Schoharie Valley Concert Band Patriotic Pops “America 250” Concert - Saturday, February 7, at 7PM at Cobleskill-Richmondville HS

COBLESKILL – In honor of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, the Schoharie Valley Concert Band (SVCB) will be performing a “Patriotic Pops” Concert on Saturday, February 7th at 7 PM in the Cobleskill-Richmondville HS Auditorium. The snow date is Sunday, February 8th at 2pm.  The concert is open to the general-public with students admitted free. 

Conductor Samantha Baldwin’s program includes a series of wonderful pieces. “The Star-Spangled Banner” is a 2002 Jack Stamp band arrangement of our national  anthem written by John Stafford Smith. 

“The Homefront: Musical Memories from World War II” was arranged by James Christiansen.  His medley includes “It’s Been a Long, Long Time”; “Thanks for the Memory”; “I’ll Be Seeing You”;  “Bell Bottom Trousers”; and “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition”.  This music was donated to the SVCB by former band members, Betty Devaughn and Toni Bray, both of whom played this piece when they belonged to the WAF (Women in the Air Force) Band.

“Irving Berlin’s Songs for America” is a medley of four Berlin pieces: “This is the Army, Mr. Jones”; “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor”; “This is a Great Country”; and “God Bless America”. 

In the  “Armed Forces Salute” arranged by Bob Lowdwn the band will recognize  members of all five branches of the armed services by playing “The Caisson Song”  for the Army, “Semper Paratus” for the Coast Guard; “The Marine Hymn”, “The US Air Force”, and “Anchors Aweigh” for the Navy.  When the song for each branch of the armed services begins, members of that branch (and/or their family) will be asked to stand.

“Lincoln” is John Williams’ musical accompaniment to this 2012 motion picture which depicted the struggles of Abraham Lincoln during the final four months of his life.    It includes the music melodies to “The People’s House”; “The American Process”; and “With Malice Toward None”. 

“National Emblem March” was composed by Edward Eugene Bagley while on a train tour with his Vermont traveling band in 1902.  He became frustrated with the ending and tossed the score into a bin. Band members secretly retrieved the score and rehearsed it in the baggage car and it was performed at their next stop.  It became his most famous march, but he sold the royalties for his piece for only $25.

Jerry Brubaker wrote this band arrangement of the Broadway musical “Hamilton” by Lin-Manuel Miranda.  The story is about Alexander Hamilton, the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. The musical medley includes hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway style music in “You’ll Be Back”; “Helpless”, “My Shot”, Dear Theodosia”; “It’s Quiet Uptown”, and “One Last Time” .

“Star Spangled Spectacular” is a John Cacavas medley of  George M .Cohan music from the first half of the 1900’s which includes “Mary’s a Grand  Old Name”, “Give My Regards to Broadway’. “Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway”, “Yankee Doodle Dandy”, and “You’re a Grand Old Flag”’.            

The Schoharie Valley Concert Band is open to area residents including high school and college students.  Thursday 7 – 9:15 PM rehearsals are held in the Cobleskill-Richmondville HS band room.  March 12th is the first rehearsal for the Sunday, April 26th 3pm Spring Concert.  To join the band, contact Conductor Samantha Baldwin at svcbconductor@gmail.com.