New Holland Band To Perform On July 4
It takes a humble performer to move out of the spotlight. Ken Laudermilch, conductor of the New Holland Band is just such a person. "The highlight is not the music," said Laudermilch, who has prepared a concert program for the New Holland Summer Arts Program (NHSAP) Independence Day celebration. The event will be held in the New Holland Community Memorial Park, located on the 400 block of East Jackson Street, on Sunday, July 4, at 7 p.m. The concert will be followed by fireworks.
"We are at a stage where people are ready to be outdoors," continued Laudermilch. "We are ready to experience community by sitting in a park by family and friends and hearing music." Laudermilch added that audience members are welcome to converse while the band plays in the background. To provide a pleasant experience, he has carefully selected songs for the performance. "It's happy music. It's so-good-to-see-you music," he said.
Among the many pieces Laudermilch has chosen for the traditional concert are the opener "Belle of the Ball" and a number of marches, including "The Billboard March," which he said is a famous circus march, and "The Black Horse Troop," which John Philip Sousa premiered with a troop of black horses on the stage. "'Commando March' is by Samuel Barber from West Chester," noted Laudermilch, who will also include Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."
"The Magic Trumpet" by James Burke will be played by the band's principal trumpeter Leon Hillard.
Laudermilch mentioned that "Resplendent Glory," which will follow Hillard's solo, is one of his favorite pieces by the composer of romantic music Rossano Galante. Laudermilch called "Somewhere in Time" by John Barry a melancholy piece, which will be followed by "Tara's Theme" from "Gone With the Wind" and the energetic "Voices of Spring" by Johann Strauss Jr..
A sacred segment of the concert will include "Amazing Grace"; "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You" by Meredith Willson, which was a standard of Kate Smith's 1950s television show; and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Laudermilch has also included "Arlington" by Paul Murtha, which he called "a pensive, thoughtful piece about the graves of Arlington and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms." The concert will end with the "Armed Forces Salute."
The rain date will be Monday, July 5. The performance is one of many musical presentations brought to the park each summer by NHSAP. All shows are free to the public. For more information about NHSAP and a full concert schedule, readers may visit http://www.newhollandsummerarts.com. NHSAP welcomes volunteers. Readers who have questions may email newhollandsummerartsassoc@gmail.com.
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