Washington, DC -- The Marine Band’s Summer Concert series, which takes place on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, is a great American tradition of music on the Capitol grounds that goes as far back as President George Washington. In 1793, President Washington led a procession of military and masons from Alexandria, Va., through the new capital city up to Capitol Hill. There, they conducted a ceremony to lay the southeast cornerstone for the future Capitol building. Andrew Dentamaro of the office of the Architect of the Capitol referred to reports in The Columbia Mirror and Alexandria Gazette, which described the procession and ceremony as having “music playing, drums beating, colors flying, and spectators rejoicing.” Seventy years later, during Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, music officially returned with the initiation of weekly summer band concerts on the Capitol grounds. Although the Marine Band did not yet exist when the cornerstone was laid, it was already marking its 65th anniversary when the summer concert series began in the midst of the Civil War.
Concerts took place on the east side of the Capitol with patrons sitting on the Capitol steps and facing East Capitol Street. But in 1958 construction began which moved the concerts to the West Terrace. Patrons now had a view of the National Mall and the city’s skyline of monuments. In 2015, the Marine Band began to perform in front of the West Terrace fountain, while the gleaming Capitol building provided a dramatic backdrop.
The tradition continues this week as the Marine Band returns to the West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol to perform a varied trio of all-American works: Aaron Copland’s “Down a Country Lane,” Joseph Turrin’s Regiment of Heroes March, and George Gershwin’s Selections from Porgy and Bess. Conducted by Director Lt. Col. Jason K. Fettig, the concerts will take place at 8 p.m., both Wednesday and Thursday evenings on the West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol.
The performance will also feature saxophone player Staff Sgt. Rachel Perry performing her first solo with the Marine Band, Bernhard Heiden’s Diversion for Alto Saxophone and Band. As a student of composer Paul Hindemith, Heiden brings forth Hindemith influences in the piece, which he composed in 1943 while serving as an assistant bandmaster with the 445th Army Service Forces Band in World War II.
“My favorite part of the piece is the near the end, when the main theme returns in the saxophone part accompanied by a different theme in the upper woodwinds,” Perry said. “It creates a fun and exciting interplay that leads to the cadenza and then an energetic finale. One thing of note is that I’ll be playing saxophonist Eugene Rousseau's extended version of the cadenza, which showcases the saxophone’s altissimo range.”
“He does a masterful job orchestrating the accompaniment,” she continued. “I especially like how the melodies in this piece are traded back and forth between the soloist, brass, and woodwinds. There are several ear-catching melodies in both the lighter, faster sections and the more lyrical Andante section. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to perform this exciting piece with my fantastic colleagues in the Marine Band!”
Summer concerts are free, no tickets are required. Inclement weather cancellations will be made by 6 p.m. on the Marine Band Concert Information Line (202) 433-4011 and at www.facebook.com/marineband.
Complete program and notes