Independence Day gives us a chance to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy by living in the United States and to recognize the many men and women who have given so much to ensure the continuation of those freedoms. We invite you, your family and friends to join us on Sunday, July 3rd, the eve of our Nation’s birthday, at Millennium Plaza Park in downtown Lake Oswego for a concert that is designed to kindle your patriotic spirit.
Our theme, as always, on this highly patriotic concert is the United States of America! We hope you enjoy Star-Spangled Salute! which is a medley of recognizable tunes written by George M. Cohan including Give My Regards to Broadway, Over There, Yankee Doodle Boy, and You’re a Grand Old Flag. Within These Hallowed Halls is a stirring arrangement of Amazing Grace and Battle Hymn of the Republic including short, narrated passages from the Declaration of Independence, Gettysburg Address, and John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address. Narration by Dana Wallmark.
Some of America’s greatest music written for Broadway was written by George and Ira Gershwin as well as Lerner and Loewe. We look forward to introducing you to Tiffany Carter who will sing I Could Have Danced All Night by Lerner and Loewe followed by Someone to Watch Over Me and They Can’t Take That Away From Me by George and Ira Gershwin. During this concert, we will welcome Dale Cleland, our Director Emeritus, to the podium to direct three pieces. The first one is Symphonic Gershwin, a medley of three of Gershwin’s beloved compositions: An American in Paris, Cuban Overture, and Rhapsody in Blue.
Irving Berlin, another well-known American composer, brought us Alexander’s Ragtime Band. Sit back and swing to our arrangement of this piece featuring a Dixieland brass quintet and clarinet.
We know you love marches. Marches you will hear include Midway March composed by John Williams for the film “Midway”, Jack Tar March written by John Philip Sousa for the U. S. Navy, and National Emblem by Edwin Bagley which is considered to be one of the best marches of all time.
During our traditional, very patriotic finale you will hear the always popular Salute to the Armed Forces, where we honor present and past members of our military services and others who have served us so well. As we always do, we will conclude our concert by playing the stirring arrangement by Carmen Dragon of America the Beautiful followed by our National March, The Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa.
The intent of this program is to whet your Patriotic appetite, to stir within you the pride of being an American and to entertain you in a way that is best accomplished by listening to a fine band in the park on a beautiful summer evening.
Please join us at Millennium Plaza Park in downtown Lake Oswego on July 3. Concert time is 7:00 pm but come early to hear the Millennium Brass perform from 6:15-to 6:45. Bring your chairs, something to nibble on, and your patriotic spirit. We promise a thoroughly entertaining evening!
Dr. John Carter, Musical Director
Lake Oswego Millennium Concert Band