Cleveland Pops Cleveland Pops delivers rousing `Armed Forces Salute'

Severance Hall

By Wilma Salisbury
Plain Dealer Music Critic

It was a rainy night in early June. But it felt like the Fourth of July as the Cleveland Pops Orchestra capped its 10th season with a patriotic concert Friday night at Severance Hall. The ensemble's annual "Armed Forces Salute" drew a large crowd made up mostly of seniors, including veterans who stood to be recognized as the orchestra played the anthem of each branch of the military.

Carl Topilow conducted the stirring program, which opened with a ceremonial presentation of the flag by members of the U.S. Coast Guard and Cleveland Grays and the belting out of the National Anthem by the Mutual Gifts Gospel Choir. Eric Mansfield, Akron/Canton news anchor for WKYC Channel 3 and a Major in the Ohio National Guard, introduced theatrical performances of two orchestral works that portray battles.

Musicians from the United States Air Force Band of Flight set the scene for Beethoven's "Wellington's Victory" by marching down the aisles to a drummer's call to arms. As the descriptive music unfolded, the players,who hail from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, stood at either side of the stage next to French and British flags. When the French were defeated, the trumpeters left their post and joined the Brits for the triumphant finale. The playing was loud and raucous, and the percussion sounded like gunfire.

Tchaikovsky's "1812" Overture, representing the Russians' victory over Napoleon, was equally thunderous. The performance did not include the cannons that are traditionally fired when the work is played outdoors. But the combined percussionists from the orchestra and band made plenty of noise.

The Air Force Band had the stage to itself for a pops tribute, "Irving Berlin: An American Patriot." Four Air Force vocalists joined the band to sing abbreviated versions of "God Bless America," "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," "Blue Skies" and several other Berlin classics. Lt. Col. Alan C. Sierichs beat time, gave cues and grinned broadly to acknowledge soloists and encourage flag-waving by the crowd.

After intermission, the gospel choir returned to raise the roof. So slow and forceful was their singing of "Total Praise" that they needed to take a breath after every few notes. The orchestra's lighthearted performances of John Williams' March from the movie, "1941," and Peter Schickele's PDQ Bach piece, "Minuet Militaire," provided welcome relief from the deafening dynamics and solemn sentiments.

The audience eagerly participated in a patriotic sing-along, and the concert culminated with Sousa's march, "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Members of the crowd stood, clapped in rhythm and waved flags long before the final section when the piccolos came forward, the Air Force Band marched down the aisles and Topilow pulled out his red-white-and-blue clarinet as Old Glory was unfurled above the stage. Glory, Glory Hallelujah!