Editor's note: Wednesday’s edition of the Port Townsend Leader gave the wrong day for the Port Townsend Community Orchestra’s “Forgotten Heroes” concert, it’s final presentation of the season. The concert will be presented at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 28 in Chimacum High School Auditorium. Maestro Tigran Arakelyan and the Orchestra will present “Overture in C Major” by Fanny Mendelssohn, William Grant Still’s Afro-American Symphony and a suite from the movie “The Sea Hawk” by Erich Korngold.

For their last show this season, “Forgotten Heroes,” the Port Townsend Community Orchestra is exploring pieces by lesser-known composers of the 19th and 20th Centuries.

“We as musicians don’t perform them as often as we should,” said maestro Tigran Arakelyan.

The concert will be at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 28 in the Chimacum High School Auditorium.

This concert features “Overture in C Major” by Fanny Mendelssohn, William Grant Still’s Afro-American Symphony and a suite from the movie “The Sea Hawk” by Erich Korngold.

Mendelssohn

German composer Fanny Mendelssohn never emerged from her brother’s shadow to gain attention for her compositions, Arakelyan said.

“Not many people paid attention to her because there was already someone in the family who was famous,” he said, referring to the Early Romantic master composer Felix Mendelssohn.

In 19th century Germany, sexist attitudes added another barrier.

As a woman, she was expected not to have a career, even if she was an accomplished pianist.

While not able to travel or promote herself, she wrote more than 500 compositions, mostly for piano and chamber ensembles.

Her best-known orchestral work “Overture in C Major,” mixes showy sections and light, restrained and delicate passages, Arakelyan said.

The piece in some ways is a work in progress that was never completed, he said.

“If she had more opportunity to compose, she would have progressed. I think if she heard it in her lifetime, she would have made changes.”

Still

Still was an early 20th century African-American composer. He got practical experience as an arranger for jazz band leaders like Paul Whiteman, W.C. Handy and Artie Shaw.

Still’s style can be compared to George Gershwin, Arakelyan said.

Still broke several barriers by being the first African-American to conduct an American Symphony Orchestra and to have his symphony performed by a major orchestra.

His works include symphonies, operas, ballet and movie scores.

Still’s work was performed around the world. His “Symphony #1, the Afro-American Symphony,” combines classical symphonic form with blues progressions and African rhythms.

“It is a really cool piece and there is poetry that goes along with it,” Arakelyan said. “We actually found someone who reads the poetry after each one of the movements.”

Lesa Barnes, flute and piccolo player, thoroughly enjoys performing Still’s work, she said.

“I love the Afro-American symphony. Every time I hear it I like it more. The themes, the rhythms, the harmonies, it is just a rich piece of music.”

Korngold

Korngold wrote so many movie scores in the 1930s and 1940s that he defined what movie music was supposed to sound like, Arakelyan said.

A double Oscar winner, he wrote music for more than 20 stage and screen productions, most notably “Robin Hood,” starring Errol Flynn.

His music for the movie “The Sea Hawk” led to a resurgence of his popularity when the soundtrack was released in 1972.

The orchestra will be playing a selection of those compositions.

“Not many people remember his music or think of him as a serious composer,” Arakelyan said. “He is a wonderful composer.”

Orchestra a cross section of local talent

The Port Townsend Community Orchestra consists of all ages - young adult through one man pushing 100 years old.

“To me it has been a thrill to be in something that really carries the spirit of the community that is coming together in harmony,” said Carl Hanson, violinist and founding member. “Though we come from different walks of life and are different ages, we are there enjoying our time and making music together.”

Flutist Barnes enjoys performing with the group. “I am part of the tapestry,” she said. “I am making music with other people. The parts are bigger than the whole.”

One of the newest members is viola player Arianna Golden, who joined the group at the beginning of the current season.

“I am new to the Port Townsend area, so it has been nice to talk to people and get to know them,” she said.

Thomas Berg, 96, has played the violin with the orchestra for the past 25 years. He said he’ll keep on playing “as long as they don’t throw me out of the orchestra.”