4th of July Classical Music Playlist

Looking for the perfect classical music to listen to this 4th of July? Look no further! We’ve put together a playlist of some of our favorite patriotic tunes to help get you in the spirit.

Introduction

It’s the 4th of July, and what better way to celebrate America’s birthday than by listening to some patriotic classical music? Here’s a playlist of some of our favorite pieces to get you in the patriotic spirit!

“The Star-Spangled Banner” – Francis Scott Key

“Fanfare for the Common Man” – Aaron Copland

“Rhapsody in Blue” – George Gershwin

“The Patriarch Suite” – Leonard Bernstein

“Appalachian Spring” – Aaron Copland

“The Star-Spangled Banner” by John Stafford Smith

“The Star-Spangled Banner” is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from “The Defence of Fort McHenry”, a poem written on September 14, 1814, by the then 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbor during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Key was inspired by the large American flag, with 15 stars and 15 stripes, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort during the U.S. victory.

The poem was set to a popular British tune Anacreon in Heaven, and renamed “The Star-Spangled Banner”. It soon became a well-known American patriotic song. With a range of 19 semitones, it is known for being difficult to sing. Although the poem has four stanzas, only the first is commonly sung today.

“The Star-Spangled Banner” was recognized for official use by the United States Navy in 1889, and by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, and was made the national anthem by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931 (46 Stat. 1508, codified at 36 U.S.C. 303), which was signed by President Herbert Hoover. On July 27, 1989, 90 years after it had first been written, Congress passed legislation making “The Star-Spangled Banner” America’s national anthem.”

“Yankee Doodle” by George M. Cohan

“Yankee Doodle” is a patriotic song from the United States of America, usually sung around the Fourth of July. The song has been around since the 18th century, and has been adapted and performed by many different artists over the years.

The song is about a young man named Yankee Doodle who goes to town riding on a feather. He is made fun of by the people he meets, but he doesn’t mind because he knows that he looks like a “macaroni.” This was a term used at the time to describe someone who was fashionable and well-dressed.

Yankee Doodle eventually falls in love with a girl named Polly, and they get married. They have a son together, and they name him Yankee Doodle Dandy. The song ends with everyone singing together and celebrating the Fourth of July.

“God Bless America” by Irving Berlin

This timeless patriotic song was penned by Irving Berlin in 1918 and first published in The Songwriter magazine. Though the song was originally intended for a World War I Army show, it wasn’t performed in public until Armistice Day, November 11, 1918. Kate Smith first popularized the song on her radio show in 1938, and her recording became an overnight sensation. The song has been recorded by many artists over the years, but Smith’s version is still the most popular.

“Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa

“Stars and Stripes Forever” is a patriotic anthem written by John Philip Sousa. The piece was written in 1896 and is one of the most popular and well-known American patriotic songs. The tune has been used in a number of different ways over the years, including as the official march of the United States Military Academy at West Point and as the theme song for both the United States Navy and Marine Corps.

“America the Beautiful” by Samuel Augustus Ward

One of the most iconic patriotic anthems, “America the Beautiful” was written by Katharine Lee Bates in 1895 and set to music by church organist Samuel Augustus Ward. Though it was first met with mixed reviews, the song has since become a treasured part of American culture and is often performed on the Fourth of July.

“Battle Hymn of the Republic” by Julia Ward Howe

One of the most popular patriotic songs in the United States, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” was originally a poem written by Julia Ward Howe in 1861. The poem was set to the tune of “John Brown’s Body” and quickly became a popular anthem for both Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. In subsequent years, the song has been regularly performed at patriotic events such as Fourth of July celebrations and presidential inauguration ceremonies.

“Dixie” by Daniel Decatur Emmett

Daniel Decatur Emmett (1815–1904) was an American songwriter and composer best known for the song “Dixie”, which became a popular anthem for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.

Emmett was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and raised in a Quaker household. He wrote his first song at the age of fifteen. In 1834, he formed a band called The Virginia Minstrels, which is often credited as being the first minstrel troupe. The troupe first performed publicly in February 1835 and toured extensively throughout the Northeast United States over the next several years.

“Dixie” was first performed by The Virginia Minstrels in New York City on April 4, 1859. It quickly became popular, both in the North and the South. It was often played at political rallies and was used as a marching song by Union and Confederate soldiers alike.

After the Civil War, “Dixie” remained popular. It continued to be played at political events and was even adopted as an unofficial anthem by some states in the Reconstruction-era South. In the 20th century, it became associated with American nostalgia and was commonly played at patriotic events such as Fourth of July celebrations.

“This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie

“This Land is Your Land” is one of the most well-known and beloved American folk songs. Written by Woody Guthrie in 1940, the song celebrates the beauty of the American landscape and the spirit of its people. The song has been recorded by numerous artists over the years, including Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, and Willie Nelson.

Conclusion

Here are some suggested patriotic classical pieces to get you started on your 4th of July playlist.
-The Star Spangled Banner by John Stafford Smith
-The Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia Ward Howe
-Yankee Doodle Dandy by George M. Cohan
-God Bless America by Irving Berlin
-America the Beautiful by Katharine Lee Bates