Saturday in the Park

Spend an afternoon in the park, from early calm under the trees to an evening full of color and music. Debussy’s “Clair de lune”, Respighi’s Prelude from The Birds, Mussorgsky’s “Tuileries”, Sondheim’s “Beautiful” and “Color and Light”, the hymn “For the Beauty of the Earth”, and Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park” turn the field into a series of vivid vignettes that feel like a perfect day outdoors.

• Introduction - the show opens in stillness, focused on the greenery and open space before the crowds arrive. Woodwinds carry a lush setting of Debussy’s “Clair de lune”, with soloists floating above gently shifting textures.
• Part 1 - the park wakes up as the music shifts into a playful opener built from the Prelude to Respighi’s "The Birds" and Mussorgsky’s “Tuileries” from Pictures at an Exhibition. Quick changes of texture and animated winds writing trace the cheerful chaos of a busy afternoon.
• Part 2 - the ballad combines Sondheim’s “Beautiful” with “For the Beauty of the Earth” in a rousing, lyrical tribute to simple, shared spaces. A soloist introduces the melody, which gradually grows into a broad full ensemble arrival.
• Part 3 - the closer blends Sondheim’s “Color and Light” with Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park” as the evening crowd settles in. Harmonic and rhythmic ideas from both pieces overlap to create a bright, urban energy as the community shares one last burst of joy before the day ends.

Prime Series

Originally commissioned by the Booneville High School Band, Booneville, MS. Will Curry, director.

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