Sequim City Band Concert

Description

Sequim City Band press release for May 7th concert The Sequim City Band, under the direction of Tyler Benedict, will hold it's first outdoor concert of the season on Sunday, May 7th at 3 pm at the James Center For the Performing Arts. The theme of "Over the Rainbow" is fitting for Sequim's abundance of rainbows. To produce this colorful, prismatic display, there must be both rain and sunshine. Fittingly, the Band will perform all kinds of weather-related music. Be sure to bring lawn chairs, blankets, sun protection and perhaps an umbrella. The title piece "Over the Rainbow" by Harold Arlen was written for the movie "The Wizard of Oz" in 1939. Dorothy dreams of a place where she could not get into trouble...well, we know how that turned out! A medley of rainy day songs simply entitled "Rain" includes classics such as "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head," "Come Rain or Come Shine" and "Singin' in the Rain." Robert W. Smith's "In a Gentle Rain" begins with soft tapping of raindrops that promise to make the flowers bloom and the grass greener. The beautiful and serene melodies make the listener rejoice in the soft shower rather than run for cover. In contrast, "The Thunderer March" by Souza conjures up a violent storm with drums and trumpets providing the rumble and lightening. Sousa was called the March King, but John Clifford Heed was nicknamed the March Wizard. His march "In Storm and Sunshine" is his most popular work and is a great circus "screamer." A piece called "Chase the Shouting Wind" by Vince Gassi was inspired by the poem "High Flight" by pilot John G. Magee, Jr. This music depicts the exhilaration and freedom of flight above the clouds and over the rainbow. What is at the end of the rainbow? Leprechauns legend has it. "Irish Tune From County Derry" by Percy Grainger includes one of the most beloved arrangements of "Danny Boy." William Latham's "Brighton Beach March" has dynamic contrasts that may depict the changing weather. "Sunny Sequim March" by the Band's founder, Chuck Swisher, is purely about the joy of sunshine and Sequim's claim to fame. Frank Ticheli is an American composer and recipient of numerous awards. His music has been described as powerful, lean and muscular, optimistic, thoughtful, and brilliant. His piece "Sun Dance" is a choreography of intertwining rhythms and harmonies that will elicit sheer joy. The Band is pleased to have Cynthia Webster as the announcer for this concert. Cynthia is a published author and a talented musician in her own right. She sings with The Peninsula Singers and has been featured as a soprano soloist on many occasions. She also is a pianist and has accompanied both church and community choirs. The Sequim City Band is a non profit, volunteer organization that strives to promote and bring concert band music to the community. For more information, please visit the Band's website at www.sequimcityband.org.