I talked to Kenny Wolin, and he said the President's Own Band is made up of about 200 Marines, and they provide all the music for White House functions. They can field a brass band, chamber orchestra, jazz combo and even an Irish group (in which Kenny plays concertina, bones and bodhran -- there have been squeezeboxes in the White House!). Kenny's main instrument, he said, is mallet percussion, like marimba and xylophone. He could probably make music with a wet paper towel and a drinking straw.

I'd like to get your opinions on a thought: what if the final concert on Sunday was just chanteys? One from each performer, but a requirement that they present a chantey in some form or other. I would love to see the Festival end with 3.5 hours of participatory, energetic songs. Sort of what Gibb mentioned: a combo of concert and pub sing. What do all y'all think?

Jerry