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Biography
Leonard
Vincent Falcone was born April 5, 1899 in Roseto
Valfortore, a Province of Foggia in Italy, one of
Dominico and Maria Filippa (Finelli) Falcone's
seven children. Leonard began his musical career
in 1908 at the age of nine by playing the alto
horn in the prestigious town band (known as the
Roseto Valfortore Band or the "Banda
Municipale") directed by the famous Donato
Donatelli, Neapolitan Bandmaster.
Leonard's
brother, Nicholas, was also a member of the band.
Nicholas emigrated to the United States in 1912 in
order to pursue a career in music. In 1915, at the
advent of World War I, Leonard joined him.
Nicholas had found work in Ann Arbor as a tailor
and clarinet player in a theater. Upon arriving in
Michigan, Leonard became a tailor's assistant, and
as a trombonist in a silent movie theater band in
Ypsilanti that his brother was conducting.
In
1917 Leonard Falcone enrolled part-time at
Michigan's University School of Music, while
continuing to play in theaters. Falcone was
granted citizenship in 1924, and in 1926 graduated
with a diploma in the violin. During this time,
Nicholas had been appointed director of the
Varsity Band at the University of Michigan. The
Falcone brothers began to develop a sound
reputation as musicians and conductors in the Ann
Arbor community.
The
Secretary of Michigan State College contacted the
Treasurer of the University of Michigan, and
requested his recommendation for the position of
Director of Bands at Michigan State. Both brothers
were seriously considered for the position, but
since Nicholas was settled with a wife and child
in Ann Arbor, it was decided that Leonard, the
bachelor, should take the position in East
Lansing.
Leonard
became the director of Michigan
State College Military Band in September 1927.
This band comprised of 65 members and performed
for all occasions: military, concerts, and
athletics. By the Fall of 1928, the Michigan State
Institute of Music and Arts was established, and
Falcone was listed as director of the band and
instructor of wind instruments and Italian.
Although the football team performed poorly during
the 1916-1932 football seasons, the band steadily
built a strong reputation.
Falcone
reintroduced open-air concert performances to the
College in 1930. These events proved very popular,
and by 1934 the band was performing before
audiences as large as 3,000. The band made 54
public appearances in 1930-1931. While
accompanying the Spartan Football team to
Georgetown University in Washington D.C., the band
had the opportunity to perform on the White House
lawn for President Hoover on October 31, 1930.
In
1935, Nicholas was forced to take medical leave
for one month from his position as director of the
University of Michigan Band. Leonard agreed to
take over his brother's responsibilities for this
month. The treatment, however, became prolonged,
and for one year Leonard maintained full duties as
band director for both institutions.
With
the ever-increasing popularity of the M.S.C. band
open-air concerts, a donation from the graduating
class of 1937 of $2,500 made it possible to
construct the Band Shell in 1938. In 1941 M.S.C.
hosted the Michigan School Band and Orchestra
Association's State Festival where the Band
performed its first concert in a newly constructed
auditorium during the event which attracted crowds
of 5,000.
During
WWII, Falcone opted to enlist into the army to
avoid being drafted mid-term. But by October 1943
Falcone had returned full-time to the College and
resumed his duties as director and professor. It
was during this period that the Concert Band, due
to the depleted numbers of male members, recruited
female players. This remained unchanged after the
war, as woman became active members in the music
community. But, since women could not be members
of the marching band, the Concert band and the
Marching Band became separate units in 1946.
On
Sunday, December 19, 1948, Leonard married Miss
Betty Beryl Cromer, a high school teacher who met
Leonard while a graduate student performing in the
Concert Band. They had two daughters: Mary Beryl,
born August 6, 1950, and Cecilia, born May 25,
1952. On January 17, 1953 Falcone celebrated his
twenty-fifth anniversary as Director of MSU Bands
at a large banquet held in his honor.
The
Concert Band began a series of successful tours in
1951, most notably the "Cap and Gown"
series which commenced in 1954. Falcone was eager
to bring the same high regard had by the Concert
Band to the Marching Band. This attention soon
came with M.S.C.'s 1953 entrance into the Big Ten
Competition, and the football team's bid to the
1954 Rose Bowl. The Michigan State University
Marching Band performed in the 1954 Rose Bowl, as
well as the 1956 Rose Bowl, which was televised
across the nation.
In
1960, the Band Shell was demolished to make way
for Ernst Bessey Hall and the adjacent parking
ramp. Although reassurances were made that a new
open-air venue would be constructed for the
Concert Band performances, the plans never came
into fruition, and subsequently the attendance for
the outdoor concerts diminished as the seasonal
performances moved from site to site with no fixed
location.
Nevertheless,
in 1964 the Marching Band represented the State of
Michigan during Michigan Week Activities at the
New York World's Fair. In1965 the Band once more
represented the State during Lyndon B. Johnson's
Inaugural Parade, as well as made a third trip to
the Rose Bowl.
In
April 1966 Falcone submitted his request for
retirement. This request was granted and on July
1, 1967, Falcone's retirement from the University
took effect, exactly forty years after his arrival
at the institution on July 1, 1927. During the
course of his tenure, Falcone's original single 65
piece Military Band developed into four units: the
175 piece Marching Band, the 115 piece Concert
Band, the 100 piece Activity Band, and the Spartan
Brass.
Retirement
from the University did not end Falcone's
profession in music. Throughout his career he had
been involved with organizations and in events
outside of MSU, and as Professor Emeritus Falcone
continued to accept invitations to be a guest
conductor, soloist, advisor or adjudicator at
innumerable concerts, festivals and contests
across the country. He also continued to teach
courses for the MSU Music department until the
early 1970s. During 1971, Falcone conducted and
toured internationally with the Blue Lake Fine
Arts International Exchange Program. In 1976 the
Music Camp dedicated its new Band Pavilion in his
honor.
Notably,
Falcone was a prominent Baritone artist, one of
the few in the country, and was lauded for
bringing the previously obscure instrument into
the public eye. The artist made numerous solo
appearances across the country beginning in 1929,
and even made three recordings of baritone solos
with Joseph Evans, MSU pianist. Falcone also
collaborated with the First Division Band Course
company with the publication of The
Leonard V. Falcone Baritone Solo Series and
The Leonard V. Falcone
Trombone Solo Series.
Falcone
was also a published writer. In 1932, he wrote
"How to Choose a Solo for the Baritone"
for the
Educational Music Journal, and
published nine more articles on bands and band
instruments that appeared in the School
Musician, Instrumentalist,
and the Music
Educators Journal. He also worked
on transcribing and arranging music for band,
particularly the works of Italian composers.
Falcone was strongly affiliated with various other
professional organizations such as the Blue Lake
Fine Arts Camp, Kappa Kappa Psi, the American
Bandmaster's Association, the College Band
Directors National Association, and the Michigan
School Band and Orchestra Association.
In
recognition of these endeavors, Falcone was
awarded an honorary degree of "Doctor of Fine
Arts" in 1978, marking 50 years of
involvement with MSU. Although this award is
usually reserved for figures not affiliated with
the University, it was argued that Falcone's
tireless duties outside MSU and as Professor
Emeritus should easily entitle him to
consideration.
In
June of 1985, at the age of 86, Falcone arranged
to tour his native province in Italy with the
"Falcone Alumni Band" a group which had
been recently formed by some of his former
students. That May, however, just before embarking
on the trip, Leonard Falcone died in his East
Lansing home. The tour continued in his honor.
A biography of Leonard Falcone is now being
written. Stories about and experiences with Mr.
Falcone are being sought from his colleagues and
former students. Items revealing his character,
skill are musicianship are welcome along with
humorous anecdotes. Perhaps you are in contact
with people who knew Mr. Falcone. If you could
spread the word it would be greatly
appreciated.
Submissions can be mailed to
Beryl Falcone
413 Lancer Lane
Lansing, MI 48906
They can also be e-mailed to
cecefalcone@msn.net.
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