Army Band's 1812 Overture Concert this Saturday night

The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” will perform its renowned 1812 Overture Concert this Saturday, Aug. 23, at 7:30 pm at Rosslyn's Ft. Myer, now part of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.  The program is spectacular and concludes with cannon fire:

Alongside patriotic favorites by John Philip Sousa, the program includes dance-inspired music by Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, and Alexander Borodin. Also featured on Saturday’s program will be Arlington, Where Giants Lie Sleeping, by “Pershing’s Own” composer/arranger Sgt. Major Paul Murtha. Written to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Arlington National Cemetery, this powerful and emotional work pays tribute to generations of American servicemen and women buried in Arlington.

The concert concludes with a bang – literally. Tchaikovsky’s inimitable 1812 Overture was written to commemorate the Russian defeat of Napolean’s Grande Armée. Perhaps one of the finest examples of storytelling through music, Tchaikovsky calls specifically for live cannon fire to musically fight off the advancing Napoleonic army, symbolized by the French anthem La Marseillaise. Church bells, chimes, and the chorus of Russia’s God Save the Czar celebrate the Russian victory. The Presidential Salute Battery of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) lends their special talents to the performance with four 5,775-pound WWII-era anti-tank guns. 

 A ticket isn't needed for this not-to-be-missed concert.  Admission is free.  The family-friendly event even features a special kids' activity sheet.  Bring the whole family (except for non-human pets) and enjoy another great free concert in Rosslyn.