Gunther Schuller: Music For A Celebration (Score)
'Music For A Celebration' is meant to function as a celebratory, festive 'overture' with a special meaning for Americans since it uses a number of American national themes and tunes - including The Star-Spangled Banner, America, Hail Columbia and Dixie. This brief work is comprised of three sections: (1) introductory, quiet, 'impressionistic' and lyric(2) a kind of 'battle' scene - bombs bursting in the air, rockets' red glare (3) the singing and playing of the National Anthem by the chorus, the orchestra and the audience. It is rather like an America '1812 Overture'. A careful listener will hear snatches of national themes, hymns and spirituals floating in and out of the orchestral background. It is as it says, 'music for a celebration'.