Ironically, for a holiday called Independence Day, the march is an especially popular genre of Independence Day music. Most listeners who don't have a soldier's or a marching band member's background, however, don't usually seek out marches. The spirited pomp of a march, however, feels appropriate every July 4.
This morning, I was listening to "The American Album," a compilation CD of patriotic pieces which the St. Louis Symphony, under Leonard Slatkin's direction, performed. I wanted to hear some live, spontaneous patriotic music, as well, though. As soon as "The Star Spangled Banner" ended on the CD, I switched to the Radio Arts Foundation's station, K297BI, just as Josef Franz Wagner's march, "Under The Double Eagle," started. If it hadn't been Independence Day, I might not have stayed tuned. Today, however, I listened and came to appreciate a march I might not have noticed otherwise--and realized that it segues with our national anthem pretty well.
Here's hoping you're enjoying your favorite holiday-themed music--marches or otherwise--today.
