Kent, I’ll Be Home for Christmas First recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” expressed the desire of U.S. Soldiers in World War II to be back home. The song’s enormous popularity soon took it well beyond that original context, and … Read more
Persichetti, Divertimento for Band I grew up in band country—Texas. There was only one year in one school where we had an orchestra. And let’s face it, the orchestra was not very good, whereas the band had many competent instrumentalists. Band repertoire didn’t always offer … Read more
Beach, Romance This week we feature a short character piece by the American pianist and composer Amy Beach (1867-1944). But unlike other women composers before her, notably Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn, Beach established her reputation as a composer with large-scale works: primarily her Mass … Read more
Gershwin, Strike Up the Band We traditionally turn to something with an American theme for the Fourth of July. Yes, we have been doing this series long enough to have traditions. This years marks our 9th Fourth of July. And when it comes to American … Read more
Mason, O Look to Golgotha Lowell Mason (1792-1872) figures prominently in the history of American music. You are most likely to know him as a hymnodist: composer of Nearer My God to Thee, My Faith Looks Up to Thee, Jesus Shall Reign Where’re the Sun and for … Read more
It was good to get out to a festival. True, last fall we enjoyed Bethania’s Walnut Festival, held in an historical Moravian village next to our neighborhood. Also, we rejoiced in a traditional, low-tech fall carnival up in King, North Carolina, filled with old-fashioned rides, … Read more
Maslanka, Symphony No. 4 Hank wanted to feature David Maslanka (1943-2017) in our Friday Performance Picks and, knowing that I have a particular interest, asked me to write about it. In the 1980s, a new generation of largely American composers started to rise. They did … Read more
Ives, Songs My Mother Taught Me If I had it to do over again, I might argue in favor of including this song in our collection of traditional songs Hurrah and Hallelujah. No, it’s not really a traditional song. It was written by the American … Read more
Schuman, New England Triptych (Chester) When it comes to American patriotic tunes, Chester sits pretty much at the top of the list. Col. Jim Keane, director of the U.S. Army Field Band and a contributor to some of our courses, remarked in one of Carol’s … Read more
Down in the River to Pray The origin of this well-known song is not clear. It has been described as a Spiritual, a Gospel hymn, and an Appalachian folk song. Musically it seems to have elements of all of those genres. Perhaps its popularity comes … Read more
