Grade: 4
Duration: 3:00
 
Our national anthem has countless settings and arrangements, and while most approach the piece with in a brisk “march-like” manner, for this setting I wanted to approach our national anthem in a broader symphonic setting. A setting where the melody is played in a slightly slower pace and the musicians and audience can savor the subtle tone colors and the blending of harmonies. Here, the moving lines interwoven into the texture, the delicate nuance of the woodwinds, and the heroic brass fanfares throughout the piece help give the anthem even more depth. It is my hope that in this slower setting the piece will be more meaningful and patriotic for the musicians and audience alike.
 
This arrangement of our national anthem is an ideal choice for important ceremonies such as convocations, commencements, and memorials. The introduction includes 60 seconds of music before the actual national anthem begins, to allow for the “presentation of the colors,” if you are in a live setting where military personnel would be entering with the flag. It is important that the conductor signals to the audience at measure 25 to stand, as that is the beginning of the actual national anthem, and the audience can remain seated for the first 24 measures. 
 
Depending on the length of the introduction needed, the piece can also be altered to skip measures 15-25, if a shorter introduction is desired.
 
Score Preview PDF
Audio Preview MP3