Mount Prospect Community Band to conjure ‘Magical Places’ at Nov. 7 concert
On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Mount Prospect Community Band presents its annual fall concert at 4 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 605 W. Golf Road in Mount Prospect. The concert, with the theme, “Magical Places,” will feature music that represents places of enormous physical beauty, whimsical fantasy, eerie occurrences and the days of yore. The concert, led by music director Monty Adams, continues the celebration of the band’s 50th anniversary season. It also will feature a flute solo by band member Mimi Solt.
The concert opens with a march by John Philip Sousa called the “Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.” Sousa became a Freemason in 1881 and, nearly 40 years later in 1922, was named a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Sousa wrote the march to honor that organization of which he was an honorary director.
Toy shops can often be magical places, especially in 1919 London. The second selection on the concert is “La Boutique Fantasque (The Fantastic Toy Shop).” Based on piano pieces by Gioachino Rossini, Ottorino Respighi wrote the piece which is a one-act ballet. The ballet tells the story of a toy maker and the dolls he makes in 1860 France in his magic toy shop.
Mimi Solt, a 10-year member of the band, takes the stage next performing a 2024 solo flute feature composed by an American composer Robert Traugh called “Moonburst.” The piece aims to embody a full moon’s enchanting and transformative power.
“Fingal’s Cave Overture” is the next selection. German composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote the piece in 1829 after he was struck by the overwhelming beauty and power of the Hebrides Islands off the coast of Scotland. This trip included his visit to see the stunning basalt columns of Fingal’s Cave on the island of Staffa.
The eerie and sometimes frightening aspects of Halloween form the basis of the band’s next piece. It is called “Dance Macabre” by Camille Saint-Saens. This tone-poem recalls the legend of Death appearing at midnight each Halloween to call the dead from their graves while he plays his fiddle.
The final piece on the concert will be “Highlights” from “Camelot.” The musical, written by Alan Lerner and Frederick Loewe in 1960, remains one of the greatest of all time. It was said to be President John F. Kennedy’s favorite musical and his time in office is often referred to as Camelot.
Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at the door. For information, call the park district at 847-640-1000. The Mount Prospect Community Band is a program of the Mount Prospect Park District.