Program Notes

Commando March

Samuel Barber, composer

Samuel Barber’s second symphony—produced for the Army Air Corps in 1942—made use of an electronic instrument to imitate radio signals. In a similar wartime spirit, he completed his first band work, Commando March, in 1943. This march reflects some of the traces of the basic style of Barber, but these characteristics are less obvious when placed within the framework of the stirring medium which is suggested in the title. The composition utilizes the constant contrast of dotted and triplet rhythms, and centers around a tune which appears in different instrumental dressing four times in the course of the work.

—Band Music Notes

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