Wheaton Municipal Band summer series to offer a salute to Sondheim July 14

The Wheaton Municipal Band presents a "Sondheim Salute" on Thursday, July 14.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Park, 225 Karlskoga Ave. in downtown Wheaton.

Stephen Sondheim stands as one of the great influencers, composers and lyricists of music theater. His credits include the lyrics to "West Side Story" and "Gypsy." He wrote the music and lyrics to such great hits as "Company," "Follies," "Sunday in the Park with George," "A Little Night Music," "Into the Woods," and "Sweeny Todd."

Broadway and the world of music theater lost one of the great ones when Sondheim died on November of 2021 at the age of 91.

Sondheim transformed music theater with his clever weave of lyrics and music. In a 2010 interview with Terry Gross for NPR's "Fresh Air" program, Sondheim said, "I'm interested in the theater because I'm interested in communication with audiences … I love the theater as much as music, and the whole idea of getting across to an audience and making them laugh, making them cry - just making them feel - is paramount to me."

One of the first lyrics Sondheim tackled was Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story." Bernstein handed Sondheim the music completely written.

There usually is collaboration between the composer and the lyricist, but Sondheim was too intimidated to request that. He stuck to Bernstein's exact melodic form. The words fit the beautiful melodies so perfectly, that it is hard to believe they were not written in tandem.

The Wheaton Municipal Band will perform a variety of Sondheim favorites including "Symphonic Dances from 'West Side Story'," "Gypsy," and a medley of Sondheim favorites.

As is the custom, Wheaton Municipal Band features one of its own members.

Kristen Ronning performs "The Horn Concerto No. 1 in Eb Major, Op 11" by Richard Strauss. This is Ronning's third season with the Wheaton Municipal Band.

Also, on the program is "The Wizard of Oz," by Harold Arlen as a tribute to the 100th birthday of Judy Garland.

In addition, selections from "The Music Man" by Meredith Willson and a special piece, "Tico-Tico no fubá," a Brazilian choro song by Zequinha Abreu.

If you are a lover of musicals, this is the concert for you.

Bring a lawn chair and a picnic and enjoy the beautiful music in the idyllic setting of Memorial Park.

For more information, go to www.facebook.com/WheatonMunicipalBand/ or the band's website at www.wheatonmunicipalband.org.