This page is a chronology of musical events that have occurred in our nation's history from 1777 to the present. All of the entries are based on primary sources and each source consulted is cited at the end of its respective entry. Be sure to consult the bibliography at the end of this page for a key to the abbreviated citations. There were many events that happened to occur on July 4 but which were not shown to be part of any Independence Day celebrations. Those musical happenings are not cited in this chronology. This page continues to be under construction as the research is ongoing. Click on the return link below to get back to the homepage where you can access the general events chronology.
1777- The Hessian Band of music "taken in Trenton the 26th of December last, attended and heightened the festivity with some fine performances suited to the joyous occasion" at a dinner prepared for Congress in Philadelphia (Virginia Gazette, 18 July 1777, 2-3).
1778- A "Band of Musick" (Colonel Thomas Proctor's regimental band?) provides celebration music at the City Tavern in Philadelphia (Anderson, 73; Murray, 11).
1783- Governor Alexander Martin of North Carolina issues the first state order on 18 June for celebrating the Fourth and the Moravian community of Salem responds with a special service and Lovefeast on the 4th of July; in Charleston, S.C., after an artillery salute of 13 guns at a celebration there, a band plays a dirge lasting 13 minutes (Pennsylvania Gazette, 30 July 1783); in Boston, William Billings' anthem, "The States, O Lord, with songs of praise," is premiered at the Brattle Square Church (J. I. Young, "The Pioneer of American Church Music," Potter's American Monthly (October 1876): 255-56.
1787- An "Ode to Independence," by Thomas Dawes and set to music by William Selby was performed at the Stone Chapel, "by a select company of singers." (Adams 2: 249; McKay, 621).
1788- In Philadelphia, Francis Hopkinson organized a "Grand Federal Procession," the largest parade to date in the U.S. (Travers, 70) and has his"Ode for the 4th of July" published in that year (Phil: printed by M. Carey, 1788).
1794- In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a "Patriotic Song" ("Hail! Sons of Freedom! Hail the Day"), composed by a citizen of Lancaster, is performed (O.G.T. Sonneck, A Bibliography of Early Secular American Music. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1945, 176.)
1798- "Independence, a Patriotic Song, (first line, "Hail, Independence, Hail")" written by Mr. Dunham, to the tune "Dauphine" is premiered in Hanover, N.H. (Connecticut Gazette (18 July 1798, 4).
1799- The musical drama, The Fourth of July or, Temple of American Independence, with music by Pellesier (Victor Pelissier?) is premiered in New York (Daily Advertiser, 4 July 1799, 3); Royall Tyler's "Convivial Song . . . composed for the occasion" (first line: "Here's to our noble selves, boys," on a broadside) is sung at the celebration in Windsor, Vermont
1800- The U.S. Marine Band, directed by Col. Burrows, provides music for the Society of the Cincinnati celebration held at the City Tavern in Philadelphia (Aurora General Advertiser, 7 July 1800, 2).
1801- James Hewitt publishes his The 4th of July: a Grand Military Sonata for the Piano Forte, New York: J. Hewitt's Musical Repository, 1801 (New York Daily Advertiser, 30 September 1801) in that year; the U.S. Marine band accompanies the first known soloist to perform at the Executive Mansion, Captain Thomas Tingey, first commandant of the Navy Yard (Kirk in Freidel, 188).
1802- The Marine Band performs at the Navy Yard where a dinner is attended by many government officials (Aurora General Advertiser, 10 July 1802, 3); in Philadelphia (on Monday, 5 July), a "Patomimical Sketch" titled Federal Oath; Or, the Independence of 1776 is premiered, preceded by "Jefferson's March" by Alexander Reinagle, and ending with A National Invocation and Chorus, music by "Mr. [Benjamin] Carr" (Aurora General Advertiser, 5 July 1802, 3).
1803- Published in New York in 1803, "Ode to the Fourth of July," by Walter Townsend, set to music by Dr. Jackson (N.Y.: John C. Totten, 1803), Early American Imprints: second series; no. 5179, "Song, for the Fourth of July, 1803: Blessings of Fredon, (U.S.)" (N.Y.: G. & R. Waite, 1803), and William Dunlap's Glory of Columbia, Her Yeomanry: A Play in Five Acts (with songs, duets, and chorusses; N.Y.: D. Longworth, 1803) and "intended for the celebration at the New York Theatre"; a "Neopolitan" band of music performs for the President at the Executive Mansion (National Intelligencer, 6 and 15 July 1803, 3 and 3, respectively).
1804- In New York, at an anniversary dinner of the Society of the Cincinnati, Alexander Hamilton sings his favorite "old military song," titled "The Drum," in the presence of Aaron Burr, only days before the famous Hamilton/Burr duel (see "What was Hamilton's . . .", 299).
1805- "A powerful band of music, playing patriotic airs at short intervals" performs at the President's reception at the Executive Mansion (National Inteligencer, 8 July 1805, 2).
1806- A "Song . . . for the Fourth of July" to the tune "Hail Liberty," with the first line "Glorious, see the glorious sun" was printed in the Aurora General Advertiser in Philadelphia on 4 July 1806, 2; a choir performs at the opening exercises at a celebration in Burlington, Vt. (Aurora General Advertiser, 16 July 1806, 2); in Philadelphia, the Southwark Light Infantry Band and Republican Greens Band perform on Broad Street (Universal Gazette, 17 July 1806, 3).
1807- Capt. Cutting sings a song, "Columbia, Hail! We Celebrate that Day," originally sung on 4 July 1794 at an anniversary party in London, at Stelle's Hotel in Washington, in front of an assemblage of dignitaries (National Intelligencer, 8 July 1807, 1).
1808- Members of the U.S. Marine Band perform in Georgetown at Mr. Semmes's Tavern (Universal Gazette, 14 July 1808, 1).
1809- The National Theatre in D.C. presents a musical entertainment titled Independence of Columbia, with many females involved in singing and dancing (National Intelligencer, 3 July 1809, 2).
1811- "An original song to the tune of 'Hail Columbia', from the pen of J.J. Moore" is premiered in Washington (National Intelligencer, 6 July 1811, 2).
1812- At the Olympic Theater in Philadelphia, "a new musical entertainment, in two acts," American Naval Pillar, or, A Tribute of Respect to the Tars of Columbia, is presented (Travers, 195-96); the Marine Band performs in the Hall of the House of Representatives at the Capitol (National Intelligencer, 8 July 1812, 2).
1814- Uri K. Hill premieres an "Ode" in New York (New-York Evening Post, 2 July 1814, 2-3).
1815- In Salem, N.C., the Moravians present a trombone concert in the orchard of the Brothers House (Peter Wolle Diary, in Cannino, 49); in Lexington, Mass., Mr. Rowson sings "National Song" (first line: "Strike! Strike! The chord, Raise! Raise the Strain"), written for the occasion by Mrs. Rowson, at the town's celebration (National Intelligencer, 14 July 1815, 3).
1816- The Italian Gaetano Carusi and his band present an anniversary concert in Annapolis (Maryland Republican, 6 July 1816).
1817- Peter Gilles, Sr. premieres a musical work, President Monroe's March, in New York in honor of the President (New-York Evening Post, 2 July 1817); Edward D. Bangs composes an Ode for the Anniversary of American Independence: July 4th, 1817, to be sung to the tune "Hail Columbia, Happy Land!"(from a broadside, Worcester, Mass., 1817) and was possibly performed in Worchester, Massachusetts.
1819- At the Vauxhall Pavillion Theatre in Philadelphia, Mr. Hewitt gives a grand concert in honor of the Fourth and Mr. Lamb of Boston premieres a new song, "Washington; or, When Freedom on the Hostile Main" (Aurora General Advertiser, 3 July 1819, 3); in Elizabeth Town, New Jersey, the "100th Psalm: tune, Denmark," an anthem by Handel, and an ode composed for the occasion to the tune "Miriam's Song," are performed at a celebration held at the Presbyterian Church (Washington Whig, Bridgeton, N.J., 19 July 1819, 2); the U.S. Marine Band performs at a ceremony held in the Hall of the House of Representatives at the Capitol and later that day performs at a dinner held at the Congress Hall Hotel (National Intelligencer, 7 July 1819, 3).
1820- In Philadelphia, "The Fourth of July (A Volunteer Song)," words by William B. Tappan to the tune "Air, Auld Lang Syne" was sung at the dinner of the First Company Washington Guards (from the sheet music, Philadelphia, 1820, as cited in Danny O. Crew, Presidential Sheet Music. McFarland, 2001, 287).
1822- Among the musical performances in New York are "God Save America, written by Mr. G[eorge] Geib, and dedicated to the People of the United States, and played by Mr. Lamb," and at Chatham Garden, a song, "'Huzza! Here's Columbia for ever,' composed by [Arthur?]Clifton, of Baltimore" (New-York Advertiser, 6 July 1822, 3; New York American, 2 July 1822, 3).
1823- The U.S. Marine Band, under the direction of Col. Henderson, performs at a ceremony held at Mount Vernon, and plays the tunes "Roslin Castle" and "Pleyel's Hymn" (National Intelligencer, 8 July 1823, 3); in Alexandria, Va., the ode "The Birth-Day of Freedom," by John L. Gow is premiered and is sung by the Vice President of the U.S. and others (National Intelligencer, 8 July 1823, 3).
1824- A ballet performance titled the Patriotic Volunteer is performed at the New Theater at Chatham Garden in New York (New-York Daily Advertiser, 5 July 1824, 2); at the Second Universalist Meeting House in Northampton, Mass., the hymn "O Thou, Who from Oppression's Shore" is sung (Boston Evening Gazette, 10 July 1824, 2); in Washington, an "original ode" (by S.R. Kramer) titled "Blest Be the Day" and to the tune of "Hail to the Chief" is first performed at the Columbia Typographical Society celebration (National Intelligencer, 7 July 1824, 3).
1825- John Everett's Ode, Hail to the Day, to the tune, "Wreaths to the Chieftain," is premiered at a meeting of the Washington Society in Boston (Boston Courier, 6 July 1825, 2); the U.S. Marine Band performs at the White House (Virginia Herald, 9 July 1825, 2).
1826- The U.S. Marine Band performs at the U.S. Capitol ceremony standing on the "interior spiral staircase" in the "Eastern Gallery" (National Intelligencer, 4 July 1826, 3); in Knoxville, Tenn., a patriotic song "All hail to the day when a people indignant" (first line), composed for the occasion, is premiered (Knoxville Register, 12 July 1826, 3); in Salem, Mass., the Mozart Society performs at the celebration there (Columbian Sentinel, 8 July 1826, 2); in Worcester, Mass., the Harmonic Society performs at the South Meeting House (Massachusetts Yeoman, 8 July 1826, 2)
1827- An amateur choir conducted by "Mr. McDuell" performs for President John Quincy Adams at "the Church of Dr. Laurie" in Washington (National Intelligencer, 6 July 1827, 3).
1828- The U.S. Marine Band performs on a barge on its way to the ground-breaking ceremony for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and President John Quincy Adams presides over the affair.
1829- Three "Odes" one each by N.P. Willis, William Hayden, Jr., and Stephen Bates are premiered in Boston by the choir at the Old South Church and G.V.B. Forbes premieres his Hymn "On Mount, and Tower, and Fortress Height" (first line) at the Colonization Society ceremony, also in Boston (Columbian Sentinel, 4 July 1829, 4 and 8 July 1829, 2, respectively)); the Marine Band performs twice this day in D.C., one at the laying of a cornerstone of one of the "Eastern Locks of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, near the mouth of rock Creek," the other at the Executive Mansion (National Intelligencer, 4 July 1829, 3 and 7 July 1829, 3, respectively); in Salem, N.C., the Moravians perform Haydn's oratorio The Creation with a "full corps of Instrumental and Vocal Musicians of Salem" in the Church there "to the pleasure of the congregation"(Cannino, 52); at the Park Street Church in Boston, Lowell Mason's "With Thy Pure Dews and Rains" (words by John Pierpont) is sung (Boston: Mason Bros., 1829) .
1830- The anti-slavery song "Freedom's Jubilee" is sung at the Fourth of July celebration at New Britain, Conn. (Order of Singing, 1 page, re: OCLC 33004190); the West Point Choir sings the Marseilles Hymn (National Intelligencer, 12 July 1830, 2)
1831- Francis Scott Key gives an oration in the Rotunda of the Capitol (National Intelligencer, 1, 3); also in Washington, musicians Gaetano Carusi and family hold a July 4th dinner in their assembly rooms for the participants of the ceremony that was held in the Capitol and "Hail to the Chief" is played (National Intelligencer, 4 July 1831, 3); in Charleston, S.C., an original ode set to the "Star-Spangled Banner" is performed at the First Presbyterian Church by a select choir, accompanied by Jacob Eckhard, piano (Charleston Courier, 6 July 1831, 2); in Salem, N.C., Moravian bandmaster Johann Heinrich Leinbach leads the Salem Light Infantry Band in its first parade and performance there (Leinbach Diary, in Cannino, 57); at the Park Street Church in Boston, the program (broadside) cites Samuel F. Smith's "America" as the fifth feature of the "order of exercises".
1833- A song, "The Triumph of Union" to the tune of "The Star-Spangled Banner" is printed in the Washington Globe on 6 July 1833, 2; "Hail to the Chief" is played after the presentation of a toast to Gen. Andrew Jackson at a dinner celebration held in Charleston, S.C. (Charleston Courier, 6 July 1833, 2).
1834- A collection titled "Songs for the Whig Celebration: July 4, 1834" is published (Boston: J.H. Eastburn, 1834), and was intended for use at the Independence Day celebration in Boston 1835- The Salem, N.C. Light Infantry Band, under the direction of Johann Heinrich Leinbach, is in Charlotte performing for officials and citizens there (Leinbach Diary, in Cannino, 59).
1838- In Salem, Mass., selections from Handel's "Oratorio of Judas Maccabeus" are performed "by a select Choir" at the Baptist Church (Gloucester Democrat, 3 July 1838, 2).
1839- The Washington Musical Association whose members include some 40 men and women celebrate the Fourth at the residence of Enoch Tucker, about 3 « miles from Washington, D.C. (National Intelligencer, 8 July 1839, 3).
1840- In Quincy, Mass., a Revolutionary War soldier joins the parade sounding the drum which "for a long time [he] used in the war (Baltimore Sun, 15 July 1840, 2).
1841- At the Newark, New Jersey celebration on July 5, "Go Forth to the Mount"(anthem), "Battle of Trenton," "Hail to the Day, When the Bold Declaration," and other works were sung (from Odes to be Sung at Newark, a broadside, Newark, 1841)
1842- At the Congregational Meeting House in West Cambridge, Massachusetts, "Come, Ye Children, Learn to Sing," "This Day to Greet, with Joy We Meet," and "Shall e'er Cold Water be Forgot" (by John Pierpont) are sung (from Order of Exercises at the Congregational Meeting House, broadside, Boston? 1842)
1843- In Faneuil Hall in Boston, Lowell Mason conducts a "select choir of Pupils of the public schools" in performing an ode (Memoirs of John Quincy Adams 11:389); in Washington, D.C., John Hill Hewitt's ode composed for the occasion is performed at the laying of the cornerstone ceremony for the new Temperance Hall and also at the Baptist Church on 10th Street (National Intelligencer, 3, 6 and 10 July 1843, 3, 3, and 3, respectively).
1844- The U.S. Marine Band is on board the boat Sydney returning from an excursion to Aquia Creek when the boat breaks down trapping the Band and all the passengers on board in front of Mount Vernon for the night. Meanwhile the Band provides music for dancing which went on for several hours (National Intelligencer, 8 July 1844, 3).
1845- Flagg's Brass Band performs on the Common in Boston (National Intelligencer, 10 July 1845, 3).
1846- The U.S. Marine Band performs at the St. John's parsonage benefit celebration at Mount Welby near Berry's Farm, opposite of Alexandria, Va. (National Intelligencer, 3 July 1846, 4).
1848- In Henrietta, N.Y., anti-slavery songs are sung at the Presbyterian Church, following a speech on human rights (The North Star (Rochester), 7 July 1848, 2); in New York, the Institution for the Blind Band plays at Washington Square and Dodworth's Brass Band performs as bodies of soldiers recently fallen on the battlefields of Mexico are escorted through the city (Weekly Herald, 8 July 1848, 15)
1850- In Boston, "Children's Hymn for Independence," written by Rev. John Pierpont, to the tune of "Old Hundred," is sung for the first time (Boston Courier, 6 July 1850, 1); in Washington, D.C., Garcia's Band performs at Monument Place, in front of the White House (The Republic, 4 July 1850, 3).
1851- The Marine Band performs at the laying of the "cornerstone of the new Capitol edifice" in Washington, D.C. (National Intelligencer, 7 July 1851, 2).
1852- In Pottsville, Pa., an "Anniversary Hymn" is sung at "Lawton's Hill" by members of the Lutheran Sunday Schools (Miner's Journal, and Pottsville General Advertiser, 10 July 1852, 2)
1853- In New York, Wood's Minstrels give "a grand afternoon Concert" with the "usual performance in the evening" at No. 444 Broadway (NYT, 4 July 1853, 5); at Tarrytown, N.Y., Dodworth's Band and Van Cortlandt's Independent Brass Band perform at a ceremony and parade in honor of the laying of the "foundation of a monument to the memory of Paulding, Williams and Van Wart, the captors of Major Andre" (NYT, 6 July 1853, 2).
1854- In New York, the Germania Band "and other talented performers" give "Three Grand Concerts on that day and evening" at the Crystal Palace and the orchestra of the Italian Opera performs at Castle Garden (NYT, 4 July 1854, 5).
1855- At Niblo's Garden in New York, after the first act of the "military opera," Daughter of the Regiment, "The national anthem, Hail Columbia!" is sung by the whole company, "solo parts by Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison." (NYT, 4 July 1855, 5). It was noted that "the audience did not stand up, although the orchestra set the example." (NYT, 5 July 1855, 2); at a Tammany Society (founded 1780) meeting at Tammany Hall in New York, Shelton's Band performs "on the balcony" and plays "some magnificent airs." (NYT, 5 July 1855, 1); at a public celebration in Dorchester, Mass., a hymn composed by Rev. S.G. Bulfinch is sung by a choir to the air, "God Save the Queen" (NYT, 6 July 1855, 3); on the steamer Louisiana off the coast of Virginia, near Norfolk, over 1000 persons enjoy patriotic music performed by Barrett's "celebrated Brass Band of the city of Baltimore" (Daily Southern Argus, 6 July 1855, 2); in Chicago, "two German song and music societies" meet at Dearborn Park (The Daily Press, 6 July 1855, 3).
1856- In New York at the M.E. Church, the choir sings a national anthem titled "Patrick Henry's Call" and another work titled "Pilgrims at Plymouth" (NYT, 5 July 1856, 1).
1858- In New York, no less than 10 bands perform, including: Adkin's Band; Robertson's Band; Excelsior Band; Casse's Band; Connell's Band; Wannemaker's Band; Shield's Band; Shelton's Band; Monnahan's Band; Blind Band (NYT, 5 July 1858, 3); in New York at Tammny Hall, the participants sing the ode "Lo! Our fathers from the skies" (first line) to the tune, "Hail Columbia" (NYT, 6 July 1858, 1); in Alexandria, Va., "The Birthday of Freedoms," by Richard Wright, to the tune of the "Star-Spangled Banner" is published (Alexandria Gazette, 5 July 1858, 2).
1859- A "grand military concert" is given on the Common in Boston with several national anthems played (NYT, 7 July 1859, 2); the U.S. Marine Band performs at Philharmonic Hall in Washington, D.C. (The States, 30 June 1859).
1860- In New York, "a new National and Patriotic overture," composed by John Cooke, is premiered at Niblo's Garden (NYT, 4 July 1860, 7); in San Francisco, no less than 3 bands perform--American Brass Band, Third Artillery Band, and Presidio Band.
1861- In New York, Hirschman's Orchestra performs at Jones' Wood and the Seventh Regiment Band and a choir from the Institution for the Blind perform at the Academy of Music celebration, the choir and audience singing the Army Hymn to the tune "Old Hundred," words by Oliver Wendell Holmes (NYT, 4 July 1861, 3); in Boston, at the Academy of Music, T.W. Parson's ode, Land of Columbia, is premiered by a children's choir of 300 persons, the Germania Band performs, a song, "Stand by the Stars and Stripes," arranged to the "Pirate Chorus" from Enchantress is performed, and the "Star- Spangled Banner with a new verse by Oliver W. Holmes is sung (Daily Evening Traveller, 5 July 1861, 2; also in Boston at the Music Hall, an Ode to Freedom is sung by a children's choir (Daily Evening Traveller, 5 July 1861, 2); in Portland, Maine, the Portland Band performs and some "original odes" are sung by a choir (Daily Evening Traveller, 5 July 1861, 2).
1862- Mme. Strakosch sings "The Flag of Our Union" and Carlotta Patti sings "The Star Spangled Banner," the latter "assisted by all the Italian artists," at Nixon's Cremorne Gardens in New York (NYT, 4 July 1862, 7); at Niblos's Garden in New York, Miss Caroline Richings appears as Pauline in the musical drama National Guard (NYT, 4 July 1862, 3); General George B. McClellan allows the bands to play national airs for the Army of the Potomac camped on the James River in Virginia (Evening Star, 9 July 1862, 2) .
1863- Saxton's "celebrated band" provides the music for a celebration and charitable event for poor children given by the St. John's Educational Society, Lexington, Kentucky (New York Freeman's Journal & Catholic Register, 18 July 1863, 5); in Ohio, "Three Times Three, a song for the Fourth of July" is introduced by G.H. Williams (Daily Ohio State Journal, 4 July 1863, 1) .
1864- In New York, at the celebration of the Tammany Society, Prof. Colburn and 24 pupils of the Twentieth Ward public schools sing The Voice of '76, written for the occasion by Charles F. Olney (pianist) (New York Daily News, 6 July 1864, 2); in Chicago, Sharpley's Minstrels give a performance at Metropolitan Hall "to an excellent audience" (Chicago Tribune, 6 July 1864, 4).
1865- The Baltimore Musical Association sings "French's Hymn" (which was first sung at Gettysburg in November 1863) , composed by Hor. B. B. French, and the ode "This Battlefield--Our Nation's Glory," composed by Gen. W.H. Hayward of Baltimore, at the laying of the cornerstone of the Soldier's Monument by the National Monument Association in Gettysburg (NYT, 6 July 1865, 8); at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., William Ross Wallace's "National Song," "Washington's Red, White and Blue," is premiered (New York Times, 9 July 1865, 3).
1866- A group of soldiers' orphans sing "Marching On" and "Peace to the Brave" at the laying of the cornerstone of the soldiers monument at Flushing, N.Y.; the Handel & Haydn Society sing "Old Hundred" in the presence of General George G. Meade and 10,000 war veterans in Philadelphia (NYT, 5 July 1866, 8); in Salem, Ill., a glee club sings "Sherman's March to the Sea" after General Sherman presents a speech defending his military actions in Georgia (Weekly Missouri Democrat, 10 July 1866, 1).
1867- In New York, Dodworth's Band presents the conductor's arrangement of a "National Medley" in Central park (NYT 4 July 1867, 5) and Grafulla's Band provides the music for the exercises held in Irving Hall for the laying of the cornerstone of the new Tammany Hall (New York Citizen, 29 June 1867, 8; in Washington, the U.S. Marine Band heads a parade of temperance organizations (Evening Star, 5 July 1867, 1); the Naval Academy Band provides music for the Independant Order of Rechahites at Laurel, Md. (Evening Star, 5 July 1867, 1).
1868- In San Francisco, the California Minstrels perform twice at Platt's Music Hall (San Francisco Dramatic Chronicle, 3 July 1868, 2)
1869- In Boston, the tradition of early morning (7:30 a.m.) concerts presented by P.S. Gilmore continues (Boston Daily Advertiser, 7 July 1869, 1).
1870- In New York, Grafulla's Band performs the "National Overture" and the "Red, White, and Blue" in Central Park (NYT, 4 July 1870, 1), and at Tammany Hall "The Standard of Freedom" is sung by William H. Davis (NYT, 5 July 1870,1).
1871- Mr. Fisk's Erie Band marches in their "conspicuous 'lobster'back'" uniforms in the military parade that included between 7,000-8,000 men in New York (NYT 5 July 1871, 1).
1872- In New York, J.M. Loretz, Jr., Musical Director of St. Ann's Church, performs "Fantasia--National Airs" on the organ at his church (NYT, 4 July 1872, 5); in Salt Lake City, Utah, at a celebration held at the Liberal Institute, the Utah National Party Band performs "Faust's March," "John Brown's Quickstep," and other works (Salt Lake Tribune, 13 July 1872, 5).
1875- Hall's Boston Brass and String Band provide celebration music on the steamer Bristol on a Fourth excursion (originating in New York) up the Hudson River (NYT, 4 July 1875,11); in New York, at Gilmore's Concert Garden, a corps of fife and drums and Gilmore's Band perform national airs, followed by Mr. J. Levy, cornetist, who performs the American Polka (NYT, 5 July 1875, 7); in Springfield, Ohio, the parade there is led by Hawkin's Band (Cincinnati Daily Gazette, 6 July 1875, 1).
1876- Centennial celebrations (many are three-day celebrations, 3-5 July) occur throughout the United States and abroad). In New York (3 July), the German singing societies sing the grand chorus, The Heavens are Telling, and Hail the Atlantis, with Carl Traeger, directing, at Union Square (NYT, 4 July 1876, 1) while at Jones' Wood, the Saengerbund celebration includes no less than 19 singing societies (NYT, 4 July 1876, 2); in New York (4 July), at the Academy of Music, the Centennial Sangerverbund performs Centennial Ode ("Through storm and calm the years have led") by William Cullen Bryant, music by J. Mosenthal (NYT, 5 July 1876, 1); in Philadelphia at Independence Square, Gilmore's Band provides music for the singing of the Oliver Wendell Holmes "hymn of welcome to all nations" ("Bright on the banners of lily and rose[first line]") and the Grand Triumphal March, words by Dexter Smith, music by Sir Julius Benedict (NYT, 5 July 1876, 3); also in Philadelphia, Michael Cross directs a group of united bands in playing the Marseillaise Hymn, at a celebration of the dedication of the Catholic Temperance Fountain at Fairmount Park; in Washington, D.C., at the First Congregational Church, the choir sings John Greenleaf Whittier's Centennial Hymn [music by J.K.Paine?] (The Evening Star, 5 July 1876, 4); in Joliet, Illinois, members of the Chicago Musical College perform at Werner Hall and Professor William Lewis of the College, performs a violin solo at the State Penitentiary (Chicago Tribune, 5 July 1876, 7); in Chicago, the German Singing Societies perform under the title "Grand National Jubilee Chorus," and sing "Hymn to Liberty," composed for the occasion by Emil Dietzsch (Chicago Daily Tribune, 5 July 1876, 3); in San Francisco, the Silver Cornet Band performs at the official "literary exercises" there (San Francisco Chronicle, 6 July 1876, 1); in Newark, the New Jersey German Centennial Sangerbund gives a concert (New York Times, 4 July 1876, 5).
1878- The Harvard Glee Club performs at the celebration held at Kaye's Park, Geneva Lake, Wisconsin (program, 1878, Wisconsin Historical Society).
1879- At the Westminster Palace Hotel in London, the band of the Coldstream Guards plays American patriotic music (NYT, 5 July 1879, 3); in Harrisburg, Pa., 24 bands and 1 drum corp parade.
1880- At the Tammany Society's celebration in New York, the Tammany Glee Club sings Charles Morton's rendition of a song titled "A Knot of Blue and Gray" (New York Times, 6 July 1880, 8)
1885- In Sacramento, California, Miss Lida Clinch sings the "Star-Spangled Banner" in the Assembly Room of the Capitol Building (Sacramento Daily Record-Union, 6 July 1885, 2)
1888- A commemoration of Francis Scott Key, with music by the Second Regiment Band, and the dedication of the first monument of him in the West is unveiled in San Francisco (San Francisco Chronicle, 5 July 1888, 8); in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, a "Female Brass Band" made up of "sixteen young ladies" performs music at the race course (Saint Paul and Minneapolis Pioneer Press, 5 July 1888, 3).
1889- A band contest takes place in Millersburg, Ohio, and the Walnut Creek Band takes first place (Daily Ohio State Journal, 5 July 1889, 1); In Columbus, Ohio, the Maennerchor sings and the Fourteenth Regiment Band plays at the dedication of a monument to the German poet Schiller (Daily Ohio State Journal, 5 July 1889, 5).
1891- In Newark, N.J., at Caledonian Park, at the 16th annual festival of the Northeastern Saengerbund, 5,000 German Saengerbunders representing 147 societies, accompanied by an orchestra of 200 pieces, sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" and Max Spicker's American Fantasy for orchestra is performed under the direction of Frank Van der Stucken (NYT, 4 July 1891, 2); in New York, at the laying of the cornerstone of the new schoolhouse of St. Paul's Parish, Rev. Alfred Young's hymn "What Is the Land We Love So Well?" is premiered (NYT, 5 July 1891, 9); in Pittsburgh at Schenley Park, "Schenley Park," a march written by B. Weis, is premiered by the Great Western Band (Pittsburgh Dispatch, 5 July 1891, 1).
1893- Julia Ward Howe reads poetry at a Woodstock, Conn., celebration (NYT, 5 July 1893, 9); Silas G. Pratt conducts three bands, Second Regiment Band, Pullman Band, and the Chicago Band, in national airs at the Chicago World's Fair, and 100,000 persons sing along with the Columbian Chorus of 1,500 men and women (NYT, 5 July 1893, 5).
1894- "Flag Song" by Harriet Prescott Spofford was sung by a chorus to the tune "Yankee Doodle" at the Roseland Park celebration in Woodstock, Conn. (NYT, 5 July 1894, 8; Chicago Times, 5 July 1894, 8); at Snohomish, Washington, at the Cathcart Opera House, a chorus of eight voices sings a newly-composed patriotic hymn, by W. T. Elwell, "set to the air" of Wagner's "Lohengrin" (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 4 July 1894, 8).
1895- "Strains of national airs" were played by the First Hose Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps on the roof of the First Hose Company's building in Hagerstown, Maryland, to announce the start of Independence Day there (Baltimore Morning Herald, 5 July 1895, 7).
1897- H.T. Humpstone sings the New National Hymn, by Thomas Wentworth Higginson, at the New England Congregational Church, South Ninth Street, Williamsburg, N.Y. (NYT, 5 July 1897, 3).
1898- At the E Street Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., Miss Mattie Wade sings the "Star-Spangled Banner" (Evening Star, 4 July 1898, 12).
1899- In Manila, Philippines, several hundred "children of Filipinos, Spaniards, and Chinese"sing "America" at a large celebration there (NYT, 5 July 1899, 5).
1900- At the opening day of the Democratic National Convention in Kansas City, Mo., described as "an innovation in a National Convention," Mlle. Mattie Fultoni (Miss Mattie Edyle Bowen of Fulton, N.Y.), who takes her stage name from the home of her birth, sings the "Star-Spangled Banner," "Maryland," and "America," accompanied by a brass band, to wild cheers from the audience (NYT, 5 July 1900, 1, 3).
1901- Edwin Engelstad sings the "Star-Spangled Banner" at Barrack Square, in Nome, Alaska (The Nome News, 6 July 1901, 1); in Colorado City, Colorado, George H. Crampton of Denver sings "a newly written patriotic song, 'The Land of the Free,'" by H.H. Godfrey (Colorado Springs Gazette, 4 July 1901, 7); in Iron Springs, Colorado, 2 "grand concerts' that include American musical works are given by the Iron Springs Orchestra (Colorado Springs Gazette, 4 July 1901, 3); in Los Angeles, Lillian Scanion sings the "Star-Spangled Banner" and the first verse of "The Blue and the Gray," the latter by popular demand from the audience (Los Angeles Times, 5 July 1901, 10).
1902- Six hundred members of the United German Societies of Allegheny sing the "Star- Spangled Banner" for President Roosevelt in Schenley Park, Pittsburgh (NYT, 5 July 1902, 1).
1905- The musical Geezer of Geck opens (7/24/05) which includes the song, "The Fourth of July," music by Paul Schindler (Bloom); the Ocean Grove Festival Orchestra performs at the annual convention of the National Educational Association held at Asbury Park, N.J. (NYT, 5 July 1905, 4).
1907- Alexander Szalay and his Tzigane orchestra gives concert of "popular and patriotic selections" at the Harlem Casino, in New York (NYT, 5 July 1907, 7).
1909- In Copenhagen, at a Fourth celebration at Denmark's National Exposition, a cantata, The Fourth of July, by Ivar Kirkegaard of Racine, Wisc., music by Carl Busch of Kansas City, is performed (NYT, 5 July 1909, 2); in New York, Nahan Franko's orchestra plays Sousa's march, The Stars and Stripes Forever, in Central Park (NYT, 5 July 1909, 3).
1911- As part of the Parade of Nations celebration at City Hall in Philadelphia, the United German Singers sing Arthur Farwell's Hymn to Liberty, Giacomo Quintano's "new setting of 'America'" is performed, and Stretz's Military Band gives its rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner" (NYT, 5 July 1911, 4).
1912- A patriotic song rally with 5,000 persons participating takes place in City Hall Park in New York (NYT, 5 July 1912, 20); "a new American Hymn, America Befriend, words by Henry Van Dyke, music by William Pierson Miller is printed in the New York Times (5 July 1912, 5).
1913- In Pittsburgh, the International Welsh Eistedfodd celebrates Independence Day with a competition for male voices consisting of 15 choirs, including 1,200 men (NYT, 5 July 1913, 9); in City Hall Park in New York, the fife and drum corps of the Sons of the Revolution, dressed in Continental uniforms, march (NYT, 5 July 1913, 14).
1914- At City Hall in New York, 5,000 persons sing "Yankee Doodle" and "My Old Kentucky Home," accompanied by a 50-piece military band conducted by Ernest E. Mouland (NYT, 5 July 1914, 3).
1915- In Kansas City, Mo., 220 new citizens sing "America" and other patriotic songs as part of "Americanization Day" celebrated there (NYT, 5 July 1915, 14).
1916- At a Labor Forum celebration at Union Square in New York, Edwin Markham's song "New America" is premiered, and is "sung by the labor singing societies" (NYT, 5 July 1916, 12).
1917- In Paris, American and French military bands perform as French citizens celebrate the Fourth and General Pershing receives American flags from French President Poincare (NYT, 5 July 1917, 1).
1918- The "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is sung and "The Star-Spangled Banner" is played in Westminster Abbey (NYT, 5 July 1918, 7); Mme. Louise Homer of the Metropolitan Opera Company sings "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a Lake George, N.Y. celebration (NYT, 5 July 1918, 9); as part of a "pageant parade" mad up of 40 nationalities in New York, a squadron of 22 military airplanes fly overhead and drop leaflets "bearing the words and music of 'The Star-Spangled Banner'" (NYT, 5 July 1918, 6); in Washington, D.C. several hundred vocalists sing the "Hallelujah Chorus" on the steps of the Capitol (Evening Star, 5 July 1918).
1919- As part of the "Victory Pageant" held in New York, at the "Stadium of the College of the City of New York," Rosa Ponselle of the Metropolitan Opera Company sings "America" and the People's Liberty Chorus, L. Camilieri, conducting, sing Ring Out, Sweet Bells of Peace (NYT, 4 July 1919, 5 and 5 July 1919, 9).
1920- Columbia University celebrates the Fourth with a special concert by Goldman's Band devoted entirely to American composers, including Carl Busch ("A Chant of the Great Plains"), Francis Hopkinson, Edward MacDowell, and others (NYT, 6 July 1920, 17).
1921- At an anti-prohibition parade in New York, numerous bands totaling 922 musicians march and most perform "How Dry I Am" and "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here" (NYT, 5 July 1921, 1); members of the Harvard Glee Club sing at the Trocadero in Paris as part of July Fourth celebrations there (NYT, 5 July 1921, 2); British music and jazz is forbidden as 50 bands process in an American Association for the Recognition of the Irish Republic parade in New York (NYT, 5 July 1921, 3).
1922- Rev. Robert Watson, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in New York, in a sermon explains his reasons why the U.S. national anthems need to be replaced (NYT, 5 July 1922, 16).
1924- The Bureau for American Ideals presents an outdoor pageant, Our Own United States, led by Irish baritone Thomas Hannon, at Columbus Circle, in New York (NYT, 5 July 1924, 13).
1926- Percival Price, organist, gives a Sesquicentennial concert on the 53-bell Rockefeller Memorial Carillon at the Park Avenue Baptist Church in New York (NYT, 5 July 1926, 3); on 5 July, trumpeters in the uniform of Revolutionary soldiers play tunes for President Coolidge at Christ Church in Philadelphia as he reads the names of 7 signers of the Declaration of Independence on a bronze replica of a tablet that is unveiled there (NYT, 6 July 1926, 12); in New York on 5 July, Maximilian Pilzer's Orchestra gives Central Park concert in memory of Elkan Naumburg, donor of the bandstand there (NYT, 6 July 1926, 44); the teacher's chorus of Prague, Czech., sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the Czech national anthem at a hall on Zofien Island, near Prague (NYT, 5 July 1926, 4); in Pittsfield, Mass., the South Mountain String Quartet gives an all-American program (works by G.W. Chadwick, David Stanley Smith, and Rubin Goldmark) at Mrs. Frederick S. Coolidge's Temple of Music (NYT, 5 July 1926, 6); at Schuylerville, N.Y., 1,000 school children, directed by Adam Albright, sing patriotic songs as the town presents a reenactment of its colonial history (NYT, 6 July 1926, 5); in Washington, D.C., the Washington Federation of Colored Church Choirs, including 500 men and women, under the direction of Virginia Williams, sing patriotic songs and a spiritual on the Capitol steps (Evening Star, 6 July 1926, 5) and at the new Sylvan Theater, the U.S. Navy Band provides the first nighttime musical performance as an accompaniment to the fireworks display (Evening Star, 5 July 1926, 1).
1927- A cowboy band from Terry, Montana, plays for the President who is in Rapid City, S.D. (NYT, 5 July 1927, 1); in Washington, D.C., at the first formal Independence Day celebration held at the Sylvan Theater, the U.S. Marine Band provides the music and Charles F. Carusi, grandson of Nathaniel Carusi, who performed at an 1816 Fourth of July celebration in Annapolis, Md., read the Declaration of Independence (Evening Star, 5 July 1827, 2 and Heintze, 102).
1929- Arthur Fiedler conducts the first Esplanade concert in Boston (Archives, Boston Symphony Orchestra)
1930- Capt. Taylor Branson conducts the U.S. Marine Band on the Monument Grounds in Washington, D.C. (Washington Post, 5 July 1930, 1).
1931- Reknown pianist Ignace Paderewski gives memorial statue of President Wilson to the people of Poland (NYT, 5 July 1931, 1); in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Gertrude Lyons conducts the entire audience in singing patriotic songs at the Sylvan Theater on the Monument grounds (Washington Post, 5 July 1931, 2); Japanese music played by native Japanese Shochiku Band is relayed to American audiences at 8 a.m. EST over WJZ radio network while the American respond with a 10-minute concert broadcasted from San Francisco to the Orient (NYT, 4 July 1931, 3).
1933- At My Old Kentucky Home State park in Bardstown, Kentucky, 3,000 voices sing "My Old Kentucky Home" and other melodies of Stephen Collins Foster in a tribute to the composer; a Pan-American Union Concert in joint tribute to the 122nd anniversary of the independence of Venezuela and the 157th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence is given in Washington, D.C. on 5 July, with the U.S. Army Band (Capt. William J. Stannard, conducting) and Leopoldo Gutierrez, Chilean barytone, performing (Washington Post, 6 July 1933, 3) .
1934- Deems Taylor and Robert Russell Bennett, with Jose Iturbi as guest conductor, present a mostly American music concert at Lewisohn Stadium in New York (NYT, 5 July 1934, 20).
1935- In Greenfield Village, Mich., the Stephen Foster restored home is dedicated with a speech by Henry Ford, and 84-year old Foster daughter Marion Foster Welch is in attendance (NYT, 5 July 1935, 15).
1936- In Dublin, noted singer John McCormack tells his countrymen in a nationally broadcast radio address that in Ireland "Americans are regarded not as foreigners but as friends" (NYT, 5 July 1936, 23); in Central Park in New York, the Americanism Committee of the National War Veterans Association sponsors a band concert presented by the Manhattan Concert Band, Pasquale Acito, director, with guest singer Lily Wolman, soprano (NYT, 5 July 1936, 6NL).
1940- William Schuman's secular cantata, This Is Our Time, is premiered by the People's Philharmonic Choral Society (Max Helfman, cond.) and the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra (Alexander Smallens, cond.) at Lewisohn Stadium in New York (NYT, 5 July 1940, 10); in Montevideo, Arturo Toscanini has the NBC Orchestra play the "Star- Spangled Banner" at a rehearsal on the 4th for the farewell concert marking the end of the orchestra's South American tour (NYT, 5 July 1940, 10).
1943- Russian artists present an all-American concert program at Philharmonic Hall in Moscow and Capt. Edward V. Rickenbacker is in attendance (Evening Star, 5 July 1943, A5); in Baltimore, a band plays "Yankee Doodle" as the liberty ship George M. Cohan is launched in honor of the late songwriter-showman of the same name who was born on the Fourth of July and Eddie Cantor sings a selection of Cohan's songs (Evening Star, 5 July 1943, A2); the Washington, D.C. premiere of William Schuman's "Prayer 1943" takes place at the Watergate Concert, Leon Barzin conducting the National Symphony Orchestra (Washington Post, 5 July 1943, 1B).
1950- National Symphony Orchestra conductor Howard Mitchell winds up with black soot on his face from standing too close to a Howitzer cannon fired in a rehearsal of the 1812 Overture (Washington Post, 6 July 1950, A1).
1952- Radio station WQXR in New York programs music by American composers only all day (NYT, 4 July 1952, L15).
1957- A patriotic cantata entitled "Ballad for Americans" (music by Earl Robinson) is performed on the Monument grounds in Washington, D.C. (Washington Post, 5 July 1957, C1)
1961- The American Wind Symphony Orchestra gives its first British concert performing from a barge in the Thames River and one of the works is Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" (NYT, 5 July 1961, 30); works by American composers Paul Creston and William Schuman are performed in New York by the Lewisohn Stadium Orchestra (NYT, 5 July 1961)
1962- Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev makes a surprise visit to the U.S.Embassy in Moscow at a celebration there and speaks with Benny Goodman (who is visiting the Soviet Union with his orchestra) about the "merits of Jazz and abstract art" (New York Times, 5 July 1962, 1)
1969- The U.S. Marine Band performs in a parade reviewed by President Nixon in Key Biscayne, Florida (Washington Post, 5 July 1969, 2).
1970- Kate Smith sings "God Bless America" at the "Honor America Day" ceremony in Washington, D.C. (Washington Post, 5 July 1970, A1).
1971- In New York, the cast of 1776, a musical based on the Declaration of Independence, reads the document in costume in Times Square (Los Angeles Times, 5 July 1971, 7).
1972- The biggest rock concert in 6 years in Washington, D.C., occurs with the Rolling Stones event at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium (Washington Post, 5 July 1972, A1).
1974- The first performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture featuring live cannons, fireworks, and a coordinated steeple-bell choir at an Esplanade concert in Boston occurs through the iniative of Arthur Fiedler and David Mugar (Archives, Boston Symphony Orchestra).
1976- The all-time attendance record (400,000) for a classical concert occurs at the July Fourth Esplanade concert in Boston; in New Orleans, Dixieland musicians perform in historic Jackson Square in celebration of the Bicentennial and the birth of Louis Armstrong (Washington Post, 5 July 1976, A14); in Baltimore at Fort McHenry, noted jazz vocalist Ethel Ennis sings "The Star-Spangled Banner."
1978- Governor Michael Dukakis presents a group of leather books containing hundreds of thousands of signatures to Arthur Fiedler as a tribute to him and in commemoration of the 50th season of the Esplanade concerts in Boston (Archives, Boston Symphony Orchestra).
1980- John Williams conducts his first Boston Esplanade Fourth of July concert (Archives, Boston Symphony Orchestra); the Statler Brothers give their 11th annual free concert in Staunton (they were born there), Va. before a crowd of 50,000 (Washington Post, 5 July 1980, C1); the Beach Boys give a free concert on the Mall in Washington, D.C. (Washington Post, 5 July 1980,1); at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., pianist Marden Abadi plays selections by Chopin before a large crowd (Washington Post, 5 July 1980, A8) while Sarah Caldwell is a guest conductor of the National Symphony orchestra in works by Charles Ives and Elliott Carter (Washington Post, 5 July 1980, B1-2).
1981- Pearl Bailey performs with the National Symphony Orchestra, Mstislav Rostropovich, conducting, on the West Lawn of the Capitol and the Beach Boys perform on the Mall (Washington Post, 5 July 1981, A11, B5).
1982- The Fourth of July, a march by National Symphony Orchestra composer-in-residence Andreas Makris is premiered in Washington, D.C. at the first annual "Capitol Fourth" concert held on the West Lawn of the Capitol (Washington Post, 5 July 1982, D3).
1983- National Symphony Orchestra conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, shirtless, dances the bunny hop on the Capitol grounds and Wayne Newton performs that evening on the Mall (Washington Post, 5 July 1983, C1); the Beach Boys give a free concert in Atlantic City, N.J. (Washington Post, 5 July 1983, C3).
1985- The Beach Boys perform in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. (Washington Post, 5 July 1985, 1).
1986- In New York, the U.S. Marine Band performs at the rededication of the Statue of Liberty as a recreation of its performance at the 1886 dedication.
1988- A star-studded tribute to Irving Berlin on the West Lawn of the Capitol takes place.
1990- John Williams' Celebrate Discovery and the Cynthia Mann/Barry Weil work Celebrate America are premiered at the Esplanade Concert in Boston (Archives, Boston Symphony Orchestra).
1995- Keith Lockhart conducts the Boston Pops Orchestra at the Esplanade concert celebration in Boston (Archives, Boston Symphony Orchestra).
1996- In Washington, D.C., the National Symphony Orchestra premieres a long-forgotten George Gershwin anthem, O Land of Mine, America, on the West Lawn of the Capitol (Washington Post, 5 July 1996, F2).
1997- The Boston Pops Orchestra celebrates the centennial celebration of John Philip Sousa's " The Stars and Stripes Forever March," in Boston; the Houston Symphony performs Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" and William Grant Still's Afro-American Symphony, among other works at the Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park (Houston Chronicle, 4 July 1997, 8).
1998- The annual "A Capitol Fourth" celebration on the Capitol grounds in Washington, D.C.continues with a tribute to Gershwin and the rocking 1950s, including Tony Danza, National Symphony Orchestra, with Erich Kunzel, conducting, and Sha Na Na, Choral Arts Society, Michael Feinstein, and others; in Baltimore, Kishna Davis, soprano performs with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Dan Hagee, conductor; in New York, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Robert Spano, conducting, celebrates the Fourth with a tribute to Gershwin concert at the Prospect Park Band Shell (NYT, 4 July 1998, A21); in Philadelphia, Boys II Men, Peter Nero, and the Philly Pops perform (Philadelphia Inquirer, 4 July 1998, B2).
1999- In Boston, Seiji Ozawa, conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops team up with Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, all wearing Red Sox caps and jerseys, to sing their rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (Boston Globe, 5 July 1999, 1); at First Unitarian Church in New Bedford, Mass., a 19-year tradition of performing jazz in that church on the Fourth continues (Boston Globe, 5 July 1999, B4).
2000- In Washington, at the "Capitol Fourth" concert at the Capitol, the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Slatkin, performs Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Ray Charles sings "America the Beautiful"there, and the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry "Old Guard" Fife and Drum Corps performs in front of the National Archives (Washington Post, 5 July 2000, A1, C1); in Boston, the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, conducting, performs the 1812 Overture (Baltimore sun, 4 July, 2000, 5F); in Cincinnati, Rosemary Clooney and Doc Severinsen join the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra for its musical celebration (Ibid.); in Baltimore, the Baltimore Symphony's "Star-Spangled Spectacular" takes place (Ibid.); in Pasadena, California, the Pasadena Pops Orchestra, conducted by Rachel Worby, presents its "We the People" program (Los Angeles dailynews.com webpage); the California Symphony playing at the Arboretum of L.A. County in Arcadia performs Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait, with Annette Bening, narrator (Ibid.); in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, "Raging River, Rolling Stone: Overture and March for Band and Orchestra," by Barbara White, is premiered at the celebration there (Telegram & Gazette, 2 July 2000).
2001- Erick Kunzel conducts the National Symphony Orchestra at the 20th anniversary of the Capitol Fourth celebration there, with the Irish Tenors, Fifth Dimension, and others participating; the Pointer Sisters perform at River Scape's "Celebrate Dayton" event in Ohio followed by an appearance at the Capitol Fourth celebration in Washington; Arlo Guthrie appears at the Boston Esplanade event while the Beach Boys are in "Fair St. Louis"; in San Franciso, noted jazz and blues vocalist Etta James performs
2002- Capitol Fourth celebration in Washington, D.C. continues with this year's theme, the centennial of Richard Rodgers birthday (June 28, 1902) and Aretha Franklin sings "My Country 'Tis of Thee"; in Havana, Cuba at the Fourth of July celebration held in the Karl Marx Theater, a vocalist sings "Old Man River" (Omaha World Herald, 8 July 2002, 6B); In Boston at the Esplanade, Brown University president Ruth Simmons reads Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to Randy Edelman's music for the film "Gettysburg" as played by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, conducting, and Linda Eder sings a new song, an anthem of hope, called "If I had My Way," and 8-year-old Laurie Angela Hochman sings a musical arrangement of a work she composed titled "The Pledge of Allegiance" (Boston Herald, 6 July 2002, O25); in Los Angeles, John Williams leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, with James Taylor guest singer
2003- In Georgetown, the U.S. Marine Brass Quintet and the Wildcat Regiment Band, Bruno Pino, Jr., director, perform at a C & O Canal reenactment barge trip commemorating the 175th anniversary of President John Quincy Adams' canal ground-breaking ceremony of 1828 (Northwest Current, 16 July 2003, 10); at the Capitol Fourth celebration in Washington, D.C., Dolly Parton, the Chieftains, Earl Scruggs perform and a tribute to music composed by John Williams is performed by the National Symphony Orchestra; in New York, "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson and Sheryl Crow and John Mellencamp perform at the annual Macy's Fireworks Spectacular
2004- In Hollywood, California, John Mauceri leads the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra in a tribute to American Music (Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2004, B4); at Highland Park in Chicago, the costumed River Valley Colonial fife & Drum Corp performs in the parade there (Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2004, section 2, p.1); at the Hatch Shell in Boston, the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, conductor, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus perform, with Tracy Silva, winner of the Pop-Search 2004 talent search, singing (Boston Globe, 5 July 2004, B3); Willie Nelson's 31st annual Fourth of July Picnic takes place at Fort Worth, Texas, at the historic stockyards (Web site, Official Texas Music: www.williespicnic.com); in Washington the annual Capitol Fourth concert features a special 150th birthday salute to composer John Philip Sousa and another commemoration to music legend Ray Charles, by Cicely Tyson. Performers include Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Robin Gibb, Clay Aiken, and Yolanda Adams (Capitol Fourth, Web site: www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/concert.html).
2005- In Philadelphia, Patti LaBelle, Elton John, and Peter Nero with the Philly Pops perform at the Philadelphia Freedom Concert (Philadelphia Inquirer, 5 July 2005, 1); in Washington at the Capitol Fourth celebration, Gloria Estefan, winner of the 2005 National Artistic Achievement Award, sings (Washington Post, 5 July 2005, C1-C2).
Adams, John Quincy. Diary of John Quincy Adams. 2 vols. Ed. Robert J. Taylor, et al. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press, 1981.
Anderson, Simon V. "American Music During the War for Independence, 1775-1783." Ph.D. dissertation, University of Michigan, 1965.
Cannino, Vincent A. "Celebrating the Fourth in Salem." M.A. thesis, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1998.
Heintze, James R. American Musical Life in Context and Practice to 1865. New York: Garland Publishing, 1994.
Kirk, Elise K. Music at the White House: A History of the American Spirit. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1986.
Kirk, Elise K. "Music at the White House: Legacy of American Romanticism." The White House: The First Two Hundred Years. Ed. Frank Freidel and William Pencak. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1994, 186-200.
McKay, David. "William Selby, Musical Emigre in Colonial Boston." Musical Quarterly 57/4 (October 1971): 609-27.
Murray, Sterling E. "Music and Dance in Philadelphia's City Tavern, 1773-1790." American Musical Life in Context and Practice: To 1865. New York, Garland Publishing, 1994, 3-47.
Travers, Len. Celebrating the Fourth: Independence Day and the Rites of Nationalism in the Early Republic. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1997.
No author. "What was Hamilton's 'Favorite Song.'" William and Mary Quarterly, 3rd ser 12/2 (April 1955): 298-307.
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