The Stars and Stripes Forever (" Stars and Stripes Forever ") - a patriotic American march, considered as the best work ( Magnum opus ) of the composer John Philip Susa . According to the act of the US Congress, this march is the US national march.
Content
History
In her autobiography, Susa wrote that he wrote this march on Christmas Day 1896. He just found out about the recent death of David Blakely, Susa’s orchestra manager. Susa was on a ferry in Europe at the time, and the march was born in his head. He wrote down notes on paper upon arrival in America.
Music
The shape of the march is similar to standard American marches. His trio (main tune) is the most famous part of the march. Most orchestras follow the practice of the Susa Orchestra when one or three (but never two) piccolo players play obligate in the first repetition of the trio. In the second repetition (“Grandioso”), low brass joins piccolo players with a noticeable “counter-melody”. The official version of the march performed by the United States Marine Corps Orchestra is performed in E flat.
March text in English
Let martial note in triumph float
And liberty extend its mighty hand
A flag appears' mid thunderous cheers,
The banner of the Western land.
The emblem of the brave and true
Its folds protect no tyrant crew;
The red and white and starry blue
Is freedom's shield and hope.
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.
Hurrah for the flag of the free!
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.
Let eagle shriek from lofty peak
The never-ending watchword of our land;
Let summer breeze waft through the trees
The echo of the chorus grand.
Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
O patriotic sons.
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.
Hurrah for the flag of the free.
May it wave as our standard forever
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.
In the theater
In 1958, choreographer George Balanchine staged the ballet Stars and Stripes to the composer's music, orchestrated by Hershey Kay .
Media Files
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Notes
Links
- Star And Stripes - Banda de Sousa (Spanish)