New Independence Day Suggestions for Community Band Thursday, May 17, 2012
Preparations for the summer concert season are upon us, and no community band performance is more important, or well-attended, than Independence Day. Community bands have plenty of tried and true patriotic standards in their libraries, but the Stanton’s band staff keeps its ears open each year for enjoyable new arrangements that would make great additions to your library, and provide something fresh for both your band and audience. Several new arrangements caught our attention this year, and we’re pleased to suggest the following titles:
American Jubilee by Charles Booker is a short, vibrant concert overture that resonates with the spirit of the American landscape. Consisting primarily of original material, there are brief hints and echoes of the Star-Spangled Banner that add to the character and noble quality of the work. This wonderfully exhilarating addition to the concert band repertoire is a perfect concert or patriotic performance selection.
There’s always a spot in your library for a finely crafted montage of everybody’s favorite patriotic flag-wavers. An American Spectacular is a “fantasy medley” that interweaves the many hearts of American music from the earliest days of Chester, to folk standards like Shenandoah, wartime spirit-boosters like Over There, and timeless classics like America, the Beautiful in a truly spectacular tribute to the red, white and blue.
Elegy for the U.S.S. Arizona is a tribute to the lasting legacy of the members of the U.S.S. Arizona Band, entombed with over 1,100 other sailors in the sunken wreckage of the Arizona. A solemn snare drum begins and ends the piece, and the familiar strains of Eternal Father Strong to Save are used to create a moving tribute to all veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Based on My Country, ‘Tis of Thee, James Curnow’s Let Freedom Ring is a brilliant concert setting of this patriotic standard. Bold, majestic, and full of contemporary harmonies, yet classic in form and style, Let Freedom Ring is a powerful salute to our nation, our armed forces, and is perfect as a rousing closer sure to bring your audience to its feet!
You can preview each of these works by clicking on the highlighted titles above, and add those you like to your shopping cart or wish list. If you prefer to go ‘old-school’, just give us a call, 1-800-426-8742, and check out the Community Band tab on our concert band webpage for more suggestions.