This Sunday at 2 p.m., “The President’s Own” will perform an all-American lineup conducted by 1st Lieutenant Darren Lin, with familiar songs of the American lexicon alongside modern-day works from living American composers. The free concert will take place at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center in Alexandria, Va. Lin chose the title “American Traditions” and programmed this concert to reflect on the storied history of the Marine Band as well as the musical history of America, celebrating the many voices, cultures and sounds that have contributed to the national artistic landscape.

“My favorite thing about American culture is how incredibly diverse it is,” Lin said. “As a child of first-generation immigrants (like Sousa!), it is comforting to live in a place where both my differences and similarities can be celebrated on equal footing. I am constantly fascinated about how our everyday things like food, music, and language have so many different points of origin from all over the world, and I always strive to reflect that in my programming.”

Program and Notes

Lin’s programming includes these familiar heavy hitters: Overture to Candide by the world-renowned composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein; Morton Gould’s “American Salute,” a setting of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” written during the early days of World War II; and the official march of the Marine Corps, John Philip Sousa’s “Semper Fidelis.”

But there are soloists and newer works on the program as well, and Lin promises: “There is drama, there is groove, there is celebration, and there is reflection.”

Percussionist Gunnery Sgt. David Constantine will perform Jeff Tyzik’s Concerto for Timpani, a work in three movements emulating a jazz bass line, Afro-Cuban and Asian influenced melodies, and a call-and-response section with the percussion section. According to Constantine, the concerto is a very “jazzy” piece.

“It’s a cool way for me to put the jazz and classical worlds together,” Constantine said. “Throughout the piece the timpani simulates multiple roles; from string bass player, to soloist and accompanist. With the timpani in front of the ensemble, you can hear and see what the instrument is really capable of. So this is a really cool way to bring that forward as a melodic instrument instead of just a drum bass instrument.”

Constantine will use “sticking,” choreography, micro adjustments in his tuning, and 111 pedal changes throughout the piece to “make it happen.” Read more about Constantine’s “Sticking,” “Pedaling,” and “Tuning”

Mezzo-soprano vocalist Master Sgt. Sara Sheffield will perform Roshanne Etezady’s Points of Departure which has lyrics and sound effects depicting travel from several perspectives. Following the 15-minute song cycle, the concert will conclude with Katahj Copley’s brand new DOPE, a symphonic piece based on hip hop, a genre born and bred in the U.S.A.

Copley writes that at one point in his early composing career he was on autopilot and felt lost creatively, composing music that felt disingenuous to his spirit. His professor Omar Thomas asked what kind of music he enjoyed listening to:

“I began to name only band music composers. He asked me again, and I told him outside of wind band music I’m in love with Rap, R&B, Jazz, and Soul. Then he asked an important question—‘Why do you make a barrier between those ideals?’ I didn’t have an answer. He continued, ‘If you create something that is a celebration of who you are, the music you grew up with, and the music that inspires you now… then that would be dope…’ And with that, this piece was born. … this work is dedicated to the trail black music has created, inspired and the new horizons it’s reaching.”

So the piece—and the concert—will be dope. And Assistant Director 1st Lt. Lin hopes everyone will hear something that makes them feel seen and heard from the concert stage.

“I hope audience members will walk away having heard something completely different but still 100% American.”

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