The Marine Band kicks off its Fall 2025 Chamber Music Series on Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. with a program titled “Parades, Plows, Parties & Parlors.” Coordinated by Flutist Master Sgt. Heather Zenobia, the concert will take place at the Robert H. and Clarice Smith Auditorium at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. The concert is free, no tickets are required.

Program

Location Information

Here’s what Zenobia had to say about the upcoming performance:

The musical sounds of George Washington’s Mount Vernon were both vibrant and widely varied. From regimental calls of fifes and drums, to work songs of enslaved people, to dances, and courtly entertainment, music was an integral part of the culture. This program highlights many of the sounds and types of music that would have regularly been heard across the estate during the late 1700s.

When asked to put together this program, I felt daunted. Knowing little to nothing about early American music, but wanting the program to have a historical aspect, I took a self-guided crash course in colonial music history. The program includes traditional fife and fiddle music and compositions by Florence Price and G.P. Telemann. However, there are two works I’m particularly excited to share with our audience.

The first is Lullaby|Ballad|Spiritual for woodwind trio, by Nigerian American composer Shawn Okpebholo. I wanted to find a modern chamber work for winds that captured the essence of the music of enslaved people. His piece artfully and creatively combines elements of call and response, historical references and jazz. When I shared the recording with Oboist Master Gunnery Sgt. Leslye Barrett and Bassoonist Staff Sgt. Bridget Piccirilli, they both immediately and enthusiastically agreed to perform it with me.

The second, in wild contrast to Okpebholo’s work, is Joseph Haydn’s Scottish Songs for soprano and harpsichord. In reading about music at Mount Vernon, I learned that George Washington was an ardent music lover and supporter. His granddaughter, Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis, lived at Mount Vernon and was raised by her grandparents. She was a well-respected harpsichordist and singer who often performed for family, friends and guests. Some of her favorite works to perform were from a collection of traditional Scottish Songs set by Haydn. I found the scanned manuscript of this collection online - over 200 songs - and fell in love with “Mary’s Dream.” I then poured over the other songs to find additional references to Mary and created this set to tell the story of a courtship and marriage, loss, sorrow, and finally, peace and acceptance. Marine Band Staff Arranger Gunnery Sgt. Scott Ninmer created the engraved and edited parts for Soprano Staff Sgt. Hannah Davis and Harpsichordist Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Schmitt. I am proud of this set and excited to hear Davis’s and Schmitt’s beautiful interpretation.