“Coming Home” will include music honoring fallen soldiers, but it will also focus on notions of peace and home, and the longing for family members to return safely home. The essence of “Coming Home” is the quintessentially American music from Aaron Copland’s ballet “Appalachian Spring” which tells the story of the joys and trials of a young couple creating a house and home and concludes with the beloved Shaker melody “The Gift to Be Simple”.

 The other works on the program speak to themes of war, peace, and home in different ways. “American Salute” composed by American composer Morton Gould in 1942 is based on “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again”, a popular song from the American Civil War that expressed people’s longing for the return of their friends and relatives who were fighting in the war. “Mutations from Bach” was compiled and arranged for brass ensemble and tympani by American composer Samuel Barber in 1968. It is made up of variations on the plain-song “Christ Thou Lamb of God”, a familiar choral text that ends with, “O Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us your peace.” “Le Tombeau de Couperin” was composed between 1914 and 1917 by French composer Maurice Ravel. Each movement is dedicated to the memory of a friend of the composer who had died fighting in World War I. “Tombeau” is a musical term popular from the 17th century that means “a piece written as a memorial”.

Program

The National Anthem

American Salute | Morton Gould

Mutations from Bach | Samuel Barber

Le Tombeau de Couperin | Maurice Ravel

Appalachian Spring | Aaron Copland

Be sure to attend the 6:30pm pre-concert discussion led by SCSO Artistic Director Brian Dowdy at 6:30pm. Dr. Dowdy will share a heartwarming “Coming Home” story from his own family.