By NANCY RASKAUSKAS
The Entertainer | Posted: Friday, November 7, 2008 12:00 am
Band brings out all the familiar patriotic favorites to honor veterans
CORVALLIS - This Tuesday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, a time to reflect on the sacrifices of servicemen and women past and present.
America's history makes this holiday one steeped in all sorts of emotions: sadness for those who have died, hope for a peaceful future and patriotism among them.
Music has an incredible way of bringing those feelings to the surface, and the Corvallis Community Band with the help of the Masters Mens Chorus has put together a free concert full of familiar and evocative songs for the occasion.
"It's exciting to do something to honor veterans," said retired Western Oregon University band director Dave Wallace.
Wallace, who is a Navy veteran himself, has been a member of the band for close to 15 years. On Tuesday, he will play the clarinet and also direct the traditional version of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The band has no shortage of veteran soldiers or directors in its number.
In fact, Corvallis Community Band director Steve Matthes will hand the baton off several times during the concert.
The band will be joined by the Masters Men chorus directed by Paul Jacobson for several songs, including all four verses of Francis Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner" set to music written by local composer Dean Kennedy, who will also conduct.
Kennedy got the idea for the piece after reading the text of the entire national anthem on the Gazette-Times editorial page on the Fourth of July holiday a few years ago.
"I thought, I want to set that to music," Kennedy said.
Kennedy has also written a piece based on the poem "Beautiful Willamette" by Samuel L. Simpson for Corvallis' sesquicentennial, as well as several musicals produced by Corvallis Community Theatre, including "Alana" which will debut next May.
Another highlight of the evening will be the "Armed Forces Salute" directed by Oregon State University band director emeritus James Douglass.
The piece is a rousing composition which includes the official songs of each branch of the armed services.
The medley is always a highlight of the Corvallis Community Band's Fourth of July and Veterans Concert, giving attending veterans the chance to stand tall and accept the crowd's applause as the band plays the Coast Guard's "Semper Paratus," Air Force's "Into the Wild Blue Yonder," Navy's "Anchors Aweigh," Marine Corps' "Marines' Hymn" and Army's "Caisson Song."
Trumpet player Bill Gates has been with the band for only a few weeks. He and his wife, Bobbie, who plays flute with the band, recently moved to Oregon from Iowa, to be near their new grandson.
Gates retired from the Army Reserve as a command sergeant major. His favorite piece for this concert, "The Homefront: Musical Memories from World War II," has some of the more lighthearted melodies of the night.
French horn player Bob Schapper has played with the band for 12 years and is excited to be playing Richard Rodgers' "Victory at Sea" during the concert.
The suite written by Rodgers' and arranged by Robert Russell Bennett for the documentary TV series about naval warfare during World War II that was originally aired by NBC in 1952-53.
Schapper, who was a Navy Reserve Officer from 1968-1991, still remembers being shown parts of the TV series during his training with the reserves.
"We're always somewhat patriotic," said Schapper commenting on the Corvallis Community Band. "It's almost like we're doing it every time we play."
CHECK IT OUT
Corvallis Community Band and Masters Men Chorus
Veterans Day Concert, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, First United Methodist Church, 1165 N.W. Monroe Ave., Corvallis. Information: c-cband.org or 752-6036.
PLAYLIST
* "A More Perfect Union"
* "Armed Forces Salute"
* "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
* "I Believe in America"
* "Rushmore"
* "Star Spangled Banner"
* "The Homefront, Musical Memories of World War II"
* "Victory at Sea"