To You, America!
General Info
Year: 1952 / 1956
Duration: c. 8:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Peer Music Classical
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $50.00 | Score Only (print) - $19.95
Instrumentation
D-flat Piccolo
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone I-II
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III-IV
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in E-flat I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euophonium
Basses
String Bass
Harp
Timpani
Percussion including:
- Chimes
- Crash Cymbals
- Field Drum
- Gong
- Suspended Cymbal
Errata
- Flutes I-II: m. 34, 36, 38: On this repeated figure, a high A is printed on the second eighth note of beat two. This note should be printed as a G to match the score, as well as the figure when it repeats at measure 217 (Rehearsal 20).
- Clarinet III: m. 255-257: Two measures are missing before Rehearsal 23. Written measure 255 is actually 257 in the score. Two measures before Rehearsal 23 should be added to the part.
- Euphonium: m. 263: At measure 263 (beginning of a new line), the written key signature has four flats. The key signature should have six flats.
Program Notes
To You, America! (1952) was composed in honor of the sesquicentennial celebrations at the United States Military Academy (USMA), West Point, New York. It was first performed there with the USMA Band under the composer’s direction on February 17, 1952 -- marking the first commission for West Point by a Black composer and the first Black conductor to lead the ensemble. Including Still, there were thirteen composers commissioned to write pieces in honor of the West Point Sesquicentennial Celebrations, including Darius Milhaud, Morton Gould, and Roy Harris.
Regarding To You, America! Still provided the following program note:
It is a simple reaffirmation of the faith which all of us who are loyal Americans feel at this crucial time -- our faith in our country and in its future. Musically speaking, it is a development of a single theme, energetic at the beginning and progressing to a majestic, chorale-like Finale, pointing to a glorious destiny.
Lt. Col. Francis Resta, the commander of the USMA Band at the time of the sesquicentennial celebrations, further added:
The composer has, with becoming modesty, made a simple statement as to the musical development of the work. He has presented us with an excellent composition, constructed with only the simplest of means; yet, and for this reason, it becomes extremely complex -- complex in that the one theme utilized finds its only apparent contrast in the accompanying march, yet hymn-like, figure which prevails throughout … One can discern the influence of folk element, and a seemingly vocal conception in the instrumental score.
- Program Note from University of North Texas Wind Orchestra concert program, 21 October 2021
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- First Coast Wind Symphony (Jacksonville, Fla.) (Artie Clifton, conductor) – 19 May 2023 (ACB 2023 Annual Convention (Orlando, Fla.))
- University of Florida (Gainesville) Symphonic Band (John M. Watkins, Jr., conductor) - 9 February 2023
- Capital University (Bexley, Ohio) Symphonic Winds (John Climer, conductor) - 2 October 2022
- University of North Texas (Denton) Wind Orchestra (Andrew Trachsel, conductor) - 21 October 2021
- University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, Wash.) Wind Ensemble (Gerard Morris, conductor) - 10 May 2021
- Heart of Texas (San Antonio) Concert Band (R. Mark Rogers, conductor) – 4 February 2012
- United States Military Academy (West Point) Band (William Grant Still, conductor) – 17 February 1952 *Premiere Performance*
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Africa: Land of Superstition (arr. Tam)
- Afro-American Symphony for Band (arr. West Point Military Academy) (1930/1970)
- Afro-American Symphony. See also: Symphony No. 1
- Scherzo from "The Afro-American Symphony" (1930/1970)
- The American Scene (1957)
- Choreographic Prelude (arr. Lloyd) (1970)
- Dances in the Canebrakes (as orchestrator; arr. Brown) (1953/)
- Entrances of the Porteuses (arr. Perna; ed. Lloyd)
- Fanfare for American War Heroes (arr. Lloyd) (1942 / )
- Fanfare for the 99th Fighter Squadron
- Folk Suite for Band (1966)
- Frisco Jazz Band Blues (1919)
- From the Delta (1945)
- The Hesitating Blues (as arranger) (1916)
- Kaintuck' (tr. Perna) (1935)
- Land of Peace
- Little Folk Suite from the Western Hemisphere
- Little Red Schoolhouse (arr. Steele) (1957/1977)
- Miniatures (1963)
- Old California
- Rising Tide. See: Victory Tide
- "Scherzo" for Band. See: Afro-American Symphony for Band
- Song of the City. See: Victory Tide
- Summerland: From Three Visions (arr. Teter) (1937/2013)
- Summerland: For Wind Ensemble (arr. Teter) (1937/2013)
- Symphony No. 1 (1931/1946)
- Symphony No. 1. See also: Afro-American Symphony for Band
- To You, America! (1952/1956)
- Victory Tide (1939/1942/1945)
- Wood Notes (arr. Mauldin) (1948/1959/2022)
Resources
- Harper, L. D. "The sesquicentennial celebration wind band commissions of the United States Military Academy at West Point (1952)." 1987. Michigan State University, DMA dissertation.
- Still, W. (1956). To You, America : For Band [score]. Southern: New York.
- Teuschler, Kristina. "To You, America!" West Point Band, 19 February 2021. Web. Accessed 22 October 2021
- William Grant Still website Accessed 22 October 2021