America the Beautiful Program Notes and Sheet Music

American Salute

Morton Gould (1913-1996) was an American composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a prolific composer, writing in a wide variety of genres, including orchestral music, ballet, film scores, and vocal music.

American Salute is a fanfare-like composition for concert band that was written in 1942. It is based on the patriotic tune "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again". The piece is in three movements:

• Fanfare: The fanfare opens with a bold and brassy statement of the main theme. The theme is then developed through a series of variations.
• March: The march is a more traditional march, with a strong beat and a driving rhythm.
• Fugue: The fugue is a contrapuntal movement that features the main theme in a variety of voices.

American Salute is a stirring and patriotic work that is sure to get the audience excited. It is a great choice for a concert program that celebrates American music and culture.

Here are some additional details about the piece:

• The piece is scored for a large concert band, with a full complement of brass, woodwinds, and percussion.
• The piece is approximately 5 minutes long.
• The piece was commissioned by the Mutual Broadcasting System for a radio program called "Salute to America".
• The piece was first performed in 1942 by the NBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Arturo Toscanini.