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Air Force Strings to perform at National Gallery of Art

  • Published
  • By Master Sgts. Cleveland Chandler and Jake McCray
Washington, D.C. --  Please join us this Sunday, Sept. 7 for a special Air Force Strings concert featuring music by French and American composers, performed virtually alongside French and American paintings and sculpture from the Impressionist era at the at National Gallery of Art.

In terms of Impressionism in the visual arts, the artist usually aims to make an "impression" of an object or subject matter creating the illusion of movement, but without sharp lines. Impressionism in music also avoids sharp lines, and has a clear, airy, and amorphous sound that is very distinct from German music of the Romantic Era. Additionally, impressionistic music easily incorporates modal scales and has Eastern influences.

The first piece, Overture from "Suite Masques et Bergamasques" by Gabriel Fauré is a combination of the "Belle Epoque" or the "Beautiful Era" in terms of emotion and harmony influenced by Impressionism. The "Belle Epoque" refers to a period in French history between 1871 and WWI, characterized by a general feeling of optimism and peace. Similar to the visual artist Edgar Degas, Fauré is considered the "Father of Impressionism in music."

In addition to featuring a connection between both music and visual arts, this concert includes the collaboration of two branches of the military (the Air Force Band and the Navy Band), as it features guest harpist, MUC Emily Dickson from the Navy Band. Chief Musician Emily Dickson, a native of Denton, Texas, joined the Navy Band in 1998. She has appeared as a Navy Band national concert tour soloist, and as leader of the Navy Band Harp/Flute Duo, she has performed at the White House, vice-presidential quarters, State Department, Pentagon, and the Chief of Naval Operations' quarters. Additionally, she has appeared with the United States Air Force Band, Naval Academy Band, Dallas Wind Symphony and National Gallery Orchestra.

MUC Dickson will be featured on "Danses Sacrée et Profane" by Claude Debussy. Many artists and composers draw inspiration from each other across the disciplines, and because there is a strong connection between this graceful music and classical ballet, this piece has inspired numerous choreographers.

While there is little obvious connection between the third and final piece, the Suite by George W. Chadwick and the American impressionist, Mary S. Casatt, both Americans were educated in Europe at the same time in history, and both made important artistic contributions to the Impressionist movement.

Capt. David Alpar, officer in charge of the Air Force Strings, will conduct the program. "This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with the National Gallery of Art," said Alpar. "Impressionism got its start when several painters began looking at the world with freshness and immediacy...much like the early pioneers of Air Power. Innovation is in the Air Force's DNA. It's an integral part of how conduct our operations."

These concerts are FREE and non-ticketed. They are open to the public and begin at noon and 1 p.m. However, they are outdoors, so they are subject to weather cancellation. If inclement weather occurs, a cancellation notice will be posted on the Band's Facebook page viewable on our home page and on the Concert Line: 202-767-5658.