Casey at the Bat - National Symphony Orchestra Family Concert

NSO Family Concert

Steven Reineke conductor (& composer) F.P. Santangelo narrator Violin Soloists Glenn Donnellan (Louisville Slugger ™ ) Marissa Regni Holly Hamilton Jane Bowyer Stewart Heather LeDoux Green

David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO. Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

Welcome to the Performance Today you’ll hear the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) play music related to sports—including Casey at the Bat, based on a popular and funny poem about a baseball team and its star player named Casey.

Plus, you’ll hear the poem narrated (spoken aloud) along with the music.

Casey’s Story Imagine you’re sitting at the ballpark and your “Mudville Nine” baseball team is losing. The team needs three runs to win the game.

Luckily, two players get on base. At first it looks like the team’s best hitter, Casey, won’t get a turn at the plate. But he does, and the crowd gets excited because they’re sure they’ll win now. Most sure of all is the mighty Casey. He’s so sure that he doesn’t try to hit the first two balls pitched to him. “Strike two,” the umpire calls. Casey has one last chance. Will he strike out or hit that winning run?

A Favorite Poem The poem “Casey at the Bat” was written by Ernest Lawrence Thayer in 1888 and has been performed out loud for audiences ever since. About 20 years ago, composer and today’s conductor of the NSO Steven Reineke (pronounced (RYE-neh-kee) wrote music to go with the poem to help tell the story even better. As you listen to the poem and the orchestra, think about how music helps you picture Casey’s story.

Listen for… n p art of the popular song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at the beginning and end that helps you imagine being at the game n m usic that sounds like or makes you think of something happening in the story, like Casey’s walking to bat, a bat hitting a ball, a baseball flying through the air, and a crowd roaring n t he light dance music played when it’s Casey’s turn, showing his strong belief in his skills n the trumpet call when Casey’s at bat n t he faster and louder music when the crowd gets angry or excited n t he music when Casey swings for the ball— can you tell if he hit it?

Violins at the Ballgame Get ready for a wacky performance of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by four NSO violinists. Watch and listen as the musicians struggle with the same things that sports teams do—warming up, teamwork, hitting the ball (and the right notes!), and even striking out.

And be on the lookout for another very special violin that might look something like a baseball bat to perform The Star-Spangled Banner!

The Concert Program Along with Casey at the Bat and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” (by Albert von Tilzer/ Jack Norwith and arranged by Jon Jeffrey Grier), the orchestra will perform other works related to sports including: “The Star-Spangled Banner”

by John Stafford Smith “Gonna Fly Now ” (theme from the movie Rocky) by William Conti Olympic Fanfare and Theme by John Williams “Home Stretch ” by Leroy Anderson Theme from the movie Chariots of Fire

by Vangelis and arranged by Steven Reineke Music from the Harry Potter movies by John Williams “The National Game” by John Philip Sousa “The Stars and Stripes Forever ” by John Philip Sousa

Be a composer!

Think of a favorite short story or poem. Now try to imagine the music that could help tell that story as it is spoken out loud, just like in Casey at the Bat. Would you want big brassy sounds, like when the crowd was angry in Casey? Or soft and quiet sounds for parts that are sad or scary? Might some instruments go best with certain people in your story? Try to “hear” the music in your head, and then hum or describe your music to friends and family.

75 Musicians Led by One Conductor At today’s concert, conductor Steven Reineke will lead approximately 75 members of the National Symphony Orchestra in playing the music.

The conductor is a person who leads the orchestra. Conductors generally use their right hand to tell the orchestra how fast to play and use their left hand to tell the musicians how loud or soft to play. Some use a slender white stick called a baton as they conduct.

At the concert, watch how the conductor communicates with the musicians.

A Good Audience… stays seated, stays quiet, watches and listens carefully, and claps. Have fun!

Wait! There’s More!

Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” One hour before the concert, enjoy hands-on fun with the instruments that the musicians will play on stage in the lobbies of the Opera House.

A project of the Women’s Committee for the NSO.

Kids’ Chat After the 4 p.m. performance, stick around to ask questions of the conductor and concert artists on stage.

Upcoming Family Concerts Please plan to join us for the next NSO Family Concerts, which will be performed on the following Sundays by the full orchestra: March 29, 2015 — The Magic Horn April 26, 2015 — Gershwin’s Magic Key The NSO also presents full orchestra Young People’s Concerts for school groups in the Concert Hall each season during the school day for grades 3 through 6.

For more about NSO education programs, see www.kennedy-center.org/nso/nsoed

Orchestra Interactive Enjoy an interactive exploration of orchestras, their instruments, and their music at the Perfect Pitch Web site at: artsedge.kennedy-center.org/perfectpitch

Go to KC Connections on ARTSEDGE artsedge.kennedy-center.org/students/kc-connections

David M. Rubenstein Chairman Deborah F. Rutter President Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education

Christoph Eschenbach Music Director, National Symphony Orchestra Macy’s and Washington Gas are the proud sponsors of the NSO Family Concerts.

Additional support for the NSO Family Concerts is provided by The Clark Charitable Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; the U.S. Department of Education; and the Women’s Committee for the National Symphony Orchestra.

Funding for Access and Accommodation Programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by Mike and Julie Connors and the U.S. Department of Education.

Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.

Learn more about education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2015 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts