Saluting America
You have likely noticed that some composers were commissioned more than once for war-related pieces. One man who wrote many patriotic works during the war years was Morton Gould, who produced one of the Goossens fanfares. Before World War II, Gould’s career had been fostered by the growth of radio. Gould’s network radio experience had earned him national recognition—as well as the discipline to be able to work under a deadline. Both aspects served him well when his radio producer hurriedly asked him in 1943 for a tribute to the United States to be broadcast during a patriotic World War II program.71 The resulting work—American Salute (Listening Example 12)—was written overnight with the copyists standing by, so they could quickly extract the individual parts from Gould’s score for the next-day rehearsal. To Gould’s later amazement, “Critics say it is a minor masterpiece, a gem. To me, it was just a setting. I was doing a million of those things.”
You have likely noticed that some composers were commissioned more than once for war-related pieces. One man who wrote many patriotic works during the war years was Morton Gould, who produced one of the Goossens fanfares. Before World War II, Gould’s career had been fostered by the growth of radio. Gould’s network radio experience had earned him national recognition—as well as the discipline to be able to work under a deadline. Both aspects served him well when his radio producer hurriedly asked him in 1943 for a tribute to the United States to be broadcast during a patriotic World War II program.71 The resulting work—American Salute (Listening Example 12)—was written overnight with the copyists standing by, so they could quickly extract the individual parts from Gould’s score for the next-day rehearsal. To Gould’s later amazement, “Critics say it is a minor masterpiece, a gem. To me, it was just a setting. I was doing a million of those things.”
There are several reasons why American Salute is now regarded as a classic. During the war years, composers everywhere were drawn to their country’s musical heritage for inspiration. In the U.S., tunes from the American Revolution enjoyed renewed popularity, as did melodies from the Civil War. One such song, published by Patrick Gilmore in 1863, was “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again” (the same bouncy compound-duple melody to which many of today’s children sing “The Ants Go Marching One by One”). It’s a quirky little tune since it’s set in the minor mode, despite the fact that people are looking forward to shouting joyful “Hurrahs!” when the soldier Johnny returns. Gould’s piece was originally scored for a full orchestra, but was later transcribed for concert band. The triumphant conclusion also conveys a storyline that American listeners were sure to appreciate. In 1943, the tide had not yet turned in the battles overseas, but American Salute helped U.S. citizens to keep faith that they, too, would triumph in the end.
|