10 Reasons West Point Summer Concerts Rock

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Army, army band, band, Classical Music, concert, concert band, Free Concert, free performance, Jeremy Gaynor, marches, marching band, military band, military music, Music, Summer fun, Trophy Point, United States Military Academy, veterans, West Point, West Point Band, West Point Cadet, wind ensemble

Take heart Summer fun-seekers, a concert at West Point’s legendary Trophy Point Amphitheater just might be the perfect summer evening. This annual tradition on the grounds of the U.S. Military Academy combines festive friends and family, Hudson River vistas, glimmering stars overhead, and rich American history with heart-stopping music performed under the stars by world-class musicians.

And while words cannot do this spirit-raising experience justice, here are just a few reasons West Point Summer Concerts will rock your world.

 

1. America.

Music isn’t the only thing in the air at Trophy Point. From the moment you arrive, you’ll sense a patriotic energy that lifts your spirits. With high-flying flags, military heroes, and time-honored cheers, you’ll experience American pride on full display.

2. The music will blow your mind.

West Point’s world-renowned band boasts multiple generations of talented musicians, many of whom hold graduate degrees from top music institutions. If the band can captivate at ceremonies, parades, sporting events and celebrations, just imagine how they sound on their own home turf.

3. Every seat is the best seat.

Unlike your typical music event, West Point concerts give you plenty of room to spread out, feast on a picnic, and relax with your favorite people. Trophy Point’s natural hillside amphitheater gives fans across the grounds spectacular views and impeccable sound quality. So whether you’re watching the band front and center or dancing on the hilltop with your kiddos, Trophy Point is on point.

4. West Point puts the “FREE” in freedom.

West Point summer concerts are completely FREE of charge. Where else can you enjoy an out-of-this-world performance and dazzling fireworks show without spending a dime? Make a summer tradition out of it. And bring visitors. It’s a pretty safe bet this is one experience they can’t get at home.

5. You’re part of the show.

Little known fact: The West Point band members are born Rock Stars. And they don’t take that responsibility lightly. So when you come to a West Point Band Music Under the Stars concert, expect great music, but don’t expect to stay in your seat. Because whether inviting kids onstage to play along, letting you choose the evening’s featured soloist, or leading audience sing-alongs, the band constantly finds surprising ways to engage you, the audience.

6. History comes alive at West Point.

Think of the West Point campus as a living history museum. It’s where George Washington stationed his headquarters during the American Revolution, calling these very banks of the Hudson River “the key to the continent.” The West Point Band has been performing here since 1817. Since then, they’ve appeared at numerous historic events across the nation.

7. West Point = Instagram paradise.

No filter? No problem. Trophy Point is the ultimate picturesque backdrop for a night of unforgettable music, easily transforming any smartphone photo into a masterpiece. Colorful sunsets echo melodies on the Hudson horizon. Heroic fireworks gleam with pride in the stars above. Rest assured, any memory you capture alongside the nation’s finest uniformed musicians will capture souls.  

8. There’s something for kids AND parents.

West Point concerts offer summer fun for the whole wolfpack. Your little ones will love the excitement of Trophy Point. Firework shows, dancing on stage, and plenty of opportunities to bask in the joy of music with the band themselves. Plus, there’s not a whiff of bad influence in the air. So parents can kick back, munch on picnic goodies, and enjoy wonderful performances worry-free. Win-win.

9. WP is not what you’d expect.

West Point concerts defy expectations. Sure, the band performs classical works, and they do it flawlessly. But these musicians are also masters of country and rock! Think rugged guitar jams, folksy banjo tunes, the whole enchilada. The setting is more relaxed than you would assume too. West Point feels like any college campus. Youthful, vibrant, and full of life. Ideal for a summer music celebration.

10. You can’t make this stuff up.

Where else can you see top-notch music at a beautiful venue with your loved ones for FREE? Where else can you celebrate America on the very grounds our forefathers fought for? Where else can you see live cannon fire? Cannons!? Only one place: West Point.

 

 

 

Big in Japan

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america, Army, army band, band, Bernstein, Classical Music, concert, concert band, free performance, japan, JGSDF, military band, military music, Music, Sumida Triphony, tokyo, trombone, United States Military Academy, West Point, West Point Band, wind ensemble, work

As nearly everything in Japan does, the concert began exactly on time with the playing of the Star Spangled Banner followed by Kimigayo, the Japanese National Anthem. The first piece on the program was Frank Tichelli’s arrangement of Shenandoah. It begins reverently, and then slowly grows to a glorious and dramatic climax. The band pulled out all the stops, and gave a truly stirring performance.

One of the highlights of the performance was Rhapsody for Band. The piece, conducted by Col. Takeda, uses quite a lot of traditional Japanese percussion instruments. Sgt. 1^st Class Nathan Eby had the challenge of playing a very large percussion solo on the hyoshigi, an instrument that he had never played prior to coming to Japan. He did splendidly in performance, though I know he was quite nervous.

Col. Takeda conducts. Photo by SFC Sam Kaestner

The final piece on the first half was Dance Folatre by American composer, Claude T. Smith. He is known for writing wind band works that are challenging to play, and Dance Folatre was no exception. Col. Takeda conducted the piece at a tempo that is best described as mach schnell. It forced the musicians beyond their comfort zones and onto the edge of their seats. The piece is full of effervescence and joie de vivre, and those feelings came across in the performance. There was also quite a bit of nervous energy as Col. Takeda pushed the ensemble to the redline as far as tempo is concerned. It brought about a tremendous amount of excitement for the audience, and they showed their appreciation with generous applause.

Following intermission, Lt. Col. Keene took the podium again to conduct selections from Leonard Bernstein’s Mass, arranged for band by Sgt. Maj. Douglas Richard. The work drew heavily on the talents of two soloists from the central band. In the first movement, there is a very large trombone solo. It is fortunate that the Central Band has one of the finest trombone sections I have ever heard. The solo was played with elegance and dignity and was a joy to listen to.

The combined brass section. Photo by SFC Sam Kaestner

The second movement has a really big flute solo that is meant to be played by a performer standing outside of the ensemble. One of the Central Band’s flutists stood behind and above the band, in the choir loft behind the stage. Japan has a deep history of traditional flute playing. It is an instrument that the Japanese have been playing in some form or another for thousands of years. Somehow, that history is evident in the flute players in the Central Band. The slow solo in the Bernstein was profound, beautiful, and effortless.

The rest of the piece grows to an exciting, mixed meter conclusion that is reminiscent of West Side Story. Since the West Point Band created the arrangement, I’m sure nobody at the concert had ever heard it prior to that day. But once they heard it, they loved it. The audience roared with applause after the piece was finished.

Lt. Col. Keene conducts. Photo by SFC Sam Kaestner

Check back soon for the rest of our adventures with the Japanese Central Band.

Make Our Garden Grow – 9/11 Memorial Concert

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9/11, Army, army band, band, Classical Music, concert, concert band, ground zero, marches, marching band, memorial, memorial concert, military band, Music, september 11, taps, trinity, trinity church, trombone, veterans, West Point, wind ensemble

The West Point Band on September 11, 2012 at Trinity Church

The West Point Band will present a concert at Trinity Wall Street this Wednesday, September 11 at 1:00 p.m. The concert will commemorate the 12^th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.

This will be my third time performing at this historic venue. The best part? Trinity webcasts all of its performances live. This means my parents in Missouri can watch the concert without flying halfway across the country.

We’ve got a lot of great music lined up for this concert. American composers will be featured prominently, including Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, and Aaron Copland. It’s appropriate since this concert fills me with patriotism. I remember driving past One World Trade Center following last year’s performance and feeling a strong sense of pride. But I digress, back to the music. The concert will begin with the brass section performing Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man. It’s a challenging piece to play well collectively, but we’ve got the players to do just that. It’s been coming together nicely in rehearsals and is a nice reminder how lucky I am to play among so many great musicians. More Copland music will be featured with the full band performing Variations on a Shaker Melody, a piece I first heard live by the Kansas City Symphony while I was in high school. It moved me then, and I still get goose bumps every time I hear it. I can’t wait to perform it on Wednesday.

Later in the program, the brass section will be displayed once again on a nice arrangement of Grainger’s Irish Tune from County Derry. The piece, which we’ll perform by memory, will feature the fine euphonium playing of one of our newest members, Staff Sergeant Phil Broome. Not to be outdone, the woodwinds will perform an arrangement of Barber’s Adagio for Strings, one of the most beautiful, haunting pieces of the 20^th century.

Selecting music for such a solemn occasion is challenging. We’re not looking to depress people, but at the same time, a piece like Stars and Stripes Forever isn’t exactly appropriate. That’s where a piece like Taps comes in—none work better on this sort of concert. In the end, I think we came up with a nice program. Taps will be performed by the unflappable Staff Sergeant Bill Owens.

The concert will conclude with a couple of Bernstein pieces: “Simple Song” from Mass and “Make Our Garden Grow” from Candide Suite. While the latter is a lovely piece, I would like to discuss the former. “Simple Song” was originally written for vocal soloist. We’re performing an arrangement that replaces the vocal solo with a trombone solo. I’m the lucky trombonist who gets to play it. It’s a pretty extended solo, but it’s written in a comfortable range—well, comfortable for me at least—and it’s a beautiful melody that plays itself. In high school, my trombone teacher explained that it was important that no matter what I played, even if it was terrible, that I make it sound great and musical. Then, when the opportunity came to play a nice piece of music, playing musically is easy. That’s how I feel about Bernstein’s “Simple Song.” If it doesn’t sound great, it’s on me. Wednesday’s performance should be fun!

This is our second straight year playing at Trinity on September 11. Hopefully it is a tradition that continues for years to come. If you’d like to watch the concert, either live or when it’s archived later that day, check out this link: http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/

Words by Staff Sgt. Phil Stehly