of Thursday night’s highlights has to be “The Klaxon March,” subtitled “March of the Automobiles.”

Composed in 1929, the march was written for the Cincinnati Automobile Show, which began in January 1930. Its composer, Henry Fillmore, invented a new instrument for the occasion called a klaxophone. It consisted of 12 automobile horns, mounted on a table and powered by an automobile battery.

Fillmore was one of the most prolific and flamboyant bandsmen of his day. He composed more than 250 works and, to keep his name from flooding the market, he composed under a total of eight names.

He played semi-professional football, married an exotic show dancer named Mabel May Jones, and served as bandmaster for the Lemon Brothers circus. That’s right — no second rate circuses for Mr. Fillmore — only the Lemon Brothers would do.

Fillmore came from a musical family, and early on he mastered the piano and violin as well as the trombone. He had to keep his interest in that particular piece of brass a secret, however, as his father considered it an uncouth and sinful instrument.

Later in his life, he would publish “The Trombone Family,” a collection of 15 rags for trombone with such catchy titles as “Sally Trombone,” “Lassus Trombone” and “Shoutin’ Liza Trombone.”

Speaking of that “uncouth and sinful instrument,” what a nice segue into the second magnificent musical event coming up. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the Oasis Brass will perform starting at 7:30 p.m. in Max Noah Recital Hall on the GC campus.

The program is titled “From the Renaissance to New Orleans,” and the selections featured will cover just about every major time period of classical music within that window, from Renaissance and Baroque to Romantic and 20th Century.

Oasis Brass is based out of greater Atlanta and was formed by Maureen Horgan (masterful mistress of aforementioned sinful instrument) and trumpeter Jay Davis.

For those who have followed GC musical aggregations for awhile, that name should be familiar as Jay studied trumpet with Todd Shiver and now teaches at the GC Jazz Band camp.

The GC Bobcat Brass Quintet will be part of this show, and the Renaissance part will feature two pieces by Giovanni Gabrieli that call for two “choirs” of brass. The various brass players will be spread out in Max Noah so the audience can experience the original “surround sound.”

Also included in the program will be “Fanfare La Peri” by Paul Dukas (best known for “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”) and “Frost Fire” by Eric Ewazen, who is currently on the faculty at the Julliard School of Music.

He wrote the piece for the American Brass Quintet touted as “the high priests of brass.” I suspect high priests top uncouth and sinful.

With other toe tapping tunes from Bach and Mozart, along with an arrangement of “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” the Oasis Brass pretty much cover their journey through time.

I barely have time to mention the next production coming up from the Milledgeville Players, but I will. In conjunction with Allied Arts, the Players will present “Smoke on the Mountain” Nov. 18 through 22.

It’s an outstanding ensemble production featuring gospel/bluegrass music, testifying, story telling and floating pickles. More in future columns but, since this production will be at Allen’s Market which means limited seating, tickets need to be purchased in advance.

You can do that in person at Allied Arts headquarters at 201 N. Wayne St. or by calling the MVP phone line at (478) 314-4054.

And though the GC Concert band may not have a klaxophone to accompany their March of the Automobiles, I’m sure they would agree with Betty Boop that “People have engine trouble, right after a heavy meal, And people get sick and run down, so does an automobile.”

Catch you on the flip side.

Tom Toney can be reached at ttoney@unionrecorder.com.