Arlington Heights Community Concert Band presents 'Urban Safari'
Musical composers are often inspired by the sounds of nature. Rain, wind, galloping horses, and the hiss of the snake - even the slightest sound can be an impetus to create music.
Some composers create lifelike impressions of animals through wind, brass and percussion instruments. "Urban Safari," presented by the Arlington Heights Community Concert Band, will explore this art with an afternoon concert inspired by the sounds of animals.
Most will recognize Henry Mancini's "The Pink Panther" and "Baby Elephant Walk," both catchy tunes that conjured up animal images. One could imagine a line of baby elephants walking boogie-woogie style in a jungle dance. Brass instruments are used in this piece, including a repeating tuba blast and a sassy clarinet melody that depicts plodding young elephants.
In "The Waltzing Cat," Leroy Anderson recreates the feline strut with clarinets to depict the cat's meow, using a technique called portamento. On specific notes, a smooth, uninterrupted glide in passing from one tone to another creates the "meow" effect.
Sousa, known for his concert band marches, stimulates vitality with music made for the toe-tapping of the feet. "Mother Goose March" and "The Black Horse Troop March" are two of his animal-inspired pieces.
The latter piece was dedicated to Troop A of the Ohio National Guard Cavalry 1924, known as the The Black Horse Troop.
"The Circus Bee" by Henry Filmore is known as a "screamer," an extremely fast circus march, which is very demanding to perform because of its extremely fast and complex rhythms.
"Snakes!" by Thomas Duffy explores sounds associated with different types of snakes. The hissing sounds are produced by the percussion section, which uses bean shakers, maracas, flex tone and other instruments. Visions of a boa constrictor, swaying cobras and the Indian snake charmer are given musical life.
"Urban Safari" will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 29, in the Forest View Educational Center Theater, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. Mike Madonia will conduct. Admission is free, but the band accepts donations to offset the cost of new music, outdated and broken musical instruments.
To reserve tickets, email ahccbtickets@gmail.com. Remaining tickets will be available at the door.
The band will be collecting nonperishable food and toiletries to support the Elk Grove Township Food Pantry.
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