A New Chapter
America the Beautiful was originally written by Samuel A. Ward. An absolutely beautiful song that fits in appropriately for 4th of July as well as other events. It fits neatly into a style of composition where there are essentially three parts. The level of intensity grows throughout these three parts and listeners are treated to a powerful final minute.
This will also be the first video where I showcase my new setup. A baby grand has entered my place of residence and it has been sounding beautiful so far. I think it only fitting that this will be the first composition to be showcased featuring my new piano on my YouTube channel. I should probably be looking it up again right now, but I’m pretty sure that this piano is from either the 30’s or the 40’s.
Links
Sheetmusicplus: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/america-the-beautiful-digital-sheet-music/22454461
Sheetmusicdirect: https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/enUS/se/ID_No/1281760/Product.aspx
Payhip: https://payhip.com/b/UjTYS
JWPepper: https://www.jwpepper.com/11503636.item#.Y_aUbCbMJPY (physical and pdf)
So What’s Going On?
America the Beautiful isn’t the first arrangement I’ve completed; but as it turned out, besides Carol of the Bells, this will be the first arrangement I’ve put into YouTube and transformed into one the products in JWPepper and SheetMusicPlus. This has been really cool so far, so definitely expect more of these arrangements to come in the future. Arrangements of Jingle Bells, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and My Country Tis of thee have already been recorded (for the most part) and will officially be put into the roster in the weeks to come.
It’s All in the Music, man.
America the Beautiful starts off with a few chords that announce the beginning of this composition. Once that has passed, the melody comes in for the rest of the A section. After that, new melodies and chords come into the fray. At one point, the music swells up, as if it’s transitioning back into the original melody, but ends up in a new place where arpeggios are ringing in the right hand and the left hand is given the important part in the form of octaves.
Eventually, the music leads back into America the Beautiful in a finale. Large chords accompany the melody and the right hand will go up and down in a couple of different octaves. After this is done, the last thing will be the coda, which goes back and forth between Eb major and B Major. I do hope that this composition gives America the Beautiful a glorious sound.
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