…when the piccolos solo in John Philip Sousa “Stars and Stripes Forever”, and the audience cheers. Every time.
Everybody loves it- cities and farms, coast to coast, mountains to prairies. It’s apolitical, non-militaristic, and 100% American.
I had the pleasure tonight (with fireworks going off in the background, no less) and I thought: goddam, this make me happy to be an American right now.
I’ll see you that and raise you Rick Derringer.
America means many things.
Nevermind.
I can’t say I recall ever experiencing this. What kinds of occasions do you see this happen? (You mentioned a fireworks show, but fireworks shows in my area aren’t accompanied by music.)
Probably about the only time a flutist gets any recognition and, of course, it’s kind of a bitch to play.
I know that the Boston Pops orchestra would put on a concert (normally, televised) every year on the 4th, concluding with fireworks. In the Bay Area I once attended a concert at the Shoreline Amphitheater of the SF Symphony, concluding with fireworks; and this week it was the Reno Philharmonic performing on the infield of a baseball field.
Often, the finale is “Stars and Stripes Forever” while the fireworks display is going on. Occasionally, it’s the 1812 Overture.
That’s the second chorus. That piccolo solo is sheer delight, especially for gifted individuals who can whistle it.
With smaller groups of people it’s been my experience that the third, final chorus (where some of the horns play the counter melody) is the one that makes us break out in shit-eating grins.
SASF is an amazing piece. Makes you want to go out and join something.
“Stars and Stripes Forever” is pretty much the Boston Pops signature tune. Not only do they play it at the Fourth of July fireworks, they play it at the end of their other concerts, as well. And they allways have that piccolo section, which invariably brings cheers or applause.
At last night’s broadcast of the Boston fireworks, the piccolo section was unusually large because, in addition to the Pops’ piccolo section, they had some from a US Military band, as well.
So “Everybody loves it- cities and farms, coast to coast, mountains to prairies” as long as it is in Boston?
Absolutely agree, at least when looking at the music and not just the lyrics. I’ve long seen that the Battle Hymn of the Republic is something special too. And even the national anthem that is notoriously difficult to sing still has great lyrics. Nothing wrong with Born in the USA or This Land is My Land either. We have great patriotic songs here, the rest of the world sucks eggs in their patriotic music. Anyway, that’s what I assume, really haven’t paid attention to them.
Agree that we do have great patriotic songs, but some countries do it well too. Google “Last night of the Proms” to see how the Brits do it.
For me, the most quintessential Americana moments are jet flyovers at sports stadiums, and video footage of rolling grain fields and prairies.
I have some issues with the size and scope of the US military….
But daaaamn, flyovers are awesome.
I missed it last night, but as I recall the Boston Pops 4th of July concert ends with the 1812 Overture accompanied by actual artillery, then Stars and Stripes Forever, with an American flag that unfurls from the top of the bandshell during the final chorus, then the fireworks with pre-recorded music.
I can think of two moments in my life that struck me as quintessentially American.
At a huge biker rally in Reno, Nevada, a band called the Saddle Tramps (including a blonde in lingerie named Suzy Switchblade) performed a rousing tune called Cindy Brady had my Baby.
At the bottom of the Grand Canyon, watching a man teach his family how to play poker using m&m’s as poker chips.
From the outside perspective of someone who hasn’t a patriotic bone in his body anyway, the greatest moment of Americana is the release of the Band’s “Music From Big Pink”.
So awesome, that back when I was in the military. Every single time we had to stand in formation during a flyover, there was always a DI in the back repeatedly yelling “Do not look up! Do not look up! Do not look up! Do not look up!”
I wasn’t really familiar with it, so I just found it on youtube. I recognize it a something I’ve heard before, but didn’t recall the piccolos solo. That was impressive.
Overall, it’s fine. But I didn’t get goosebumps or anything.
I mostly associate it with an episode of Andy Griffith.
The United States Marine Band performing the John Phillips Sousa classic, The Stars and Stripes Forever. Go back to the start for an introduction.