Come out to enjoy the final Cumberland County Community Band concert of the 2023-2024 season. Now that you traveled with the band around the USA, take flight to lands over oceans, seas and mountains as the CCCB presents “Music Around the World.” Journey east, west, north and south for a wonderful variety of music, featuring a few well-known composers and cultural traditions of music. As a special highlight, the band will feature Cumberland County High School Band Director Bruce Johnson on Bb Clarinet, playing “Concert Fantasia,” composed by Luigi Bassi (1833-1871) who was principal clarinet at the La Scala Opera house in Milan in 1854. This free concert is on Thursday, May 30, at 7 p.m. at the Stone Memorial High School Auditorium, 2800 Cook Rd., Crossville.
“Conductor Talk” will begin at 6:45 p.m.
It may be a little early for Oktoberfest, but not too soon to enjoy a bit of German-Austrian-Swiss musical influence. “Come to the Festival Tent,” written by Ernest Broeniman, features happy melodies, a few oom-pah solos and even a polka that may get you up and dancing.
Not to be outdone for regional music, many will connect to the “Irish Tune from County Derry,” written by Percy Aldridge Granger (1882-1961). This piece moves gently as if the audience was out enjoying a beautiful stroll on the hills of Ireland. You may recognize the tune for the popular melody and lyrics of Danny Boy, written also as a loving and reverent dedication to the memory of Edward Grieg.
“Hadrian’s Wall” by Robert W. Smith is based on the legend and lore of one of the wonders of history, dating back to A.D. 122. This wall between England and Scotland is a reminder of the far-reaching influence of the Roman Empire. When the Roman emperor Hadrian first envisioned a huge wall across England, he used stone, wood, and iron to shield Roman Britannia from the unconquered Celtic tribes. The opening solo gives a view of the quiet landscape before the music builds ominously, an indication of the approaching conflict.
“Tchaikovsky’s Greatest Hits,” arranged by John Moss, features music from the master composer. The band will perform this concise medley that features Tchaikovsky’s most famous and endearing melodies, including “Piano Concerto No. 1,” “March from The Nutcracker,” “Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet,” “Marche Slav, Opus. 31” and “1812 Overture.”
Hailed by Tchaikovsky as “a colossal masterpiece of instrumentation,”,Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Capriccio Espagnol” has delighted audiences since its premiere in 1887. This popular Mark Williams arrangement for concert band keeps the energy of the original orchestral score to bring the enchanting flavor of Spain instantly to life and includes an explosive finale.
“Mountain of the Sun (Jebel Shams),” composed by Bob Grice, was a commissioned work for the American International School of Muscat, Oman. Located at the northeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, there rises a mountain of 10,000 feet over the ancient caravan town of Nizwa. The audience will be drawn to the mysterious opening depicting a beautiful Middle Eastern sunrise to the fiery Arabic dance music. The rhythms and tonalities tell the story of the traditions which have sustained the Omani people for untold centuries.
Going to the southern hemisphere, the band presents “Carnaval in Sao Paulo,” composed by James Barnes. It’s catchy, wonderfully rhythmic, with trombone glissandos and features Latin percussion.
A final highlight will include the popular “We are the World,” words and music by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, arranged by John Higgins, performed for the first time in 1985 for the famine relief efforts in Africa.
The band is under the direction of Bill Kerr, conductor, and Ruth Ann Tuten, assistant conductor. Membership includes residents from Crossville and neighboring cities and towns, including a number of talented high school band students. Rehearsals run September through May at the Cumberland County High School band room on Tuesday evenings 6-8 p.m. Currently, the CCCB presents four concerts which are hosted at Stone Memorial High School Auditorium. You will also find the CCCB supporting community events such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies in Crossville.
CCCB supports the STARTS program which provides additional funding goals for the Fine Arts programs (band, chorus, classroom, music, drama and visual arts) in the Cumberland County School System. In addition, the band is proud to support local high school musicians with the Patricia and Emery Nagy Scholarship, created in memory of two of band’s founding members. High school students who participate in high school band and the CCCB are eligible for scholarships from $500 to $2,000.
Contributions to Cumberland County Community Band are encouraged and it is an IRS designated 501©3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible and may be mailed to P.O. Box 1624, Crossville, TN 38558. More information may be found at www.cccband.net.