WATERTOWN — Music fans will soon be able to find John Philip Sousa, Pyotr Tchaikovsky and George Gershwin all in one place.
The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra is coming to Thompson Park for its annual Independence Day concert at 8 p.m. Thursday.
"It's mostly a patriotic concert. We're going to have some fun as well, though," said the SSO's new Principal Pops conductor, Ron T. Spigelman.
The patriotism will begin with Operation Yellow Ribbon pre-concert events. Starting at 6:30 p.m., the 10th Mountain Division Band will play a selection of Independence Day selections.
Next, Maj. Gen. Michael L. Oates, who recently returned from his tour in Iraq, will give a speech.
"We're really excited that he'll be participating," said Beth C. Fipps, cochairperson for Operation Yellow Ribbon. "Hopefully everyone will come early."
Also on the pre-concert program will be Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham, who will present a key to the city to Division Command Sgt. Maj. James Redmore on behalf of the soldiers at Fort Drum.
The SSO will take the stage at 8 p.m., with pieces of more serious note, including James Beckel's "Liberty For All," arranger Bob Lowden's "Armed Forces Medley," John Williams's "Liberty Fanfare," Bruce Healey and Irving Berlin's "God Bless America," and Samuel Ward's "America the Beautiful."
More lighthearted compositions include George Gershwin's "Girl Crazy Overture," Bobby Troup's and Nat King Cole's rhythm-and-blues "Route 66," James Horner's and John Moss's film score of "Apollo 13," and SSO favorite Leroy Anderson's "Summer Skies."
"We're going to do a really fun arrangement of the poem 'Casey at the Bat,'" said Mr. Spigelman, explaining that the popularity of baseball during the summer months led to this particular choice by Steven Reineke.
The orchestra also plans to commemorate the great American composer Victor Herbert, who lived in Lake Placid for much of his life. Mr. Herbert was famous for writing "American Fantasie," a medley of several famous American tunes that ends with a stirring arrangement of "The Star Spangled Banner."
The program will conclude as in years past with Tchaikovsky's cannon-punctuated "1812 Overture" and Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."
Although Mr. Spigelman has never conducted the Independence Day concert in the park, he explained that he is looking forward to the performance.
"I grew up in Australia, but since living in America for the last 15 years, I've come to really love the holiday times," he said. "There's nothing quite like this kind of a celebration and people absolutely love this kind of music. Some of my favorite concerts are always these outdoors patriotic concerts."
The concert in the park is sponsored by National Grid, Watertown Savings Bank, Hampton Inn Watertown, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and Community Bank, N.A.
If the concert needs to be postponed due to rainstorms, the concert instead will be moved to Monday evening. For more information, contact the SSO box office at 424-8200 or (800) 724-3810.
