Saluting America’s Veterans IX

The Lowcountry Wind Symphony (LWS), under the direction of Donald F. Jemella, opens its 2024-2025 season with a longstanding tradition of honoring America’s Veterans – Past, Present, Always.

LWS welcomes back vocal soloist mezzo soprano Katie McAllister.

Our concerts are admission free, but donations are gratefully received.

The Lowcountry Wind Symphony is a concert band made up of some 60 amateur and professional brass, wind, and percussion players from the greater Beaufort area.

In this 2024-2025 season LWS proudly marks the tenth anniversary of its founding. Present Music Director, Donald F Jemella first gathered some 15 interested players at the Center for the Arts in Beaufort and the Lowcountry Wind Symphony was born. In its first public concert LWS was joined by the Parris Island Marine Band and the Beaufort High School Band. Continued growth has resulted in attracting talented musicians and loyal audiences performing the finest of band literature and orchestral transcriptions.

 

Saluting America’s Veterans IX will be presented at the following venues:

 

Sunday, November 3, 2024, 4:00 PM

St. John’s Lutheran Church

157 Lady’s Island Drive

Beaufort

(Open to the Public)

 

Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 7:00 PM

Magnolia Hall, Sun City

Bluffton

(Residents/Guests Only)

 

Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 7:00 PM

Carolina Ballroom

Dataw Island

(DIC Members/Guests Only)

 

Each year the patriotic music changes, but the passion for those who keep our country safe never dims. Here are some program notes about the music.

An American Spectacular – Composer Chris Sharp has arranged a group of well-known tunes from early Colonial days through World War I.

Included are The Girl I Left Behind Me; Chester; Hail Columbia; Columbia,  the Gem of the Ocean; The Battle Cry of Freedom; Over There; and The Caisson Song. The grand finale features a rousing rendition of the beloved anthem, America the Beautiful.

Victory at Sea – This wildly popular 1950’s television documentary’s 26-part series chronicled the US Navy’s war-winning efforts during World War II. Well-known Broadway composer, Richard Rodgers wrote the musical themes for the project. However, it was Robert Russell Bennett who composed and arranged the majority of the music for the 13-hour score.

Victory at Sea aired in 1952 and was an instant hit, being awarded Peabody and Emmy awards. Rodgers received a Distinguished Service Award from the US Navy.  Bennett’s score has stood the test of time, frequently performed by orchestras and bands over the years, particularly at Veterans Day and Memorial Day programs.

Music From Apollo 13 – Maestro Jemella has chosen this movie music to honor the newest branch of the US military – the US Space Force. The Space Force traces its roots to 1945 at the beginning of the Cold War, with the first military space programs. Attempts to establish the organization as a separate entity failed to gain traction in Congress until 2019, after which President Donald Trump signed the US Space Force act into law. It is the first new independent military service organization so designated since the US Air Force in 1947.

Reflections at the Wall – This commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War was inspired by composer David Shaffer’s visit to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D. C.  Emotion, reflection, and a sincere thanks to those who served are the driving musical elements of this powerful piece.

111465 – When asked about the inspiration for his musical work titled with numbers only, composer Stephen Melillo replied that he had chosen the date of the first American boots on the ground in Vietnam. This was November 14 of 1965. Opening (and closing) with a quiet statement in the percussion, this musical Haiku then reveals a haunting 6-note theme which runs throughout the piece as a reminder of the difficult times that followed. As always, Stephen Melillo is deeply invested in the spiritual qualities of each composition he writes.

Requiem for a Soldier (From Band of Brothers Symphonic Suite) is a poignant and evocative piece of music created by Michael Kamen for the acclaimed TV Series Band of Brothers. Lyrics for this portion of the work were written by Katherine Jenkins and Peter Lung. Vocalist mezzo soprano Katie McAllister offers us the beautiful melody, capturing the solemnity and sacrifice associated with war. The three haunting verses evoke feelings of honor, loss, and remembrance.

Pearl Harbor Soundtrack Highlights – The movie Pearl Harbor is a romantic war drama with an all-star cast which features a heavily fictionalized version of the attack on the US Naval Base in Hawaii, focusing on a love story set in the lead up to the attack, its aftermath, and the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. Although critics panned the movie, the musical score by Hans Zimmer fared far better.  The music was nominated for the Soundtrack Composer of the Year Award. Jay Bocook’s arrangement includes the themes War and Heart of a Volunteer. This piece was on LWS’ 2023 Veterans program  – the audience requested we repeat it!

S. of A. Armed Forces March – Henry Fillmore composed this parade review march in 1942 early in World War II. At age 60, and with significant health issues, his attempt to enlist in the armed forces was denied. Fillmore’s patriotism was not dampened, and this march displayed his gift for fine melodic lines. Using traditional march format, the composition features an unaccompanied rudimental percussion solo that leads to a bugle style trumpet section solo, all building to a most satisfying finale.

This is My Country – This song, written in 1942, celebrates patriotism at its core! According to the Library of Congress, Don Raye wrote the lyrics and then searched for a like-minded composer to add a melody. He and Al Jacobs collaborated to complete the song in 1940. Following its first recording, Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians made it popular. Over the years many others have recorded it, among them The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Tennessee Ernie Ford.

The Ultimate Patriotic Sing-Along – LWS concludes Veterans IX with audience participation, celebrating the red, white, and blue and those who bravely serve. He audience is invited to join in singing Battle Hymn of the Republic, America the Beautiful, You’re a Grand Old Flag, and God Bless the U.S.A.

LWS welcomes new members at any time. Talented high school youth are also encouraged to join us. Auditions are not required. For more information or to become involved in band operations support please contact donjemella@outlook.com

We invite you to join us for ‘Saluting America’s Veterans IX’ as together we continue ‘Exploring What’s Musically Possible.’ For more information about LWS, please visit our website at www.lowcountrywindsymphony.com