Spooky Music

On Sunday I had the pleasure of attending the Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra concert called "Spooktacular III." I was invited by a friend of mine who plays the cello. Of all instruments, I think I like the cello the best. The sound is low and lovely. I've loved the cello ever since I saw the movie "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon." Or was it "Crouching Dragon Hidden Tiger?" Listening to Yoyo Ma play the cello in that movie was awe inspiring. Anyway, this was an informal concert with face painting in the back of the room for children. The orchestra conductor and performers wore costumes. They played Rimsky-Korsakov's "Dance of the Tumblers," Anderson's "Chicken Reel," Tschaikovsky's "Waltz from Eugen Onegin," Sousa's "The Golden Star Memorial March," Kopp's "The Scary House," Saint-Saens' "Dance Bacchanale," Straus' "Tritsch Tratsch Polka," and John William's "March from Raiders of the Lost Ark." During the polka, costumed audience members paraded around our chairs to show off their costumes. One song in particular stood out and it was Sousa's Golden Star Memorial March. Sousa composed a lot of marching music and patriotic music but this one was different. This one is a dirge - a slow march. Sousa wrote this song in 1919 and dedicated it to President Theodore Roosevelt's son, Quentin Roosevelt. Quentin died in 1918 in World War One. He was a courageous (some say reckless) pilot who was shot down over France. In the family photo to the right, Quentin is on the far left, the youngest of the famous family. The Golden Star Memorial March is a very sad and moving song.