THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER Francis Scott Key/John Stafford Smith John Stafford Smith (1750-1836) was an English composer, organist, and musicologist. A tune that Smith composed for the English Anacreontic Society in the 1770s was later famously adopted by Francis Scott Key to accompany his poem Defence of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. Smith’s tune and Key’s poem eventually became known as The Star-Spangled Banner, which was officially recognized as the U.S. national anthem by the U.S. Navy in 1889, by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, and by a congressional resolution in 1931.
NATIONALEMBLEM E. E.Bagley/edited by Fredrick Fennell Composed in 1902 by E. E. Bagley and published in 1906, National Emblem is a premier American march admired by John Philip Sousa as one of the best street marches ever written. It is famous for its unique structure, featuring a disguised snippet of The Star-Spangled Banner (the first 12 notes of The Anthem are quoted by the lower brass in the first strain, arranged in double time.) Additionally, the trio section is inspired by Bagley’s memory of buffalo herds on the Western prairies.
AMERICAN OVERTURE FOR BAND Joseph Wilcox Jenkins Joseph Willcox Jenkins was born in Philadelphia and started composing at the same time he began taking piano lessons as a young boy. He studied formally with composer Vincent Persichetti at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music while simultaneously pursuing a pre-law degree at the nearby St. Joseph’s College. Further musical studies followed at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where Jenkins earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees and counted among his mentors more luminaries of American classical music, including Howard Hanson and Bernard Rogers. Jenkins embarked on his professional career by joining the military and serving on the arranging staff of the U.S. Army Field Band at Fort Meade, Maryland. With the goal of showcasing the superb horn section of that band, Jenkins composed his American Overture in 1953. Although he wrote the work for the Army Field Band, the overture quickly gained attention from the band community at large and has since become one of the most often performed works in the concert band repertoire. Jenkins went on to serve as chief arranger of the U.S. Army Chorus at Fort Myer, Virginia, and in 1961 he joined the faculty of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where he taught until his retirement in 2000. Although he wrote many other fine works, none have eclipsed the magic captured in this iconic overture by an eager and energetic twenty-five-year-old composer at the beginning of his career.
THIS IS MY COUNTRY Al Jacob’s & Don Raye/arr. Jerry Brubaker “I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold, for this is my country to have and to hold.” A hearty addition to the repertoire, “This Is My Country” (1940) is a patriotic American song composed by Al Jacobs with lyrics by Don Raye, written in New York. Originally popularized by Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians, the song is a staple in patriotic repertoire, celebrating American unity, freedom, and heritage, often performed by military choruses and orchestra. This arrangement by Jerry Brubaker ads a contemporary flair to this wonderful patriotic work opening with a fanfare-like statement leading to the charming familiar melody.
E PLURIBUS UNUM Fred Jewell/Editted by John Paynter Frederick Alton Jewell (1875-1936) ran away from home at the age of 16 to join the Gentry Brothers Dog & Pony Show. He started out there as a euphonium player, also dabbling in calliope. He impressed the right people, and before long, he was the bandleader at Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus. E Pluribus Unum dates from the end of Jewell’s circus days in the shadow of World War I. The title is a traditional motto of the United States, which translates from Latin as “one from many.” Jewell likely wrote this upbeat march to stir patriotic feelings during the dark war days. John Paynter (1931 – 2010) was a British composer and music educator, known for his advocacy of the cause of creative music making and his emphasis on the importance of music as a subject in the general education of all children. He was Professor of Music at the University of York from 1982 to 1994, and as Professor Emeritus after his retirement.
GEORGE M. COHAN PATRIOTIC FANTASY Arr. Walter Ehret & Paul Yoder George M. Cohan (1878–1942) was a dominant force on Broadway who wrote over 1,000 songs and 80 shows. He was the first musician to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his inspirational songwriting. Walter Ehret and Paul Yoder present a musical salute celebrating the most iconic songs of Cohan, known as “the man who owned Broadway” and a “Yankee Doodle Boy”.The arrangement aims to capture the energetic, swaggering persona Cohan brought to the stage, featuring: Give My Regards To Broadway, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Over There, and You’re A Grand Old Flag.
EMBLEM OF UNITY J. J. Richards Composed in 1941, “Emblem of Unity” by J.J. Richards is a quintessential American concert march celebrated for its bold, patriotic style and technical excitement. Inspired by President Woodrow Wilson’s 1917 description of the American flag, it is a popular staple for school and military bands.
EMBLEM OF FREEDOM Karl King/arr. Andrew Glover Composed in 1910 when Karl King was only 19, Emblem of Freedom is a mature early march that the composer often cited as his best. Dedicated to his friend Robert D. Hamilton, this energetic piece features a fanfare-driven opening, a calmer trio, and demanding chromatic runs in the lower brass, no doubt inspired by his performance as a euphonium player himself in circus bands.
BIG BAND CLASSICS Arr. Eric Osterling Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Mr. Osterling (1926-2005) began his musical career as a professional pianist at age 14, accompanying and arranging music for several dance bands in the Hartford area. He continued his musical studies at Ithaca College, the University of Connecticut, and the Hartt College of Music, specializing in Music Education. This sparkling medley authentically captures the flavor of Glenn Miller and the Big Band sounds of the 40s. Included are ‘In The Mood’…’Serenade In Blue’…and ‘Tuxedo Junction.’
STAR SPANGLED SPECTACULAR George M. Cohan/arr. John Cacavas Star Spangled Spectacular, arranged by John Cacavas, is another patriotic medley celebrating the legendary works of George M. Cohan.. Fearuring “Over There,” “Yankee Doodle Boy,” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” the arrangement highlights Cohan’s deep-seated patriotism and legacy as a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, while benefiting from Cacavas’s expertise as a former chief arranger for the U.S. Army Band.
PATRIOTIC SING-ALONG Arr. James Ployar The Suncoast Concert Band invites you to sing along with this medley of patriotic favorites arranged by the popular composer of music for the concert band, James Ployhar. Included in the medley are: Yankee Doodle Dandy America (My Country ‘Tis Of Thee) America The Beautiful The Caissons Go Rolling Along The Marine’s Hymn Dixie You’re A Grand Old Flag Battle Hymn Of The Republic …Enjoy!!
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL Samuel A. Ward/arr. Carmen Dragon “America the Beautiful” began life as a poem by Katherine Lee Bates, written in 1893 after a trip to Pike’s Peak. Samuel Augustus Ward was a composer and organist. His hymn tune, Materna was first used as a setting for O Mother Dear Jerusalem. In 1904, the tune was used for Bates’ poem, and the rest, as they say, is history. In 1960, Carmen Dragon set the piece for concert band. Dragon had a long and lustrous career, especially known for conducting the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, as well as being a composer for films. The arrangement was written for (and premiered by) the Ohio University Concert Band. [Fun fact: Carmen’s son is none other than Daryl Dragon of Captain and Tennille!] Dragon’s arrangement is generally acknowledged by band leaders over the decades as the quintessential setting of this National treasure, with rich sonorities, sweeping crescendos, and a modulation into the final stanza which builds to a dramatic fanfare conclusion, bringing audiences to their feet.
THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER John Philip Sousa/arr. Keith Brion & Loras Schissel Composed by John Philip Sousa in 1896, “The Stars and Stripes Forever” is the official National March of the United States. Inspired by homesickness while traveling from Europe to America, Sousa penned the work on Christmas Day. Its iconic trio features three distinct themes representing different regions: the North (main melody,) the South (piccolo obbligato,) and the West (trombone countermelody.) It premiered in 1897 and became an enduring patriotic symbol.