The Marching and Cycling Band HHK performed until the end of 2014 with a high grade of quality and music of different styles, from pop to moviemusic from recent till some time ago.
Throughout the years the band became a welcome guest in many countries as The Netherlands itself, France, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom and Sweden. Especially in France the band has covered many kilometers.
Many festivals and other occasions were attended by the Marching and Cycling Band HHK. For example the opening of the 'Tour de France' in Lille and Rotterdam, during the famous French televisionshow Dimanche Martin, the "Haarlemse Vaardagen", the EC weelchair basketball in Wetzlar (Germany), Tattoo Delft and more.
Also in Sweden the Marching and Cycling Band HHK was a welcome guest. At the international music festival in Kristianstad the band has been the one and only band representing The Netherlands for three times.
The repertory of the Marching and Cycling Band HHK consisted for the main part of popular music:
Bad romance
Don't stop believing
Sister
Relight my fire
Mr. Rock and roll
Raise your glass
Forget you
Celebration
Let me entertain you
You give love a bad name
Carwash
In the midnight hour
I want you back
North & South
Batman
For your eyes only
Avondvierdaagse medley (speciaal voor tijdens de avondvierdaagse)
The theme of our show for the season 2012 was "Groovy at the Movie". For 2013 the show theme was "Minutes for Midnight". The theme of our jubilee show in 2014 was "It's all about the feelings".
Wednesday evening was the rehearsal evening of the Marching and Cycling Band HHK.
From 18:30 until 19:30 the students rehearsed while from 19:30 (20:00 in winter time) until 22:00 the rest of the band did its study.
The wind section rehearsed seperated from the percussion section.
After a 15 minute break at 21:00, the wind section and percussion section rehearsed together until the end of the evening.
The rehearsals were under conduction of two experienced instructors, one for the wind- and one for the percussion section.
The visual group rehearsed from 18:30 until 22:00 but this depends on the group (majorettes, twirls or colorguards).
On average the band had 15 performances a year, whereof most in the period April - June and September - October. Most of the performances were executed on bikes, but we performed marching as regularly as well.
From 1995 until 2014 in the beginning of the season a rehearsal weekend was organized for the entire band to rehearse the show but also have fun together.
Ofcourse the annual "Mars der Muzikanten" (March of the Musicians) in June on the 'Grote Markt' (central market square) in Haarlem was held.
As seen from the band's name, main part of the performances were on bikes. Cycling was done on bikes with a low 'step-in' which makes it very suitable to bike with while playing music.
Also a show could be provided while cycling, ofcourse there are some limitation in the movements to be made with a bike, but the bikeshow always had a lot of success at the public audience. In 2013 the 40-years jubilee of the cycling corps was celebrated with a renewed cycling show during the March of the Musicians in Haarlem (The Netherlands).
Next to cycling the band also marched as any other band. Sometimes marching in a parade, otherwise performing a show during in a tattoo.
The choreografy has been in hands of ourselves. During the winterseason some extra rehearsals were organised on several sundays. After daylight saving time has started, rehearsals continued on the wednesday evening and during the yearly trainingweekend.
During the presentation of the 2002 show also the new uniforms were presented during the March of the Musicians on June 9th. Click here for a photo and film impression
The wind instruments consisted of french horns, marching baritones, marching trombones (slide) trombones, trumpets and sousa phones. The percussion section consisted of snares, base drums and cymbals.
The visual group consisted of majorettes, twirls and colorguards.
The Marching and Cycling Band HHK 'That Band from Haarlem'
Rotterdam