The Sag Harbor Community Band will feature a performance of Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” on Tuesday, July 25, from 8 to 9 p.m. in Marine Park, Sag Harbor as part of its 65th summer season. The band, led by music director David M. Brandenburg, is excited to perform this family classic narrated by actor Josh Gladstone, who was the longtime artistic director of East Hampton’s John Drew Theater. Admission is free, and donations are accepted. Audience members are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair, and of course, the whole family.
“Peter and the Wolf” is a favorite for children of all ages and a wonderful way to learn about the different instruments of the band. The piece tells the story of Peter and various animals one day in a meadow. Each character is represented by an instrument or group of instruments. Prokofiev wrote the work in 1936 for a children’s theater in Moscow and used instruments from the four families of the orchestra — strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion. The concert band arrangement performed by the Sag Harbor Community Band features woodwinds in place of strings to represent Peter, along with the bird (flute), the duck (oboe), the cat (clarinets), grandfather (bassoon), the hunters (drums), and the wolf (French horns).
“The character of the bird is written for the flute in its highest octave and is great fun to play” said the band’s flute player Jed Feldman. “The piece should be called ‘Peter and the Wolf and the Bird!’”
Josh Gladstone, who will narrate the performance, is an actor, director, and producer based in Springs where he lives with his wife, Kate Mueth, artistic director of the Neo-Political Cowgirls dance and immersive theater company. Locally he has performed in shows with Bay Street Theater, Neo-Political Cowgirls and Guild Hall, where he served for 21 seasons as artistic director. Gladstone co-founded the Hamptons Shakespeare Festival with David M. Brandenburg.
“We love adding new pieces to our repertoire, and this will be the first time the band performs ‘Peter and the Wolf,’” David M. Brandenburg said. “We hope lots of families with kids will be there to learn about the various instruments of the band.”
The Band will continue its summer season each Tuesday through August 29 with its repertoire of show tunes, classical, jazz, marches, ragtime and more offered outdoors. Additional special performances will be featured throughout the summer. The band also presents a holiday concert in December and appears at various special events in the area.
The Sag Harbor Community Band has performed for the community since 1957. Following the early years when the band had uniforms and marched in parades, community concerts were added that took place for over 50 years on Bay Street in Sag Harbor. The band includes members of all ages from all walks of life, including professional musicians, amateur musicians, music educators, high school and college students. It’s a true multi-generational Sag Harbor tradition.
This is the first year the Sag Harbor Community Band is presenting its summer season in Marine Park. A nonprofit organization, the band is seeking financial support to cover significant new costs, including renting a mobile stage and other equipment. To help with the effort, visit sagharborband.org/donate.
Staff Writer on Jul 17, 2023