Join “The President’s Own” Marine Chamber Orchestra at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 16 for a musician-led performance at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at the Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus.

Program

The concert opens with Joseph Haydn’s cheerful Allegro con Spirito from String Quartet in B-flat Major, Hob. III 78, Sunrise. As the piece begins, Haydn paints a picture of a cresting sunrise with soft, glowing chords and a solo violin floating on top. Stephanie Ann Boyd’s Dark Sky Soliloquy, Opus 8, features a more modern soundscape and explores themes of solitude, the infinite sky and the weight of night. Listen for the full range of the orchestra from the delicate whispers to large harmonic swells.

You may recognize the melodies of Max Richter’s On The Nature of Daylight from numerous films, TV shows and documentaries, including Shutter Island, Arrival and The Last of Us. Richter’s minimalist, evolving harmonic patterns create an emotional backdrop for the sense of passing time. Listen for themes of light and darkness throughout the first three pieces.

The concert closes with Igor Stravinsky’s Apollon musagète. One of Stravinsky’s finest neoclassical works, the composition depicts Apollo and his three muses: Calliope, Polyhymnia and Terpsichore. Apollo, as it is often referred to, made its debut in the city of Washington almost 100 years ago at a musical festival held at the Library of Congress. The piece is often characterized by its formal structure and beautiful harmonies, all while keeping with Stravinsky’s signature rhythmic precision.

Marine Band Librarian Staff Sgt. Elena Specht remarked:

“One of my favorite parts of my job as a librarian is getting to hear my colleagues perform. I’m really looking forward to this string orchestra concert, which includes music from the eighteenth century up to the present day, offering great stylistic and aesthetic variety for audience members.”

Enjoy a fantastic afternoon of string music with the Marine Chamber Orchestra. The concert is free and open to the public. No tickets required. The concert will take place at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at the Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus.