program notes by composition > M > Marvin Hamlisch Showcase

Marvin Hamlisch Showcase

Marvin Hamlisch/arr. Warren Barker

Marvin Hamlisch Showcase is a medley of six familiar tunes by the famous American composer who passed away in September 2012: “They're Playing My Song,” “Nobody Does It Better,” “One,” “If You Remember Me,” “The Entertainer,” and “What I Did For Love.” Marvin Hamlisch (1944-2012) is one of only 11 artists to win every major creative award that exists: Oscar (3), Grammy (4), Tony, Pulitzer and Golden Globe (3).

For Broadway he wrote the music for A Chorus Line (Pulitzer), They’re Playing My Song , The Goodbye Girl and Sweet Smell of Success . He composed more than forty movie scores, including The Way We Were (Oscar), an adaptation of Scott Joplin’s music for The Sting (Oscar), Sophie’s Choice , Ordinary People , The Swimmer , Three Men and a Baby , Ice Castles , Take the Money and Run , Bananas and The Informant . He was musical director and arranger of Barbra Streisand’s 1994 concert tour and television special (two Emmys). He was principal pops conductor for symphony orchestras in Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Dallas, Pasadena, Seattle, San Diego, Buffalo and Washington, D.C.

A graduate of Juilliard and Queens College, Marvin Hamlisch believed in the power of music to bring people together. “Music can make a difference. There is a global nature to music, which has the potential to bring all people together. Music is truly an international language.”

Warren Barker (1923-2006) arranged this music. Educated at UCLA, Mr. Barker was an American composer for film, radio, television and Las Vegas clubs. He composed the incidental music for the hit 1960s TV series Bewitched and he composed and arranged numerous pieces for concert band.

Last updated on July 6, 2013 by Palatine Concert Band