Mariposa Symphony Orchestra Presents Annual Independence Day Spectacular Concert
Almost All-American...
Celebrate America's 236th birthday with a (nearly) ALL-American concert as the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra presents its annual "Independence Day Spectacular!" Concert, this year on Saturday, June 30th at 7:00 PM in the Mariposa County Park Amphitheatre.
As the MSO's parent organization the Mariposa County Arts Council defiantly rises from the devastating May 11 fire that completely destroyed its offices and galleries, the orchestra's 10th season continues with a patriotic outdoor concert. MSO Founder and Conductor Les Marsden has selected a program of rousing crowd-pleasers by American composers that likewise celebrate the indomitable American spirit including Aaron Copland's “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Morton Gould's “American Salute,” George Gershwin's “Strike Up the Band,” Victor Herbert's “American Fantasia” and one of the best-loved and most famous television scores of all time: Richard Rodgers' symphonic suite from “Victory at Sea,” the award-winning 26-part WWII documentary.
In addition to other beloved pieces including the MSO's own Dr. Phillip Smith's “Armed Forces Salute,” the concert will also feature the winning compositions of the 2012 “Young Master Composers Celebration.” Marsden annually visits every school in Mariposa County and issues an invitation for students to try their hand at writing their very own “classical” music. The adjudicated winning compositions are then orchestrated by Marsden following the students' own suggestions and the 2012 winners will be able to sit wide-eyed in wonder from the front row as their very own music is performed by a full symphony orchestra.
2012's winners, ages and titles of compositions are: Daniel Silguero (8) “Ninja,” Jade Meisner (10) “Carnival Night,” Audrey Katherine Ogilvie (11) “Les Soeurs,” and Juliana J. Bodfish (17) “The Pilot and the Captain.” In addition to this live performance, each Young Master Composer will also receive $50, a copy of the orchestrated score of all winning works, a CD of all four pieces in orchestrally-sampled performances and a special commemorative certificate.
Advance-sale tickets are strongly encouraged and are affordably priced at $6 for adults and $4 for students. Tickets are now available at the Mariposa County Arts Council's newly-opened office at 5009 Highway 140 (second floor of Chocolate Soup) and the number for information is (209) 966-3155. Tickets are also available at the Mariposa County Visitors Center (please call for hours) across from Miners Inn at the north end of town; their phone number is (209) 966-7081. The MSO's website: www.arts-mariposa.org/symphony.html Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a blanket and picnic dinner for Mariposa's very own version of the Hollywood Bowl experience of live symphonic music under the stars.
And finally, the one piece on the program NOT written by an American composer? Ironically, it's none other than our American national anthem: the Star-Spangled Banner, with words by (American) Francis Scott Key - but set in 1812 to the pre-existing 1770's-era tune “To Anacreon in Heav'n” composed by Britisher John Stafford Smith.
