An American Salute

With the program “An American
Salute,” the Michigan Philharmonic, lead by conductor Nan Washburn, celebrates our nation’s birthday.  The fun and
family-friendly concert showcases popular American composers and the traditional classic, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.  Opening with the Star-Spangled Banner, the program continues with Leroy Anderson’s American Salute based on “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” selections from Richard Rodgers’ nostalgic summer-time musical Carousel, George Gershwin’s film and dance favorite, An American in Paris, the frontier-flavored Hoedown from the ballet “Rodeo” by Aaron Copland, and selections from Leonard Bernstein’s Broadway hit, West Side Story with all its irresistible Latin American rhythms and big band jazz harmonies.  Rounding out the program will be a medley of patriotic songs “Yankee Doodle,” “Yankee Doodle Boy,” “You're a Grand Old Flag,” “This Land is Your Land,” and “God Bless the U.S.A” along with two rousing marches, Kenneth Alford’s Colonel Bogey March made popular in the 1957 movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai.” The big brass, cannons and church bells of Tchaikovsky’s spectacular 1812 Overture provide a sensational grand finale to this not-to-be-missed summer concert!