Brazil Concert Band to pay tribute to Sousa

Friday, August 9, 2019

The Brazil Concert Band, directed by Matthew Huber, will present “Marching Along with John Philip Sousa” on Sunday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. in Forest Park, rain or shine.

Preceding the band concert will be Covered Bridge Harmony, a ladies’ barbershop choir from Greencastle, at 7 p.m.

John Philip Sousa and his band played in Brazil at the Sourwine Theater in 1912. The Brazil Concert Band and Jackson Township Community Band commissioned a plaque in 2017 commemorating Sousa’s appearance there. The plaque is on display at the Clay County Historical Museum.

Among the Sousa works for this week are four recently-released marches from the United States Marine Band. They are “Columbia’s Pride” (1914), “The Quilting Party” (1889), “The USAAC March” (1918) and “March of the Royal Trumpets” (1892).

Herbert L. Clarke played solo cornet with Sousa’s band. His rendition of “Carnival of Venice” will be performed by John Philip Huber on euphonium.

“Songs of Grace and Songs of Glory” was often played on Sunday matinees by Sousa, and features “Rock of Ages” and “Nearer, My God, to Thee.”

From Sousa’s operetta “El Capitan,” the BCB will play “El Capitan Waltzes” and the famous march from which the musical is entitled.

The BCB will also play the Sousa suite “People Who Live in Glass Houses,” which was his poke at Prohibition. “Convention of the Cordials” will be highlighted as well.

“Easter Monday on the White House Lawn” is still a celebrated event held annually on the Monday following Easter, with music provided by the U.S. Marine Band. Sousa wrote this quick-paced work for the children’s event.

“The Untitled March” is based on a march discovered in the 1960s at Wild Bank, Sousa’s Long Island home.

Covered Bridge Harmony will close the evening with the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

The concession stand will be operated by the Girl Scouts with pulled chicken sandwiches.

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