Happy 4th of July: A Proposed 2023 Concert
An annual tradition of mine is to put together a little concert program of American music. You can find last year's program on the site as well. Took a different approach with a focus on more contemporary works this year.
Here is my 2023 July Fourth Concert
First Half:
Copland: An Outdoor Overture (9 Minutes)
This has always been a favorite piece with its wonderful big landscape feel.
Gould: Columbia (10 minutes)
Much of Gould's music is left to be rediscovered and this is a gorgeous tone poem with some Ivesian touches.
Abels: Delights and Dances (13 minutes)
Michael Abels has garnered attention for his excellent film work of late, this is an exciting and energetic concert work.
Ives: Variations on America (arr. Schuman; 8 ,minutes)
Wrapping up with this fun work with this witty arrangement.
Intermission
Hailstork: Fanfare on Amazing Grace (3 1/2 minutes)
An interesting brief little work connecting to the closer of the first half a bit.
Barber: Souvenirs, Op. 28 (20 minutes)
This is a rather fun little suite of pieces that shows some of the composer's wit and melodic invention.
Leroy Anderson: Forgotten Dreams & Bugler's Holiday (6 minutes)
The first serves as a little palette cleanser and is among the composer's most moving and beautiful works. The other is a fun piece to showcase one section of the orchestra.
Gershwin: Strike Up the Band (3 minutes)
Getting in a bit of excitement as we start to head to the end.
Williams: Raider's March (4 minutes)
Hard not program this as the fifth (!) film released this past weekend.
Sousa: Hands Across the Sea & The Stars and Stripes Forever (7 minutes)
Wrapping up with two classic American marches.
You can actually pull these all together on your streaming service of choice for a unique blend of great American music. May you have a safe celebration.
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