Eat, Drink and Be Merry

The Denver Concert Band offers a festive way for audiences of all ages to begin the season with “Eat, Drink and Be Merry”

The concert begins with the familiar Food, Glorious Food from the musical Oliver! and continues with the Latin-flavored The Peanut Vendor and John Philip Sousa’s spirited march The Fairest of the Fair. At the center of the program is Johan de Meij’s Dutch Masters Suite, a colorful three-movement work inspired by paintings from the Dutch Golden Age. Each movement brings a different masterpiece to life through music, concluding with Jan Steen’s lively depiction of a festive gathering.

The second half turns to the holiday season with Eric Whitacre’s luminous Lux Aurumque, one of the program’s quietest and most beautiful moments, while Santa’s Journey and How the Grinch Stole Christmas bring some seasonal fun. The band also performs Malcolm Arnold-inspired holiday piece, Wassail Dances and the big-band sounds of In the Christmas Mood.  And no holiday concert would be complete without a special guest from the North Pole making an appearance.