Brazil Band Concert Sunday to salute area residents' roots

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

BRAZIL -- The Brazil Concert Band, under the direction of Matthew S. Huber, will present "Hands Across the Sea" Sunday, June 10, beginning at 8 p.m. at the Forest Park bandshell (or pavilion if rain).

Throughout 2012, the Brazil Band will recognize immigrants to Clay County. Although, the majority Clay Countians came from Western Europe, many came from the four corners of the Earth.

John Philip Sousa himself was the child of a Portuguese father and Bavarian mother who met and married in New York City.

John Philip was born in Washington, D.C., where his father Antonio Sousa served as a trombonist in the Marine Band.

A persistent rumor started by one of his publicity agents stated he was really Samuel Ogden, an Englishman. The publicist went so far as stating the March King had painted on his travel trunk, S.O., U.S.A. ---hence his name Sousa.

Nothing could be further from the truth, and Sousa denied this elaborate story his entire professional career.

The BCB salutes our roots with the following selections: "Hands Across the Sea" by Sousa, "Lohengrin" by Wagner, "Simple Gifts" by Ticheli, "The Kilties March" by Morris and "Tijuana Brass in Concert."

Also, "Basque Rhapsody" by Shelton, "Satchmo!" by Ricketts, "Beauty and the Beast" by Custer, "Selections from Chicago" by Ricketts and "A Slavic Farewell" by Agapkin.

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