Mariposa's original daily updated online newspaper
Mariposa Symphony Orchestra
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It'll "Knock 'em Flat!" Why do our American graduates march down the aisle to "Land of Hope And Glory," a march extolling Britain
It's pretty easy to explain: the infectiousness of a great tune. As concertgoers will
discover at the first-ever outdoor "Independence Day Spectacular" Concert of the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra on Saturday,
July 5 in the Mariposa Amphitheatre of Mariposa County Park, led by the orchestra's founder and conductor, Les Marsden.
The concert, as is the case with all Mariposa Symphony Orchestra events, is proudly presented by the Mariposa County Arts
Council, Inc.
The allure of that march began back in 1901, when Sir Edward Elgar wrote his first of
(ultimately) five "Pomp and Circumstance" Military Marches. That first march became an instant, electrifying phenomenon
at its 1901 initial UK performance. Its American premiere was in 1902 and soon, Elgar's music began to make a huge splash
all over the world. He was invited by Yale University to accept an Honorary Doctor of Music Degree in 1905 and during
the long June 28th commencement festivities (which included the graduation of 669 Yale students and Honorary Degrees
conferred upon another 14 including Elgar!) much music was performed by various groups including the New Haven Symphony
Orchestra. Speeches, music by Elgar and others, more speeches, more choral, instrumental and orchestral music - until
the entire ceremony ended with a performance of Elgar's first Pomp and Circumstance March.
The impact of that piece on its Yale audience that day was immediate and extraordinary. Yale
officially adopted it as its graduation processional, and the infectiousness of the music spread rapidly: it was adopted
by (among many others) Princeton (1907), University of Chicago (1908), and soon thereafter by Columbia, Vassar and
Rutgers. Soon, it had spread to college campuses and high schools all across America where, by the mid 1920's, it had
become the de rigueur American graduation processional.
That wonderful trio section tune isn't shallow bombast: and that's why it's so darned
memorable. In fact, Elgar himself had a high regard for his accomplishment, describing that tune as one which "will
knock 'em flat!" It's positively uplifting but also a bit melancholy; it looks forward while simultaneously evincing a
little sadness for what's being left behind. It became so popular in the UK that when Elgar was persuaded by no less a
personage than King Edward VII that the tune would make a great song, stating "it will go 'round the world." Words were
added in 1902 and Elgar's song hit the charts, but an even greater reinvention was to occur that same year when Elgar
again revised the tune-with-words into the "Land of Hope and Glory" finale of his Coronation Ode.
As Marsden says of rehearsals, "even now, when the MSO concludes #1's introductory march and
then begins that trio section, chills creep up my spine - as I know they will yours. An outdoor classical concert while
twilight falls is magical - and with this music, it'll be extraordinary." The concert will also include all five Pomp &
Circumstance marches and many patriotic American favorites old and new, as well as the premiere performances of the five
winning compositions of Mariposa's 2008 Young Master Composers Celebration.
The "Hollywood Bowl" comes to Mariposa in what promises to be a wonderful summer's evening -
bring a blanket for the lawn, cushions for the concrete benches, food and (non-alcoholic) drink to enjoy during the
concert. Purchase your tickets today, before this special event is sold out:
only $6 for adults and $4 for students. Tickets for the 7:00 PM Saturday, July 5th one-night-only Mariposa Symphony
Orchestra "Independence Day Spectacular" Concert at this new location - The Mariposa Amphitheatre at Mariposa Park - are
now on sale at the Mariposa County Arts Council, Inc:
(209) 966-3155 (Monday - Friday, 9/AM-5/PM) - located at 5009 Fifth Street (adjacent to The Pizza Factory) in beautiful
historic Mariposa. Tickets are also available at the Mariposa County Visitors Center at the north end of town across from
the Miners Inn; call the Visitors Center at (209) 966-7081 for hours.
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Please direct any questions regarding this release to:
Les Marsden
(209) 966-6988 New Cell: (559) 708-6027 7145 Snyder Creek Road Mariposa, CA 95338-9641
Founding Music Director and Conductor,
The Mariposa Symphony Orchestra Music and Mariposa? Ahhhhh, Paradise!!! http://arts-mariposa.org/symphony.html http://www.geocities.com/~jbenz/lesbio.html
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