God Bless America (arr Leidzen)

From Wind Repertory Project
Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin (arr. Erik Leidzén)


General Info

Year: 1918 /1939
Duration: c. 2:20
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: I. Berlin
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
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 Bass Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in E-flat I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion (3 players), including:

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


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Irving Berlin composed the stirring God Bless America at the close of World War I. Its emotional themes of patriotism and freedom inspired many during World War II, when Kate Smith sang it on radio broadcasts, as they heard “from the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans, white with foam.”

- Program Note from Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music


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

  • Medina Community Band (Brunswick, Ohio) (Marcus Neiman, conductor) - 11 September 2023
  • Kings Park Concert Band (Springfield, Va.) (Rich Bergman, conductor) - 8 July 2022
  • United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) – 20 January 2021 (Presidential Inauguration)
  • California State Military Reserve Band (James Lamb, conductor) – 15 November 2018 (San Francisco, Calif.)
  • Oneonta (N.Y.) Community Concert Band (Rene Prins, conductor) – 11 November 2018
  • Callanwolde Concert Band (Decatur, Ga.) (Glenn Moore, conductor) – 4 July 2018
  • Kings Park Concert Band (Dumfries, Va.) (Richard Bergman, conductor) – 24 March 2018
  • Ventura County (Calif.) Concert Band (Julie Judd, conductor) – 12 November 2017
  • Philadelphia (Penn.) Wind Symphony (Paul Bryan, conductor) – 5 May 2017
  • Atascadero (Calif.) Community Band (Carlos Gama, Jr., conductor) - 28 June 2016
  • Lone Star Symphonic Band (Katy, Tex.) (Bob Bryant, conductor) - 12 October 2014
  • Montgomery Village Community Band (Steven Wampler, conductor) - 23 February 2014


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources