4th of July Concert

     Lewis and I had front row seats for the kick-off Summertime Festival by the NY Philharmonic.  This was the "A New York Fourth" concert, including an exceptional collection of music!  The orchestra, in their white summer jackets, filled the stage, and then the summertime conductor, Bramwell Tovey, leapt to the podium (the reg conductor, Alan Gilbert, probably takes vacation) and everybody cheered.  You have to love him!  Such a smile and bundle of energy.  And when Bramwell started speaking, with his lovely British voice, he paused and interjected, "And if you're all wondering why someone with my accent is conducting an American Fourth of July concert (laughter)..., well, since we're all allies now, my countrymen always send me here... to apologize!"
     The first segment was three dance episodes from "On the Town".  Lewis and I quietly sang the words, "New York, NY is a helluva town. The Bronx is up, and the Battery is down.  The people ride in a hole in the ground..."  Such a group of swing tunes was so impressive to hear live: the hot notes seemed to burst from the horn section, the woodwinds were so light, and the strings so enveloping.  Then a glittering soprano took the stage and sang, "Glitter and Be Gay".  So perfect!!!  Then, the orchestra took up a new piece--with the conductor on a grand Steinway (yay "made in Astoria") piano.  And he's so good!  His seasoned fingers rippled along the keys, while he also managed to conduct Gershwin's "Walking the Dog" from the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers film "Shall We Dance".  The song is so snappy, yet nonchalant and genteel.  Every tap of the cymbal, tinkle of the piano keys, thump of the bass, and blow from the muted trumpets was beautiful to hear in the autistics.  It was interesting to watch the musicians' faces, as their fingers flew across their instruments.  "Fascinating Rhythm" and "They Can't Take That Away From Me" were smoothly done in big band (but full orchestra) style.  When they played "The Man I Love", I said to Lewis that I had asked them to play it for him!  Awe!

     After intermission, The Jazz Knights assembled on the stage.  They are from the USA's elite military academy: West Point.

West Point is America's oldest continuously used military post, located in Orange County, NY.  In 1683, the county was named after the Prince of Orange, who was simultaneously the Dutch Stadtholder and King of England, Ireland & Scotland.  Initiated by President Thomas Jefferson, West Point became an academy in 1801 and drew cadets from Manhattan's upper echelon.  Nowadays, its meritocracy signifies excellence.
     The buglers and drummers were a pleasant surprise, in their festooned hats, blue trousers and jackets with white braid.  Then the West Point jazz musicians began a series of big band songs--each so perfect that the blasting swing notes made you want to dance.  My favorite is always "In the Mood", and they carried the Glenn Miller iconic flair of waving the instruments side-to-side, aiming them at different positions in the air, and using all the mutes and boo-wah sounds.
     Then, they did a medley of marches for each branch of the military.  They asked active Service Members and Veterans of each division to stand for acknowledgement when their song was played.  It was a nice touch, as we showed appreciation for "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness."  Then, Bramwell took turns with Commander/Conductor Lt. Col. Keene to conduct some more marches: "Liberty Bell", "Pomp and Circumstance", "Official West Point March".  You couldn't find a more enthusiastic way of celebrating summer and 4th of July than with such beautiful energetic music.  The finale was superb: "Stars and Stripes"!  They responded to standing ovation and played it twice.  So lively and so much fun from the country's oldest orchestra.

     Since we dined elegantly at Arpeggio (at the top of the Time Warner Center) before the concert, we simply headed home to conduct our own "pursuit of happiness".  We made our own fireworks! :-)