By David Amos
SAN DIEGO– Somehow, on a worldwide basis, we have developed the tradition of playing lighter orchestral music during the summer months. It could be that this is stimulated by the warmer weather, the shorter attention
spans, or competition with other outdoor activities.
I look at it as the opportunity to entertain the audiences with more familiar tunes, give the musicians a break from the heavier, more substantial literature, and most important, to introduce young people to the rewards and pleasures of orchestral music. Accessible, familiar and shorter selections are an ideal vehicle for children hearing a concert for the first
time, and I encourage parents, grandparents, other relatives and friends, to bring along the young ones and possibly open them to a world of quality musicand enjoyment of the musical arts.
The 75 member Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra will be presenting two pops concerts; the first one will be this Sunday, July 17th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Allied Gardens Recreation Park, and the second, at the orchestra’s home base, Tifereth Israel Synagogue, on Sunday, July 24th at 3:00 p.m.
This year’s musical selections center on Broadway musicals, film music, and plenty of dynamic marches. Everyone delights in listening to
highlights from My Fair Lady and Les Miserables, and very few youngsters would not recognize the dramatic music from Jurassic Park.
However, it is in the marches where there is a strong variety, both domestic and exotic. The “March King”, John Philip Sousa, is
represented by The Free Lance March and The Stars and Stripes Forever, and Mexico is featured in its most famous march, Zacatecas
March. Spain is better known for its spirited marches known as “Paso Dobles”, and one of the most popular ones is the colorful Amparito
Roca.
Curiously, Egypt is portrayed by two familiar composers who are nor Egyptian at all, but recognizable for their music everywhere: Verdi’s Triumphal March from Aida and Johann Strauss’ II clicheish concept of Middle Eastern music is heard in his Egyptian March. The latter will be conducted by the orchestra’s Golden Baton honoree for this year, its principal violist Bryce Newall.
Other selections will include the propulsive Russian Sailors’ Dance by Gliere, and what has become a yearly TICO tradition, a salute to our Armed Forces with the hymns of the various services.
The July 17 concert is admission free. The Allied Gardens Recreation Park is located at 5155 Greenbrier Avenue, (off Waring Road) San Diego, 92120.
The concert of July 24, is at TiferethIsrael, which is located at6661 Cowles Mountain Blvd.,San Diego, 92119.
For more information, directions, or a mailing of next season’s brochure, call Tifereth Israel, (619) 697 6001, or for tickets to July 24th, go to the orchestra’s website, www.tiferethisrael.com/TICO.
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Amos is conductor of the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra and has guest-copnducted professional orchestras around the world. He may be contacted at david.amos@sdjewishworld.com