St. Louis Wind Symphony Performs a Star-Spangled Spectacular

It will be a star-spangled spectacular packed with patriotic numbers, marches, light classics and show music when the St. Louis Wind Symphony performs at 7 p.m. at the , 520 N. Main Center, St. Charles.

"We looked at our list of pops and popular music that we have, and we picked a program that would be varied and interesting to the public and also interesting for our musicians to perform," said Tom Poshak, the symphony’s assistant director.

Laura Helling, executive director of the Foundry, said the symphony’s performance at the Foundry in 2010 was outstanding.

"The St. Louis Wind Symphony is quite simply the best of its kind in the St. Louis area," she said. "People who attended last year’s patriotic performance were delighted to be part of a musical evening that left them uplifted and reminded them of our country’s rich musical past."

Poshak, who shares organizing and logistical duties with director Dan Presgrave, said the performance will include a tribute to military efforts from the Civil War to today’s troops.

"We’re really covering a whole span (of music) from 1861 to the present," he said.

With 2011 marking the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, songs from the War Between the States are included in the concert.

"We have two pieces associated with that," Poshak said.

One is called "The American Civil War Fantasy," a medley of period tunes by Jerry Bilik. The other is a march titled "The Washington Grays," which was specifically written at the start of the Civil War for the Eighth Regiment in Washington, DC, Poshak said.

"That piece was actually written in 1861, so it’s 150 years old," he said. "The reason it’s ‘Grays’ is because when he wrote this piece, at that time they didn’t know what color (uniforms) the armies were going to (use), so rather than pick a red or a white or a blue or something, he just called them the Washington Grays."

Also featured is a World War I-era "Star-Spangled Spectacular" medley of songs by famed composer-lyricist George M. Cohan, who wrote "The Yankee Doodle Boy," You’re A Grand Old Flag," "Over There" and more.

A selection of big band music covers the World War II time frame, there is a medley of river songs and another medley that salutes the city of St. Louis. In addition, troops currently serving are saluted with a tribute featuring the themes of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

"If you are a member or have been a member of one of those branches, we ask you to stand up, and people cheer and applaud for them," he said.

"Stars and Stripes Forever" and "America the Beautiful" close the show.

"We get nothing but positive (response) when we do concerts like this," Poshak said. "Every time you start ‘Stars and Stripes Forever,’ the whole audience just perks up. Patriotic concerts such as this are always well received."

The 60 musicians, playing wind and percussion instruments with one upright bass, get a kick out of offering patriotic music at this time of year.

"The people in the group very much enjoy doing this," Poshak said. "Even though they may have played these pieces several, several times, they understand the meaning of it, they understand how important it is to the audience, they understand how much the audience likes it, they understand how important it is to keep these pieces going and play these things in tribute to our country and in appreciation for what the troops are doing."

Patriotic, positive music transcends politics, Poshak said.

"It’s important to do concerts like this and play this music because much of this is an important part of our heritage," he said. "It’s important to keep that going, and it’s just a general support of our country."

Many in this group are music teachers, Poshak said, so they understand the significance and the emotional impact of the songs.

"It’s part of our musical heritage, and the vast majority of this group are or have been educators, and they understand that aspect about educating, not only students, but educating our audience and keeping this music alive and keeping it part of our culture. I mean, it’s hard to imagine the Fourth of July without a patriotic concert."

Plus, it’s entertaining.

"It’s great music," Poshak said. "People just enjoy what we’re doing."

Tickets are $8 ($5 for members of the Foundry Art Centre) and are available at the Foundry Arts Centre or by phone at 636-255-0270 using Visa, Mastercard or Discover. For more details, see the website at www.foundryartcentre.org.