Marine Chamber Orchestra Pays Tribute to British Conductor Bramwell Tovey

On July 12, 2022, the music world suffered a great loss: the wonderfully talented musician, composer, and conductor Bramwell Tovey passed away. On Saturday, Aug. 20, the Marine Chamber Orchestra will perform the world première of O Earth, O Sky, you are mine to roam by Joseph Turrin, a composition dedicated to the memory of Tovey and scored for strings, woodwinds and harp.

Maestro Tovey was a friend of “The President’s Own,” conducting the band and orchestra in a special anniversary concert in July 2018 at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Md. Colonel Jason K. Fettig crafted a program that celebrated the band’s legacy and was thrilled that Tovey conducted the ensemble and considered him a conductor with the perfect combination of interests and experience to work with the Marine Band and Chamber Orchestra musicians. Tovey even performed as a piano soloist on the concert, performing George Gershwin’s 1924 jazz band version of Rhapsody in Blue.

“Saddened by this tragic loss I found myself walking over to my back window the day after his passing and was surprised to see the most beautiful black butterfly hovering in and out of the garden every so often making its presence known by flying consistently in circles in front of my window,” Turrin said. “I immediately thought of the wonderful folklore about the butterfly and the cultures that believe they are the spirit of the dead returning once more. I couldn’t help thinking that maybe Bram was saying his last goodbye, there on this sultry summer afternoon … I couldn’t resist using the flute in all its ethereal beauty as representing that butterfly. O Earth, O Sky, you are mine to roam.”

The Marine Chamber Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center in Alexandria, Va. In addition to the Tribute to Bramwell Tovey, the free concert will also include A Jazz Symphony by George Antheil, Emmanuel Sejourne’s Concerto for Marimba and Strings, featuring soloist Master Sgt. Jonathan Bisesi, Aaron Copland’s Music for Movies and the world première of Award-winning composer and conductor Alan Williams’ Ronin 3: A Heroes Tribute, a three-movement concert work based on the upcoming three-part documentary film Ronin 3: The Battle for Sangin. Free parking is available in the garage.

Program and Notes