My America (arr. Paul Murtha): String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Murtha respects the melody without sentimentalizing it. The addition of an original descant lifts what could be a straightforward patriotic piece into something your students will actually enjoy playing and your audience will hear with fresh ears. At Grade 3, the writing sits perfectly in that sweet spot where young players feel challenged but capable.

Familiar yet transformed. The hymn tune grounds the piece in something listeners immediately recognize, while the descant weaves above it with genuine lyrical appeal. The result feels both reverent and spirited, never heavy-handed.

String orchestras at the intermediate level looking for patriotic repertoire that doesn't rely on transcriptions of band arrangements. This works equally well as a concert centerpiece or as part of a multi-piece patriotic program.

• Bring out the descant line distinctly in the upper voices; its independence from the hymn tune is what gives the arrangement its character, so resist the urge to let it blend into the harmony.
• Keep the tempo steady and unhurried. This piece benefits from space to breathe, especially if you're pairing it with optional choir parts.
• Balance the inner voices carefully in rehearsal. String orchestras often cluster weight toward the melody and bass, but the viola and second violin lines carry important harmonic color here.

Program this for a patriotic concert, Independence Day celebration, or as the anchor piece in a program exploring American musical traditions. Its Grade 3 accessibility also makes it a strong choice for an early-year concert that includes choir and ensemble collaboration.

• Balance between melody and accompaniment lines
• Sustaining through longer phrases in a lyrical context
• Reading and tracking a secondary melodic line (the descant)
• Intonation awareness in harmonic textures
• Ensemble coordination across multiple string parts