Music for Independence Day.

First, Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli, to remind us who ultimately made our independence possible.

Then it’s William Billings, America’s first composer, whose choral works celebrated our battles against the Red Coats. Then onto Charles Ives, Amy Beach, Scott Joplin, John Philip Sousa, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, George Gershwin and lots of other American greats.

* * *

Chester,
by William Billings.

Let tyrants shake their iron rod,
And Slav’ry clank her galling chains,
We fear them not, we trust in God,
New England’s God forever reigns.
Howe and Burgoyne and Clinton too,
With Prescot and Cornwallis join’d,
Together plot our Overthrow,
In one Infernal league combin’d.
When God inspir’d us for the fight,
Their ranks were broke, their lines were forc’d,
Their ships were Shatter’d in our sight,
Or swiftly driven from our Coast.
The Foe comes on with haughty Stride;
Our troops advance with martial noise,
Their Vet’rans flee before our Youth,
And Gen’rals yield to beardless Boys.
What grateful Off’ring shall we bring?
What shall we render to the Lord?
Loud Halleluiahs let us Sing,
And praise his name on ev’ry Chord.

Happy 4th! May we be worthy of many more.