Music For Sharing on The American Sound

I remember fondly the one year I played in my high school marching band. I cared not at all about football; rather, my reason for joining the marching band was, simply, that I thought it would be fun. And it was. Learning and memorizing the music we played at the football games was enjoyable, and it was a hoot to see how all of those marching patterns made us literally cross paths with each other on the field. But really, marching band was about sitting around together on the bleachers watching the games, hanging out on the bus during the commutes to and from "away" games and - of course - gathering at post-game parties. Yes, marching band was a musical experience, but today, I couldn't name one piece of music I played in the band. I could, however, tell you some of the high jinx I got into with my fellow band members. And if I were of a mind to do so, I could even tell you about those post-game parties. Although most high school marching bands will probably never win Grammy Awards or perform at Carnegie Hall or go on international concert tours, I'm guessing that most current and former high school band members would count playing in the band as one of the most enriching experiences of their lives, precisely because of the fun they had playing music with other people. Music is meant to bring people together, to be a shared experience. Sure, there exist musical works for a single instrument. But at performances of them the audience numbers many, many more than the lone musician on stage. And a performance given by even the most modest chamber duo is the fruit of those musicians' having been brought together by the music itself. This week on The American Sound we'll enjoy works that give voice to shared American musical experiences. Alan Hovhaness' Symphony No. 60 'To the Appalachian Mountains" blends hymn singing, fiddle tunes and dance music of Appalachia into a monumental expression of community. The Piano Quintet by Jerome Moross tells a beautiful love story and the lovely Valse triste - "Sad Waltz" - by Dominick Argento makes us hear with new ears the waltz as a dance form. Plus, a solo piano work by Amy Beach shows how our feathered friends can be great musical collaborators. I hope you'll join me for this very special program of music for sharing on The American Sound, 6 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Tuesday on Classical 101.