Marine Barracks Annex, Washington, D.C. -- This Sunday the Marine Band will perform a concert titled “Songs from Around the World,” featuring melodies from Brazil, China, England, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Spain, and the United States. Conducted by 1st Lt. Darren Y. Lin, this performance will demonstrate the universal language of music and its unique way to bring people together and function as a bridge between cultures. The free, non-ticketed event will take place at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 20 at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts in Maryland.
Program and Notes
Complete Season Schedule
In programming the concert, Lin knew he wanted to include Bright Sheng’s Shanghai Overture for Symphonic Band and Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Márquez. Then, he says, “the theme ‘Songs from Around the World’ flowed naturally from those selections.”
The program will begin with Sheng’s composition inspired by traditional Chinese works, followed by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Concerto Grosso for Woodwind Quartet and Wind Orchestra, which features native folk music of Brazil. It will continue with Gustav Holst’s Second Suite in F, deeply influenced by English folk songs, and John Philip Sousa’s The Chantyman’s March, a medley-type march which incorporates eight sea chanteys. The program will also include the great Russian Romantic composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio espagnol as well as operatic material by Italian composer Antonio Salieri. The performance will conclude with Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Márquez, a work Lin first played in high school then conducted in college and most recently as a Marine Band assistant director candidate.
“One of the fascinating things about music and art is how the individual changes in relation to the work,” Lin said. “It’s been great to revisit Danzón No. 2 again and again over my musical ‘career,’ and I feel like each time I do I continue to grow and discover new things about it.”
Lin is looking forward to conducting the Marine Band in the first full concert which he programmed himself.
“I hope the audience leaves having heard new sounds and melodies that will move them and realize that the differences between people are far outweighed by the things that tie us together. There is beauty in all cultures and ways of life that we will try to show throughout the program here.”
The Bowie Center for the Performing Arts is located at 15200 Annapolis Rd in Bowie, Md. The Center is adjacent to Bowie High School and shares a parking lot with the Public Library. Please note that masks and COVID vaccination or negative COVID test within 72 hours are required for all in-person concerts. All programs are subject to change.