It’s Time for the ‘1812 Overture’ so Cue the Muskets

The Sag Harbor Community Band is excited to renew a summer tradition with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” with musket fire on Tuesday, August 1, at 8 p.m. in Marine Park in Sag Harbor.

Members of the 3rd NY Regiment, in Revolutionary War apparel, will provide the musket fire, taking the part of the cannon in Tchaikovsky’s score to make for a thrilling event. Also on the program will be marches, songs and other favorites. Admission is free, and the audience is encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs. In the event of rain, the performance will be held on August 8, at the same time and place.

Tchaikovsky wrote the “1812 Overture” to commemorate Russia’s defeat of Napoleon and included several musical elements to tell the story — Russian hymns and folk tunes, “La Marseillaise” (the French national anthem), church bells and cannon.

The 3rd NY Regiment is a nonprofit living history organization. Its members reproduce the daily routine of Revolutionary War soldiers, families, and camp followers, dressing in period clothing and drilling with reproduction firelocks just as in 1775.

“The Band and 3rd NY Regiment had performed 1812 Overture for six years, 2014 to 2019, and then was interrupted, like everything, by the pandemic,” said the band’s music director David M. Brandenburg. “We’re thrilled to restart this annual event.”

“Tchaikovsky even employed real cannons and arranged for bells to ring from neighboring churches during the first performance of this piece in 1882,” added Bruce Beyer, band president and percussionist. “Now that’s what I call a full percussion section!”

The Sag Harbor Community Band will continue its 65th summer season each Tuesday through August 29 in Marine Park with its repertoire of show tunes, classical, jazz, marches, ragtime and more. Additional special performances will be featured throughout the summer, including Leroy Anderson’s literary masterpiece “The Typewriter” accompanied by the ancient eponymous instrument on August 15.

The Sag Harbor Community Band was founded in 1957. Following the early years when the Band wore uniforms and marched in parades, community concerts were added that took place for over 50 years on Bay Street in front of the American Legion in Sag Harbor.

This is the first year the Sag Harbor Community Band is presenting its summer season in Marine Park. The band performs free outdoor concerts every Tuesday evening during July and August, a holiday concert in December, and appears at various special events in the area. It includes members of all ages from all walks of life, including amateur and professional musicians, music educators, high school and college students, and just plain old folks. None of the band members is compensated beyond the joy received from playing music for friends and neighbors. It’s a true multi-generational Sag Harbor tradition.

A nonprofit organization, the band is seeking financial support to cover significant new costs, including renting a mobile stage and other equipment. To donate to the band, visit sagharborband.org/donate.