An American Celebration (for Band and Choir): Score
For Band and Choir
Arr. Carl Strommen
Grade: 2 (Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0002114
$8.00
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Description
This medley was composed for the combination of your two- or three-part choir and your young band. The instrumental part can be performed by intermediate bands or by more advanced ensembles with limited rehearsal, while not appearing transparent. The choral parts are sold separately (SVM01082) and are attainable by intermediate level performers through high school. A great addition to the patriotic literature, this medley includes "America the Beautiful," "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," "Yankee Doodle," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "You're a Grand Old Flag," and "America." The instrumental transitions significantly contribute to the musical effect and offer an opportunity for the ensemble to perform as well as provide vocal accompaniment. An absolute must for all of your patriotic performance needs.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, An American Celebration (for Band and Choir): Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Young Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
366
SKU:
00-PR-0002114
More about this title
About the Arranger: Carl Strommen
Carl Strommen's arrangements and compositions span band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and choral contexts, making his work a staple in performance venues worldwide. His music appears regularly in concert halls, on television, and in film productions. Strommen maintains an active schedule as a clinician and commission writer, earning annual recognition from ASCAP for his prolific output.
A graduate of City College of New York, Strommen teaches orchestration and composition as an adjunct faculty member at C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. He splits his time between Long Island and Colorado, where he remains engaged with the academic and musical communities.
Why we love this
This medley solves the real challenge of combining your band and choir programs in a single performance without sacrificing musical substance. The band writing stands completely on its own during instrumental transitions, so even when the choir sits out, the ensemble sounds full and polished. It's rewarding repertoire for both groups: your singers get accessible patriotic literature, and your young band players get engaging material that builds musicality alongside technique.
What to expect
An American Celebration unfolds as a musical journey through beloved patriotic anthems, each transition propelled by the band's instrumental commentary. The writing balances pomp and accessibility, delivering the grandeur of national songs without demanding virtuosic technique from your ensemble.
Who it's for
This score serves directors programming a combined band and choir concert or preparing patriotic events for summer, Fourth of July celebrations, or military appreciation performances. It's equally valuable for intermediate and advanced bands with developing singers, as the optional two or three-part choral writing accommodates mixed ability levels within the choir.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the instrumental transitions carefully. These passages carry significant musical weight and deserve clear articulation and phrase shaping from your winds and brass so the ensemble sounds cohesive rather than accompaniment-driven.
- Shape the choral entries to bloom naturally out of the band's instrumental texture. Avoid abrupt volume shifts between sections; blend the voices through dynamic control and attention to vowel uniformity.
- Lock the major harmonic shifts between medley sections by having your principal players lead with confidence. Clear sectional boundaries help your ensemble navigate the transitions smoothly without losing momentum.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for a patriotic concert, using its six-song scope to anchor the first half while your band moves into lighter or more challenging repertoire afterward. The combined scoring also makes it an excellent choice for community performances where both performing groups need equal time in the spotlight.
Skills your students will build
- Playing with choral ensemble (balance, phrasing, rhythmic unison)
- Sustaining energy and intonation across multiple key areas
- Executing clear sectional transitions in medley form
- Blending instrumental and vocal textures
- Reading and executing dynamic layering in full band and choir scoring