Americans We - Charlotte County Concert Band

AMERICANS WE
November 4, 2022
 
The Charlotte County Concert Band, under the artistic direction of Bob Miller, presents “Americans We” on Friday, November 4^th at 7:30 PM in the Charlotte Performing Arts Center at Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda.  It has been our tradition to present our November concert as a tribute to America and especially to the women and men of our great country who have served or are serving in our Armed Services.  From the opening moments with the NROTC Unit from Charlotte High School posting the Colors to the final selection of our national march, Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” this concert will make you proud to be an American.
 
The opening selection is “Let Freedom Ring,” a real flag waving medley that features “Yankee Doodle,”  “Chester”  “Semper Fidelis,”  “To the Colors,”  “The Red, White and Blue,”  “America the Beautiful,”  “You’re A Grand Old Flag,” and “America.”  If you are not familiar with the history of “Taps,” you will learn how it began and gain a new respect for this moving work that is played at military funerals.  If you are a veteran, we invite you to come and be honored for your service to our country as we play your service song.  Rounding out the first half of the program will be some patriotic songs composed by George M. Cohen.  This sparkling medley includes:  “Give My Regards To Broadway,”  “Harrigan,”  “All In The Wearing,”  “Over There,” and “Yankee Doodle Boy.”
 
One style of music that bands play so well is marches and this concert will feature two outstanding masters of marches – Henry Fillmore and John Philip Sousa.  You will hear “Americans We” by Fillmore who was the most prolific writer of marches of all time.  The band will also present a new addition to their library written by Sousa entitled “Hail To The Spirit of Liberty.“   It was a source of great pride for Sousa that he and his band were selected to represent the United States as the official American Band at the Exposition in Paris on July 4, 1900.  For this occasion, Sousa composed one of his most stirring and inspired marches.                                                            
 
And the band hopes you will enjoy some music by the famous American jazz musician, Duke Ellington!  You will be treated to a wealth of great standards from this legendary band leader as the band performs a stunning symphonic medley that includes: “Caravan,” “It Don't Mean a Thing,”  “Just Squeeze Me,” “Ko Ko,” “Sophisticated Lady,” “and “Take the ‘A’ Train,” in an arrangement simply entitled “Ellington.”  Before their final Sousa march, the band will perform a selection entitled “Within These Hallowed Halls.”  This piece provides a glorious setting of “Amazing Grace” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
 
We hope that you will join the Charlotte County Concert Band on November 4^th at 7:30 at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center, 701 Carmalita Street, Punta Gorda.   Tickets are available online at www.charlottecountyconcertband.com or at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center the night of the concert.