Sunday evening, Steven and I walked, dog and lawn chairs in hand, to Myers Park in Herkimer to enjoy a concert by the Symphony Syracuse Brass Quintet.
Steven had seen the article in the Telegram on Thursday and suggested we attend. The program would feature Sousa marches, Ragtime and other popular themes.
“I love Ragtime,” I said.
“I like other popular themes,” Steve said.
We were glad the weather permitted the concert to be held in the park. The quintet played in the gazebo. There was already a good sized crowd when we got there, but we found a nice spot for our chairs.
The music was wonderful. It was a little hard to hear the quintet member introducing the pieces, which was too bad because he was very knowledgeable and it’s fun the hear the stories behind the songs. They opened with what he described as “the number one dance hit of 1587.”
The first half of the concert featured Baroque and Renaissance music. Once piece was the Hornpipe from Handel’s Water Music. This was recognizable as some royal sounding music used numerous times in movies and on television, none of which readily come to mind. If this was an audio blog or pod cast I could say, “You know, the one that goes bah BAH bahm, ba ba ba bah bahm.” Then you would have to listen to me sing. Never mind.
The quintet closed the first half with an antiphonal piece, which they spread out on the gazebo to play. The piece was introduced as “the Baroque version of Dueling Banjos.” During intermission we walked around and chatted with a few people we knew. Tabby, of course, was convinced that every person there was anxious to pet a cute little dog.
For the second half of the program, the group jumped to the late 1800s in this country for Ragtime. The term means ragged time, or syncopation. They started with Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer. It made me want to see The Sting again.
The trombone player introduced the next piece, The Junk Man Rag by Lucky Roberts, because it makes copious use of that unique trombone move, the smear or glissando.
“We do it a lot,” the player said, “because we can.”
This piece sounded familiar, and had my toe tapping. It is a later rag, and you can easily hear it as a precursor to another favorite sound of mine, jazz. The quintet also played a Gay ’90s Medley and a medley of George M. Cohan songs. I had to stop myself from singing along.
They closed with a piece originated by the Canadian Brass, a group which broke all the rules. They mixed Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus with “The Saints Come Marching In” and called it “The Saints Go Hallelujah.” I bet that’s a mash up the writers of Glee never thought of. What a fun piece! Many people were clapping along.
After a standing ovation, the trumpet player said, “I heard my dad yell ‘Encore!'” They obliged with a Sousa March. The Phillip Sousa Marching Band, we were told, were the rock stars of their time. It made me want to stand up and march. At the end we all stood and clapped again. Some people whistled. I yelled “Bravo!” Steven and I have a little controversy. I say you go “woo-hoo” only at rock concerts or in bars. For concerts and the theatre you yell “Bravo!” I did not hear any woo-hoos, and I believe I was the only one yelling “Bravo!” but it was a very appreciative crowd nonetheless.
The concert was the final even of the General Herkimer Days Festival, which began July 8. I’m sorry to say it was the only event I attended, but I’m very glad I did attend. I’ll be looking for more concerts in the park.
Mohawk Valley Girl 