Washington, DC --
**UPDATE JAN. 21, 2016: This concert has been canceled due to impending inclement weather.**
“The
President’s Own” 2016 Chamber Music Series begins at 2 p.m. this Sunday, Jan.
24, with a concert featuring euphonium and tubas, strings, and other brass
throughout. Coordinated by trumpeter/cornetist Staff Sgt. James McClarty, the
performance will take place in John Philip Sousa Band Hall at the Marine
Barracks Annex in southeast Washington, D.C. The concert is free and no tickets
are required. Free parking is also available under the overpass on 7th
Street across from the annex. The concert will also stream live beginning at 2
p.m. (EST) on the Marine Band website www.marineband.marines.mil.
“I
wanted to do a program of all modern music from the 20th century to current,” McClarty
said. “Lovers of 20th century and Romantic music should be entertained as there
are elements of both. And brass and string lovers will be pleased, as many of
the ensembles on the program are comprised of brass and strings.”
The
concert will begin with the world première of Overture for Euphoniums and
Tubas, commissioned in 2015 by Marine Band euphonium player Staff Sgt. Hiram
Diaz and composed by Marine Band clarinetist Staff Sgt. Parker Gaims.
“When
I first heard the Marine Band ensemble read the piece, I thought it sounded
beautiful,” Gaims said. “The euphonium/tuba ensemble has the rich expressivity
of the lower range of a pipe organ and the characteristic brilliance and
clarity of brass instruments. I love the sonority of all the euphoniums and
tubas. And although it is only about six minutes long, the audience will
appreciate the short romantic overture’s variety of moods.”
The
first half of the concert will continue with Benjamin Frankel’s String Quartet
No. 1, Opus 14, and Camille Saint-Saëns’ Caprice on Danish and Russian Airs,
Opus 79. “While the Saint-Saëns’ is not a 20th century piece, its late Romantic
style pairs nicely with the Gaims romantically styled overture and it showcases
the woodwinds very nicely,” McClarty said.
The
second half of the program includes a brass ensemble performing James Pugh’s And Flights of Angels…; Eric Ewazen’s
Trio for Trumpet, Violin, and Piano; and Chick Corea’s Part 1 (Overture) from Lyric Suite for Sextet.
“While
I was looking for a piece to showcase the percussion, I came across the Corea
piece with vibraphone,” McClarty explained. “I love how the jazz style is a fun
contrast with the other pieces, and it almost feels like an encore so it is a
fun way to end the program.”
Complete program and program notes
Directions and parking information