God Bless America

From Wind Repertory Project
Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin (arr. Cofield)


General Info

Year: 1939 / 1972
Duration:
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts - $50.00


Instrumentation

Semi-full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
Horn in E-flat I-II
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion (4 players), including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Orchestra Bells
  • Snare Drum


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Irving Berlin wrote God Bless America in 1918 while serving in the U.S. Army at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York, but decided that it did not fit in a revue called Yip Yip Yaphank, so he set it aside. The lyrics at that time included the line "Make her victorious on land and foam, God bless America..." as well as "Stand beside her and guide her to the right with the light from above".

In 1938, with the rise of Adolf Hitler, Irving Berlin, who was Jewish and had arrived in America from Russia at the age of five, felt it was time to revive it as a "peace song," and it was introduced on an Armistice Day broadcast in 1938, sung by Kate Smith on her radio show.

God Bless America takes the form of a prayer (intro lyrics "as we raise our voices, in a solemn prayer") for God's blessing and peace for the nation ("...stand beside her and guide her through the night...").

- Program Note from Wikipedia


Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Karl L. King Municipal Band (Fort Dodge, Iowa) (Jerrold P. Jimmerson, conductor) - 29 May 2023
  • Irving (Tx.) Symphonic Band (Jay L. Bach, conductor) - 19 March 2023
  • Atascadero (Calif.) Community Band (Carlos Gama, Jr., conductor) - 27 June 2017
  • Karl L. King Municipal Band (Fort Dodge, Iowa) (Jerrold P. Jimmerson, conductor) – 29 May 2017
  • Mid America Freedom Band (Kansas City, Mo.) (Lee Hartman, conductor) – 19 February 2017
  • Walnut Creek (Calif.) Concert Band (Harvey Bernstein, conductor) – 4 July 2016
  • Christian Fellowship Band (Rockford, Ill.) ( Vicki Peterson, conductor) - 28 September 2014


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources