Probably no single patriotic song has provoked so much controversy, involving both lyrics and music. But “The Star – Spangled Banner” continues to be sung and performed with pride after 51 years as our national anthem and over 167 years in the country’s music history – ever since the words were written by Francis Scott… Continue reading U.S. Anthem Debate Continues
Category: Music
The Show Must Go On – And Did In Spite of Virtuoso’s Toothache
Concert-goers attending the Utah Valley Symphony spring concert last week heard Henri Temianka, internationally-known violinist, perform as featured soloist. But very few could have known of a little post-concert drama that took place at midnight with Mr. Temianka and Dr. Willard V. Loveridge, president of the symphony, as star performers. Here’s a hint: The violinist -despite… Continue reading The Show Must Go On – And Did In Spite of Virtuoso’s Toothache
Critic Praises Young Artists Concert
Eight young musicians guest-starred with the Utah Valley Symphony Wednesday night at the Provo Tabernacle in the annual Youth Artists Concert – and if applause was an accurace indicator, concert-goers loved what they heard. Conductor Ralph Laycock first directed the symphony in Robert Washburn’s “Festival Overture,” In captivating contemporary number with tricky rhythms and strong thematic passages. Then the symphony… Continue reading Critic Praises Young Artists Concert
‘April Fool’s Concert’ Gets Roaring Approval Of Capacity Audience
Friday night the people of Provo were treated to an evening of musical whimsey and delight at the “sometimes annual” April Fool’s Concert held in the de Jong Concert Hall. It was staged in memory of “P. D. Q. Bach (1807-1742),” an alleged member of the musical Bach clan, by Dr. David Dalton, his colleagues,… Continue reading ‘April Fool’s Concert’ Gets Roaring Approval Of Capacity Audience
Osmond Clan Goes ‘Back on the Road Again’
The Osmonds are “back on the road again,” an intermittent way of life which in 18 years of show business has helped win “fame and fortune” for this seven-member Utah family entertainer troupe. Traveling in the United States and to far parts of the globe has been an Osmond practice since, as child musicians, they received… Continue reading Osmond Clan Goes ‘Back on the Road Again’
Positive Merchant Attitude
Over the years, a number of downtown Provo rejuvenation proposals have fallen by the wayside because of negativism or lack of cooperation on the part of some businessmen or property owners. Thus, it was refreshing to note this past week that a group of merchants on University Avenue has petitioned the city commission to include… Continue reading Positive Merchant Attitude
Pioneer Day in Utah – ‘Oh Beautiful for Pilgrim Feet
Oh beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness These words from the second stanza of Katherine Lee Bates’ patriotic song “America the Beautiful” seem to catch the pulse and beat and spirit of the pioneers of this country’s frontiers. Miss Bates, a native of Massachusetts and late… Continue reading Pioneer Day in Utah – ‘Oh Beautiful for Pilgrim Feet
New Light on Miller Death
The disappearance of Glenn Miller, noted American band leader and Army Air Force major, in a single- engine plane on a London-to-Paris flight 41 years ago continues as one of the lingering mysteries of World War II. It still pops into the news once in a while – as it did in a recent press dispatch on… Continue reading New Light on Miller Death
Changing Utah’s State Song
Our state song, “Utah, We Love Thee,” may have its inadequacies but are these sufficient to warrant displacing it as an official state symbol after all these years? Gov. Scott Matheson “occasionally has suggested,” according to a news story, “that somebody ought to come up with a more modern replacement.” Now, Dr. Steven R. Mecham,… Continue reading Changing Utah’s State Song
Origin of Sweet, Sad Taps Sound
The sweet but sad bugle call known as Taps employs only four separate notes and there are only 24 notes in the entire composition – but its plaintive strains continue to tug at heartstrings after 122 years. Taps is sounded at patriotic Veterans and Memorial Day services and at flag-lowering and “lights out” ceremonies in… Continue reading Origin of Sweet, Sad Taps Sound