July 6th, 2011 Concert - Continuing the patriotic feeling
Jul
5
Written by:
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Hello again!
Were you able to attend the July 3rd concert and fireworks? Not the best weather for an opening concert, but we were able to get things in between the raindrops.
So here we go with the Wednesday night series - I didn't want to completely abandon the patriotic feeling of last weekend, so I have again programmed some familiar American pieces in this week's selections. Our featured march composer is once again John Philip Sousa, although the marches may not be as familar as last week's. We will open with King Cotton, composed for the Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895. The term, "King Cotton", referred to the relative importance of cotton as a cash crop in the southern United States at that time. Other Sousa marches will be Semper Fidelis, the official march of the United States Marine Corps, and Sabre And Spurs, the official march of the United States Cavalry.
I have also programmed several medleys which incorporate familiar tunes. Songs of the Nation, by J. Bodewalt Lampe, includes eleven patriotic melodies (no, that's not "Oh Christmas Tree" in the middle....it's "Maryland, My Maryland"). Second American Folk Rhapsody by Clare Grundman presents several well-known folk songs, and Early American Suite For Band, arranged by Vince Corozine, combines three tunes that were popular at the time of the American Revolution.
As a side note, you will hear "The Star-Spangled Banner" three times during this week's concert. We open with our National Anthem, and then you will find it as one of the pieces in Songs of the Nation, as well as hearing it as one of the themes in E. E. Bagley's march, National Emblem. As you probably know, the piece is notoriously difficult to sing because of its wide range of notes (an octave and a half). Humorist Richard Armour referenced this fact in his book, "It All Started With Columbus":
In an attempt to take Baltimore, the British attacked Fort McHenry, which protected the harbor. Bombs were soon bursting in air, rockets were glaring, and all in all it was a moment of great historical interest. During the bombardment, a young lawyer named Francis Off Key [sic] wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner", and when, by the dawn's early light, the British heard it sung, they fled in terror
—Richard Armour
I also have included a piece for our young (and young-at-heart) listeners. Written by Peter Yarrow and Leonard Lipton, and arranged by Richard Maltby, Puff (The Magic Dragon) is a wonderful piece based on the familiar tune that features.....our tubas! Lonnie and Jim will lead us through a theme-and-variations arrangement of the classic children's tune that is sure to please all ages.
Hope to see you at the bandstand Wednesday night! Remember to check back here at the website, or on our Facebook and Twitter locations for cancellation info if the weather looks bad.
See you soon!