Music for July 4

Patriotic music goes with the July 4 celebration.  There are songs and instrumental pieces in all genres, as well as narrated pieces.  Many communities have a town band that performs an annual July 4, pre-fireworks concert.  Muncie's town band performs at Minnetrista.  Larger cities boast of symphony orchestras that perform much of the same repertoire, usually ending with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.  Fireworks begin during the final segment, which was scored for cannon blasts.

I have set up a Naxos Music Library playlist of classic patriotic music for the holiday, which can be found here.  The playlist includes almost two hours of famous marches, the National Anthem, classic songs celebrating the country, and the fireworks portion of the 1812 Overture. (Ball State log-in required from off-campus)  Any Ball State user can create their own playlist on Naxos Music Library for private or shared listening.

If you want to perform some live music rather than listen, but you can't remember the words to The Star Spangled Banner, feel free to print this scan from the Music Collection's copy of National Patriotic and Typical Airs of All Lands, edited by none other than John Philip Sousa, director of , the Marine Corps band, also known as "The President's Own" from 1880 to 1892 and the composer of famous marches such as The Stars and Stripes Forever.  The Music Collection's copy of this collection of songs was published in 1890: