The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, is upon us once again. And, in homage to our friends across the pond, we’ve selected nine of the best Independence Day songs to celebrate with. Just add fireworks and a bit of flag-waving, and we're away.
Fourth of July songs: Copland and Sousa
1. Fanfare for the Common Man
Composer Aaron Copland (pictured) wrote this work in 1942 for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. It was inspired in part by a famous speech made earlier in the year where vice president Henry A. Wallace proclaimed the dawning of the 'Century of the Common Man'. That moment when the trumpet line cuts through the silence of drums and percussion is one of the most evocative melodies ever written. It was premiered on 12 March 1943.
2. The Stars and Stripes Forever
Nicknamed 'The March King', John Philip Sousa composed over 135 marches throughout his life. The Stars and Stripes Forever is widely considered to be his magnum opus. It is now the official National March of the United States of America, and also one of the most popular songs heard on the 4th of July. You can expect the usual American band textures and music including agile woodwinds, bombastic brass and the occasional good old fashion bass drum wallop.
A great Fourth of July song that started life as a poem
3. America the Beautiful
‘America the Beautiful’ is the poem that would evolve into one of America’s best-loved patriotic songs written during a trip to Pikes Peak in 1893. Celebrating the ‘patriotic dream’, the song resonated with Americans from all walks of life and became enormously popular. While lyricist Katharine Lee Bates was initially surprised by the poem’s success, she later reflected that it would hold with the nation ‘due to the fact that Americans are at heart idealists, with a fundamental faith in human brotherhood.’
4. The Star-Spangled Banner
Independence Day wouldn’t be Independence Day without at least mentioning The Star-Spangled Banner. The words come from ‘Defence of Fort M’Henry’, a poem written by Francis Scott Key after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. Stravinsky orchestrated this in 1944. His version wasn’t entirely conventional; the Boston police issued Stravinsky a warning, claiming there was a law against tampering with the national anthem. Grudgingly, Stravinsky conceded.
5. Take Him Earth, for Cherishing
Herbert Howells is one of the most quintessentially English composers. As such, this beautiful choral piece may seem somewhat out of place in this list of great Independence Day songs.
Despite this, Howells wrote it in the year following the death of President Kennedy; plans were made for a dual American-Canadian Memorial service to be held in Washington. But this kaleidoscopic choral work is full of intensity, anguish and turbulence.
More of the best Fourth of July songs and music
6. Variations on America
Charles Ives was 17 when, in 1891, he composed this arrangement of the traditional tune ‘My Country, Tis of Thee’, the then-de-facto anthem of the United States. Ives prepared it for a Fourth of July celebration in 1892 at the Methodist church where he was organist in New York.
Ives meant the work as a sincere exercise in variations for organ. He was not deaf to its comic potential, however: he later noted that his father 'didn't let me do it much, as it made the boys laugh' in church.
7. The Gospel Train
This traditional African-American spiritual came to prominence thanks to the songs of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, the gospel group who first performed the much-loved 'Wade in the Water'.
A gospel standard, 'it'The Gospel Train' has been rearranged for many different styles and forces. The link below is an arrangement with a small brass band, piano, bass, drums and vocals. In whatever form, it's one of the most popular 4th of July songs.
8. Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Any discussion of American composers - indeed, of American cultural life in general - must, before too long, turn to the force of nature that was Leonard Bernstein. His adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet into ‘West Side Story’ has been a huge success since the original 1957 Broadway production.
In 1961, Bernstein prepared a suite of orchestral music from the show; titled Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. It features some of the most famous songs from the musical including ‘Mambo’ ‘Rumble’ and ‘Somewhere’.
9. Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 3
Last in our list of great Independence Day songs is a clever response to one of the great 4th of July songs we mentioned earlier. Over the past 50 years, Joan Tower has made a lasting impact on music in the USA as not only a composer but also a performer, educator and conductor. Her composition Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman is something of a response to Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man (as mentioned earlier).
Tower’s No. 3 (of 6) is scored for brass. It boasts a terrific rhythmic energy coupled with crisp articulation and intensity. Tower dedicated the piece Marin Alsop, who conducted the first complete recording.
Will Wright
Something we've missed? Tell us which works you'd add to this list in the comments section below, or tweet us @MusicMagazine.