The Concord Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Zeke Fetrow, performs inspiring “American Heritage” concerts as part of the Concord250 celebration. Performances are on Saturday, March 29 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 30 at 2:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at 51 Walden.
The orchestra presents a world premiere of A Beacon of Hope by Jeff Beal, commissioned by the orchestra for the celebration! Jeff Beal is an Emmy-winning composer of soundtracks for films and television, as well as respected works for concert, theater, and dance. He is well- known for composing the theme and score for the Netflix series House of Cards.
Other American compositions on the program are Florence Price’s wonderful Symphony No. 3, Leonard Bernstein’s festive Candide Overture, and The Liberty Bell March by John Phillip Sousa.
Richard Sebring, principal horn of the Boston Symphony Orchestra plays Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 3 and his own short work composed for the occasion, The White Cockade. Richard Sebring remarks, “It’s always a great pleasure to make music with my friends in the Concord Orchestra, especially in 51 Walden, the site of many artistic experiences in my youth. And I look forward to collaborating with Zeke Fetrow, who will bring unbridled energy to these performances.”
Richard Sebring explains, “Every April 19th, as a youth growing up in Concord, I could hear the distant sounds of the fifes, drums and musket fire of the Minutemen marching to Concord’s North Bridge to commemorate the battle for our nation’s freedom. Legend holds that, in 1775, the Minutemen played the rebellious Scottish tune The White Cockade as they prepared to engage the British Regulars at the North Bridge. Truth or myth, it was a well-known song of the times, even arranged by such esteemed composers as Franz Joseph Haydn. It seems appropriate to share this little tune in celebration of Concord250.”
Florence Price, a 1906 graduate of New England Conservatory, was the first African-American woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer. Her expressive Symphony No. 3 , written in 1938 and 1939, includes melodies inspired by spirituals and a dance called a juba that was brought to the southern United States by African slaves. Its premiere was in 1940, but it was neglected until it was performed again in 2001. It remained unpublished until 2008, and it was not until recently that it was re-discovered and played more frequently.
As part of the rehearsals for this concert, musicians in the orchestra have the opportunity to learn how to effectively perform John Phillip Sousa’s music from an expert on the subject, Dr. Sam Woodhead, trombone soloist of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” Concert Band. Pre-concert discussions are planned for Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Woodhead, Zeke Fetrow, and other musicians involved in the performance will participate.
This program is funded in part by grants from the Acton-Boxborough, Bedford, Carlisle and Concord Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Tickets for adults and seniors are $25. Admission for youth under 18 is free. For tickets and information, call 978-369-4967 or visit
www.concordorchestra.com.
