Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville - Civic by the Sea - March 3, 2019 - St. Paul’s By the Sea Episcopal
Conductor Marguerite Bradford Richardson
civicorchestra...
Victory at Sea
Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) Arranged by Robert Russell Bennett (1894-1981)
In the middle of the 20th century, NBC needed background music for a TV documentary series comprising 26 half-hour episodes telling the story of the US Navy’s involvement in World War II. The network reached out to Richard Rodgers, who had gained fame as a composer behind the hit Broadway musical The King and I. He composed some dozen short themes, which he then handed over to his longtime collaborator, Robert Russell Bennett, for development and orchestration. In the end, Bennett contributed much more original writing to the project than did Rodgers. The TV series, which aired in 1952 and 1953, was a huge hot-as was its musical score.
Several different complications of the score’s major themes were recorded and distributed in 1953 and 1954. The most popular is the “symphonic scenario” we are performing for you. Bennett’s masterful orchestration captures the many moods of naval warfare: the majesty of the open ocean, US sailors’ glimpses at the culture of the South Pacific, the terror and horror of a sea-air-battle, the sadness of a funeral at sea, the thankfulness of the opportunity to return home. Bennett uses various instruments vey themselves and in interesting combinations to suggest the rise and fall of ships on the waves, the swaying of island dancers, an urgent message being sent via Morse Code, the danger posed by a lurking submarine, a salute to those who were lost, and much more.
Program Notes
Lucinda Mosher, Th. D.
18 сен 2024
