# What's that music at the WWII Memorial dedication? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 30, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833 "2004-05-30T20:38:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/1 "2004-05-30T20:38:07Z")
Before _The Star Spangled Banner_ and after _God Bless America_ there was some music. It sounded like something that would be played for the Roman Legions. What is that tune, and who composed it? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/2 "2004-05-30T21:08:41Z")
Not having heard the music, based on “music for Roman legions”, I have two guesses: Aaron Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man. Midi file. [http://www.classicalmidiconnection.com/cgibin/x.cgi/midi/n1/fanfare.mid](http://www.classicalmidiconnection.com/cgibin/x.cgi/midi/n1/fanfare.mid) 'Zat it? If not, then try “Mars” from Holst’s “The Planets”. Midi file. [http://www.pixeldreams.com/planets\_56kd.html](http://www.pixeldreams.com/planets_56kd.html) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/3 "2004-05-30T21:16:05Z")
The closing music was indeed Copland’s _Fanfare for the Common Man_, precisely commissioned in the first place to honor all who participated in WW2 [(as soldiers or taxpayers!)](http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200000006/default.html). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/4 "2004-05-30T23:02:51Z")
I think what \*\*Johnny L.A. \*\* heard was music by John Phillip Sousa. I know I heard Sousa played when the color guard marched in. I _think_ it was “The Washington Post March.” Check [here.](http://www.dws.org/sousa/works.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/5 "2004-05-31T13:43:41Z")
It’s definitely not _Fanfare for the Common Man_, a tune with which I am familiar. I listened to _Mars_, and that’s not it either; nor is it _The Washington Post March_. This is the music that played just before _The Star Spangled Banner_. They played it again after _America the Beautiful_. It’s very difficult to post a tune in text, but it went something like this: Baaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh Bah-bah bah BAH bah Bah bah BAH bah… I got a flash of “Mr. Peabody and Sherman”, but it’s been so long that I don’t remember if that was it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/6 "2004-05-31T14:44:17Z")
I listened to all of the clips in **silenus** ’s link, and I didn’t hear it. (Not all of Sousa’s works are available as audio.) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/7 "2004-05-31T16:26:08Z")
Okay, now I get it – what **Johnny** is referring to is the music that is played during the “Retreat of the Colors”, when the flag-bearers are marching out. Anyone know what THAT piece is? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/8 "2004-05-31T16:49:30Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Baaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh > Bah-bah bah BAH bah > Bah bah BAH bah… > > I got a flash of “Mr. Peabody and Sherman”, but it’s been so long that I don’t remember if that was it. OK. Got the tune in my head. I know exactly which one it is…I just don’t remember the name. The problem is that the part you "Bah"ed is just a small part of the whole march. I am fairly certain it was Sousa, though. Off to listen to all of my collection until I **find this tune!!!** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Satyagrahi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f475e1/32.png) [@Satyagrahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satyagrahi)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/9 "2004-05-31T16:51:56Z")
Here’e the site that will help you out: [Name This Tune](http://name-this-tune.com/). Whistle a tune into your computer’s microphone and this site will attempt to identify it. If the tune is in their database and you’re at least moderately musical, they’ll find it. ---
**Author:** ![SallyStar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SallyStar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SallyStar)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/10 "2004-05-31T16:58:43Z")
\*\*What’s that music at the WWII Memorial dedication? \*\* I recall a medley that included the “Victory at Sea” music? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/11 "2004-05-31T17:37:21Z")
I’m gonna put out a WAG here, and say that what we heard was from the center part of “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Everybody knows the end part, but it is quite a bit longer than that, and I am pretty sure it includes **Johnny’s** section. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/12 "2004-05-31T18:12:53Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m gonna put out a WAG here, and say that what we heard was from the center part of “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Everybody knows the end part, but it is quite a bit longer than that, and I am pretty sure it includes **Johnny’s** section. Nope. What they play doesn’t sound like any part of _Stars and Stripes Forever_. **Satyagrahi** : I haven’t got a microphone. Let me try this. On a guitar, and with the lowest-tone string being called the 1st string. (I can never remember if the strings are numbered highest-1st or lowest-1st, so I’m calling the low E-string 1st): G (1st string, 4th fret, about six beats) C (2nd string, 3rd fret) D (3rd string, 1st fret) G (4th string, 1st fret) D (3rd string, 1st fret) C (2nd string, 3rd fret) A (2nd string, 1st fret) G (4th string, 1st fret) D (3rd string, 1st fret) C (2nd string, 3rd fret) A (2nd string, 1st fret) D (3rd string, 1st fret) G (1st string, 4th fret, about six beats) C (2nd string, 3rd fret) D (3rd string, 1st fret) G (4th string, 1st fret) D (3rd string, 1st fret) C (2nd string, 3rd fret) A (2nd string, 1st fret) G (4th string, 1st fret) D (3rd string, 1st fret) C (2nd string, 3rd fret) A (2nd string, 1st fret) D (3rd string, 1st fret) And then there’s a bit that sounds similar (but isn’t) the melody to _Polonius’s Advice to Laertes_ they used in the “Musical Hamlet” bit on _Gilligan’s Island_. “There’s just one other thing / You have to do…” That part sounds similar, but it’s not the same. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/13 "2004-05-31T21:23:24Z")
“National Emblem” - Bagley, second half. Starts at 1:44 in the MP3 linked to on this page (track 13): [http://www.usmc.mil/band/m\_bandcd.nsf/MorningColorsMusic?OpenView](http://www.usmc.mil/band/m_bandcd.nsf/MorningColorsMusic?OpenView) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/14 "2004-05-31T22:07:29Z")
Oh, and obviously “National Emblem” = flag. You’ll note the music was played for the presentation and retiring of the colors. The first part of the piece includes a quote from the national anthem. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-music-at-the-wwii-memorial-dedication/247833/15 "2004-05-31T23:31:48Z")
**rowrrbazzle** : That’s it! Thanks! (It does sound like a medley.)