Echoes of Glory

"A fine Federal band came down to the river bank one afternoon and began playing pretty airs, among them the Northern patriotic chants and war songs. 'Now give us some of ours!' shouted our pickets, and at once the music swelled into Dixie, My Maryland, and the Bonnie Blue Flag. Then, after a mighty cheer, a slight pause, the band began again, all listening; this time it was the tender melting bars of Home Sweet Home, and on both sides of the river there were joyous shouts, and many wet eyes could be found among those hardy warriors under the flags."
- General G. Moxley Sorrel, C.S.A.

Echoes of Glory

In April, 2003, I was in the audience for a performance of truly patriotic music by the Lehigh University Wind Ensemble entitled Echoes of Glory. Its Director, David B. Diggs, had been in touch with me a few times, but I had no idea that the show was two years in the making. Dave went back to the original manuscripts in all cases, some hand written, and included the works of Thomas Coates, Charles Ives, Patrick S. Gilmore and Claudio S. Grafula, some of whom provided inspiration for the great John Philips Sousa. The concert was fantastic! It left me humming, whistling and toe-tapping all the way home.

I recently learned that a CD had been made of the performance. After hearing it, and reliving my wonderful experience, there was no question that I had to make it available at Be A Fifer. It includes a sampling of just about everything; Civil War brass band, bugle calls, Field Music, including Camp Duties, a few minstrel tunes, and even finishes up with a performance of the National Anthem (the way it should be played) and the venerable John Phillip Sousa's Stars & Stripes Forever, an hour and nine minutes in all. A booklet comes with the CD, laden with delicious quotations and wonderful stories about the tunes and the times.

Inauguration March

I don't think I am overstating the case when I say that this recording should be played in every school, business and public building in the United States on the 4th of July and Memorial Day, maybe every day. It is truly that inspiring! Some of the tunes will be recognized by many visitors here...some may not...like Inauguration March (playing now), composed by Francis Scala, leader of the Marine Band, for Abraham Lincoln's Inaugural ceremonies on March 4, 1861.

Here are the tracks and titles:

1. Tycoon March - Coates

2. Variations on "America" - Ives

3. The Voice of the Departing Soul - Gilmore

4. 6th Regiment Quickstep - Grafulla

Echoes of Glory - Diggs:

5. I . First O Songs for a Prelude

     The General
     Jordan am a Hard Road
     Mocking Bird
     Reveille
     Dixie's Land
     Inauguration March
     The Girl I Left Behind Me
     Dearest I Think of Thee
     Kathleen Mavourneen
     Col. Fritz Quickstep

6. II. Hush'd be the Camps Today

     Dead March
     Three Cheers - Funeral March
     Dirge
     Amathusia Quicksep

7. III. Songs at Sunset

     Graves and Co. Quickstep
     Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming
     Capt. Jones Waltz
     When Johnny Comes Marching Home
     Home Sweet Home
     Mont Blanc Echo Polka

8. IV. Proud Songs of the Storm

     Dixie/Bonnie Blue Flag
     Yankee Doodle
     Marsellaise
     America
     My Maryland
     Hail Columbia
     To the Standard
     Star Spangled Banner

9. The Stars and Stripes Forever - John Phillips Sousa

The cost of this great product? $14.95, plus shipping!

To order one, click on the fife.

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