On AMERICA the BEAUTIFUL - Concert Band, Gr 3.5, arr. by Traster

America the Beautiful is considered by many to be the second national anthem of The United States.  Its captivating melody, composed in 1883 by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward, and descriptive poetry, published in 1895 by English professor Katharine Lee Bates, were combined soon after and began growing in popularity.  The song “America” was published in hymnals of almost every denomination and numerous popular songbooks.  It was first published with the title by which we know it in 1910.  This arrangement of America the Beautiful offers a fresh approach that will engage your audience with easy-going Latin rhythms your percussionists will love and allusions to two other popular patriotic tunes, “Yankee Doodle” and “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Listen! (Recorded at an outdoor concert; please pardon some wind noise.)

Keys: Eb and F major

Meters: Overall 4/4 with some easy mixed meter; always (eighth=eighth)