If you’re longing for a taste of the good old days, look no further than the Northwest Wind Symphony’s Oct. 15 “Celebrate Sousa” concert. The evening’s program features the music of John Philip Sousa and popular music of his time, performed the way Sousa’s band would have done it.
On the first half of his roadshow concerts, Sousa featured orchestral numbers transcribed for band, such as Ferdinand Herold’s “Zampa Overture.” Sousa also programmed a band feature. On our concert, we’ll feature Dane Hurd, trumpet soloist, performing Ernst Sachse’s “Concertino in Eb,” accompanied by brass band. These band features were usually followed by a “warhorse” piece — popular music performed by many orchestras and known to the audience. For our warhorse piece, we’ll bring you Franz von Suppe’s “Jolly Robbers Overture.”
Mixed into the repertoire of classical and popular music were Sousa’s marches, placed in between as encores. Our march encores for the first half are El Capitan, Liberty Bell, and The Thunderer — well-known and loved staples of Sousa’s now famous repertoire.
If you went out to see Sousa’s band back in the day, the second half of the concert would treat you to novelty numbers, with something unique or fun about each piece. On our October concert, Arthur Pryor’s “Whistler and His Dog” and Harry Lincoln’s “Midnight Fire Alarm” invite audience participation. Henri Kling’s “Two Little Bullfinches” features a piccolo duet, and on Sousa’s “Roosters Lay Eggs in Kansas,” you’ll find out just how many NWWS musicians can sing.
Our encore marches for the second half are the venerable “Washington Post” and Sousa’s most famous composition, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Although the march debuted in 1897, it found popularity during the Spanish-American War (1898), riding the rise of patriotic sentiment. In 1987, it became the official national march of the United States.
This show starts at 7 p.m. at Corbet Theatre on the Centralia College campus. Get tickets for $12 (general admission) now at Book ‘n’ Brush in Chehalis, or at the door the night of the event.