Armed Forces Medley (arr Nelson)

Sean Nelson

Arrangement by Sean Nelson

This article is a stub. If you can help add information to it, please join the WRP and visit the FAQ (left sidebar) for information.

General Info

Year: 2016
Duration: c. 3:20
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: U.S. Coast Guard Band
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown

Instrumentation

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

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

It is a tradition for military bands in the United States to perform a medley of the service songs of the U.S. Armed Forces. Each service has its own version of this medley, and during performances audience members who have served (or whose family members have served) will stand and sing when their service’s song is played. The Armed Forces Medley is the Coast Guard Band’s version of this tradition, and was reworked into its current version by MUC Sean Nelson in 2016. MUC Nelson’s goal was to create a new rendition that is more accessible and memorable to audiences by closely matching each service’s official version of their respective songs.

Each military band usually organizes its armed forces medley around its own service, and the Coast Guard’s medley is no different. MUC Nelson chose to begin with a quote from the opening measures of Semper Paratus, the Coast Guard’s official marching song. The Army Goes Rolling Along follows, then the Marines’ Hymn. Following the Marines’ Hymn is Anchors Aweigh, which is the fight song of the Naval Academy and the march of the United States Navy, and then The U.S. Air Force, sometimes known as "Off We Go," the official song of the United States Air Force. The Armed Forces Medley reaches its climax with a full chorus of Semper Paratus, and an original ending by MUC Nelson brings it to a proud and inspiring close.

- Program Note by Andrew Grenci and Joel Baroody for the United States Coast Guard Band concert program, 22 December 2017

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

• United States Coast Guard Academy Band (New London, Conn.) (Adam Williamson, conductor) – 17 November 2019
• The United States Coast Guard Band (New London, Conn.) (Adam Williamson, conductor) - 22 December 2017 (2017 Midwest Clinic)
• United States Coast Guard Band (New London, Conn.) (Adam Williamson, conductor) – 12 February 2017

Works for Winds by This Composer

• Ain't It a Pretty Night (as arranger)
• All the Thing You Are (as arranger)
• Armed Forces Medley (as arranger) (2016)
• Chants d'Auvergne (as arranger)
• Elizabeth
• On the Scene (2014)
• Semper Supra (as arranger) (2022)
• Wexford Carol (as arranger)

Resources

None discovered thus far.