The ninth concert of the 157th season of the Michigan City Municipal Band (MCMB) will be held Thursday, July 31, 7:30p, at the Guy F. Foreman Bicentennial Amphitheater in Washington Park. In case of inclement weather, the concert will take place in the Michigan City High School Auditorium, 8466 W. Pahs Road.
The concert will feature the fifth Michigan City performance of the MCMB with world-class euphonium soloist GySgt. Hiram Diaz, from the US Marine Band, “The President’s Own.” GySgt. Diaz and the MCMB will present the premiere of Rhapsody for Euphonium by Kevin Day. Dr. Day is one of the most exciting and sought-after composers of this decade. He earned degrees from Texas Christian University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Miami. Dr. Day is a jazz pianist, conductor, and composer, currently based in Las Vegas. Rhapsody for Euphonium is Dr. Day’s second major solo composition for euphonium and band. His 2018 Concerto for Euphonium has been performed by some of the world’s leading euphonium artists, including GySgt. Diaz. The Rhapsody for Euphonium is equally impressive, but is more accessible for advanced high school and college musicians, so his music can be experienced by even more players.
Kevin Day’s Rhapsody for Euphonium showcases the world-class musicianship of euphoniumist GySgt. Hiram Diaz. GySgt. Diaz grew up in Miami. He graduated from Miami’s New World School of the Arts, then earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. He joined the US Marine Band, “The President’s Own,” in 2012. He is co-leader of the Marine Band’s Latin Jazz Ensemble.
The MCMB will also perform Dr. Day’s composition Summit, which was the 33rd commission of the Indiana Bandmasters Association. Summit was premiered by many Indiana bands in 2020. Dr. Day describes Summit as “a group…working together as a team to forge its way up the face of a mountain, dealing with steep cliffs and chilling winds, eventually working…to the very top.” In this music, you’ll hear several versions of rhythms that set up mathematically as three against two.
The July 31 concert repertoire will be:
The Pride of Pittsburgh March by John Philip Sousa
Rhapsody for Euphonium by Kevin Day (premiere)
GySgt. Hiram Diaz, euphonium
Summit by Kevin Day
Chorale Elegant by Elena Lucas
Take on Me by Pal Waktaar, et al
Hello Dolly by Jerry Herman
The Chimes of Liberty March by Edwin Franko Goldman
My America arr. Joyce Eilers
The Pride of Pittsburgh (1901) is in Mr. Sousa’s “grand march” style, which is slower and more majestic than a standard march. The composition was created for the dedication of Music Hall at the Western Pennsylvania Exhibition, and its name was chosen through a contest sponsored by the newspapers in Pittsburgh. The Pride of Pittsburgh contains melodies by two Pittsburgh composers: Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming by Stephen Foster and Narcissus by Ethelbert Nevin.
Since the Sousa Band’s 1914 tour included concerts in Michigan City, LaPorte, and Valparaiso, and since The Pride of Pittsburgh was included on the 1914 Sousa Band tour programs, it is likely that this march was performed that year by the Sousa Band in all three cities.
Composer Elena Lucas teaches composition at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Her music has been played by important ensembles all around the world, including the Dallas Brass and the Boston Symphony. Chorale Elegant is a lovely and lyrical selection. It’s what I refer to as a “sound piece” because it gives us the chance to demonstrate the beautiful blended tones of the concert band.
Take on Me is the classic 1984 pop tune by the Norwegian synth-pop band A-ha. It accompanied a ground-breaking music video.
All of the Michigan City Municipal Band concerts are free, and everyone is welcome. School band members and young children are especially encouraged to attend. Parking on Lake Shore Drive is prohibited. Parking is available in the lots closest to the amphitheater, as well as the Senior Center. Entrance to the park is free with a Michigan City Park sticker; otherwise, there is a parking fee of $4 for the band concert. (The $4 fee applies after 7:00p.)
Jeffrey Scott Doebler is the conductor for the MCMB, and Quincy Ford is the assistant conductor. Dr. Doebler serves as director of music education and bands at Valparaiso University. Mr. Ford, principal saxophone in the MCMB, is retired director of bands and music department chair from Michigan City High School.
The band’s announcer is Rick Carlson.
