“Set amid the natural beauty of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Gabriel Chamber Ensemble’s ‘Stars, Stripes and Strings!’ concert explores the many voices of American music,” says Sara Male, Gabriel Chamber Ensemble Executive Director.

“The program celebrates ‘America250’ with themes of landscape, heritage and artistic innovation in an afternoon of chamber music inspired by the American spirit,” says Male.

Gabriel Chamber Ensemble presents “Stars, Stripes and Strings!, 2 p.m. Sept. 13, Outdoor Amphitheater, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and the Gabriel Chamber Ensemble team up to share the power of music and nature with its annual Music on the Mountain performance, featuring classical selections and held during the early migration season.

Proceeds benefit each organizations. Light refreshments and an opportunity to meet the performers and a live raptor immediately follows the concert.

The concert opens with the lively and elegant “Bourree I and II” from Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009,” followed by the Herbert S. Gardner arrangement of the classic “America the Beautiful” melody by Samuel Augustus Ward with words by Katharine Lee Bates.

Representative of the United States style of music are works by American composer Aaron Copland. Incorporating visions of “wide-open spaces” and “life on the range,” the ensemble performs “Hoedown” from Copland’s ballet “Rodeo.”

The mood shifts with George Walker’s “Lyric for Strings,” an elegy to his grandmother who was born into slavery, escaped to freedom and endured profound hardships.

With the advent of the minimalist style of music in the late 1950s, one of its first proponents was Philip Glass. The “1957: Award Montage” movement from his “String Quartet No. 3, Mishima” reflects a Japanese literary author’s ascent to fame and commercial success.

Another American invention is the music of Ragtime. With its bouncing syncopated rhythms, it is easily recognized in Scott Joplin’s “New Rag” and “Paragon Rag,” also on the program.

Viola soloist Agnes Maurer performs Maria Thompson Corley’s “Psalm 121 for Solo Viola” and movements from Antonin Dvorak’s “String Quartet in F Major, Op. 96, American” round out the program which closes with the John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

“We always look forward to returning to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary,” says Male.

“It’s a privilege to perform in a place whose mission of conservation and education inspires so many people, and the audience’s warmth, enthusiasm and genuine appreciation make every concert there a truly unique and rewarding experience,” Male says.

“Stars, Stripes and Strings!,” Gabriel Chamber Ensemble, 2 p.m. Sept. 13, Outdoor Amphitheater (ADA accessible), Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton. No rain date. Heavy rain will cancel performance. Seating is first come, first served. Tickets: 610-756-6961; https://www.hawkmountain.org/events

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com