From the Halls of Montezuma... or Meany

Back to brilliant sunshine today! Gone were our clouds! It was a little chilly though with stiff, refreshing autumn breezes all day. There's something in hearing the wind rustle through leaves and knock hanging chimes singing that makes me heave in a deep breath and sigh.

Today after lunch, Mom and I headed out to the University of Washington to a performance of the "President's Own" U.S. Marine Band in Meany Hall on campus (where I performed with the University Concert Band). They are on a west coast tour until November, and we were their second performance. The band does not charge admittance, and doesn't even offer CD's for sale. I hear they are available for download from itunes or from your local library. A friend of mine from photography class told me about this event, and he even met us there and sat with us. The doors didn't open until 2:20, but Mom and I arrived about 5 til 2. And it was a good thing! The line was soon dozens of yards behind us and the seats were first come, first served. We were able to get center of the row at stage level, so we had great seats.

When we first arrived, many musicians were on stage, warming up... and in business suits. I was disappointed for a moment, before I realized that that was their travelling attire. They left the stage a quarter hour before the performance started (at 3) and arrived back in time in their famous red coats and blue trousers (long blue skirts for the 14 women of the 57 member ensemble).

After the National Anthem was played, they began with a Sousa piece that I don't recall hearing before, but greatly enjoyed, "March; 'The Glory of the Yankee Navy'." They then played a piece by an American composer about Autumn, and then part of the Clarinet Concerto by Artie Shaw, with a soloist that hails from Seattle (there were four members of the band from Washington State!). The band then did a new composition of an accompaniment to a dramatic reading of the Gettysburg Address, and then a Percy Grainger piece before they concluded the first half with Semper Fidelis, with a line of cornets, trumpets, trombones and euphoniums out in front at the end. Absolutely unforgettable.

They opened the next half with George Gershwin's 'Allegro from Concerto in F', which featured a pianist. The vocalist then returned with an accompanied set of Irish songs ending with 'Oh Danny Boy'. They finished with 'Stars and Stripes' (goodness - I've never heard the piccolo part quite so clear - and played by four flautists standing up front!) and finally the Armed Forces medley. Due to the enormous amount of applause, they had God Bless America ready for us, and we were encouraged to sing along.

I'm not sure I could ever forget today.

Jp