Bach, Bernstein and Beatles
The West Point Regimental Brass Quintet, one of the major chamber ensembles of the U.S. Military academy, will perform in a free concert today at 7:30 p.m. in the Eccles Conference Center Harrison Auditorium.
The concert, “Bach, Bernstein and the Beatles,” will feature a variety of musical styles, according to the press release. The performance will include Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in D Minor, the Beatles’ “When I’m 64” and Bernstein’s music from the popular musical “West Side Story.”
Also featured in the concert will be works composed specifically for brass quintets, including “The Road Not Taken” and “Where History Lies Sleeping,” written by contemporary composer Richard W. Smith.
The Regimental Brass Quintet has been in existence since 1991, performing at military functions and giving concerts for churches, schools and civic groups.
Its parent organization, the United States Military Academy Band, is the U.S. Army’s oldest active band and the oldest unit at West Point, tracing its roots to before the Revolutionary War,” according to the Quintet’s promotional material.
The quintet is comprised of Sgt. 1st Class Greg Ally and Staff Sgt. Brian Uhl on trumpet, Sgt. 1st Class Martin Tyce on trombone, Staff Sgt. Brian Nichols on French horn, and Staff Sgt. Gerald Cates on tuba.
“Our military ensembles are always outstanding, and this concert should be no exception – it should be both musically enjoyable and historically memorable,” said Dr. Thomas Rohrer, director of bands for USU.