Austin Stars Announce 2007 Program
The Austin Stars are proud to announce their 2007 inaugural program "Stars In Your Eyes; A Look Into the Heart of Texas and America".
When you meet people from all walks of life, you can tell a lot about what is important to them, what makes them proud and who they love by looking in their eyes. It could be an elderly man reminiscing about the simpler times of growing up in "middle America", someone who is ravenously proud of their home state, or a soldier serving their country with pride. "Stars In Your Eyes; A Look Into the Heart of Texas and America" features the music of Morton Gould and is a short but powerful glimpse into the very center of why we love our home.
Texans are notoriously proud to be Texans. This phenomena is reflected in the Austin Stars opener "Lone Star" which is based on the state song "Texas, Our Texas". After the tension-building, typical drum corps style introduction, the piece goes into an unexpected Latin/Cuban jazz feel reflected especially through the interpretation of percussion. The tune is topped off with more good ‘ol drum corps style loud chords and runs with a final lick at the end reminiscent of an old perennial DCI southern powerhouse from the 1980’s.
The journey from the heart of Texas into the heart of America begins with Morton Gould’s "Amber Waves". Based on "America The Beautiful" and featuring the Austin Stars Hornline, this piece is lush with dark, beautiful tones that spotlight trumpet, mellophone and baritone soloists. It serves to remind us that we are the most blessed nation in the world and we can all be united by that fact despite political or other differences.
"American Salute", another Morton Gould masterpiece, is based on "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", a popular song from the American Civil War that expressed peoples longing for the safe return of their loved ones who were fighting in the war. Unfortunately, the tragedy of war is no longer something we only read about in U.S. History class or watch on the History Channel. Today it is very real as it affects thousands of American families from all walks of life. Almost everyone can say they have a friend or relative who is serving our country at this critical time in our history. The Austin Stars present "American Salute" as a major production with a bombastic brass introduction, a percussion feature in which the battery almost literally becomes artillery and a finale that will reach into the heart of every American soul.
Our very own assistant director, Evan Morgan, a captain in the U.S. Air Force, is currently serving overseas in Afghanistan and is scheduled to return home in the summer of 2007. The Austin Stars are proud to dedicate our entire 2007 production to all the men and women who are serving in the U.S. military, especially those overseas and in harms way in Iraq and Afghanistan. Regardless of whether we are for or against war, we all love you, thank you for your service to our country and pray for your safe return.
The Austin Stars are an all-age drum & bugle corps based in Austin, Texas. For more information about how you can join or support the "Stars" please visit our website at www.austinstars.org.
