I recently learned the backstory is that this piece was written in 1942 and debuted in 1943, the darkest days of WW2. This was a time when victory was in no way certain and far more than the daily average of 308 military dead were streaming home. Yet there is an expansive, victorious character to this piece. Copeland wrote to inspire and uplift Americans hearts and illuminate a vision of victory. Now I understand why this composition is such a tearjerker.
Thank you for the facts. Every time I hear this I think of its use in Saving Private Ryan. It was one of my favorite films growing up. I was fascinated with the era and how heroic men were in that time.
I have no military service record but the backstory of heartache, struggle with character is a timeless reminder that the beauty of life is not whether you win or lose but that you fought for something better. Today's politics could use several doses of this music. We all need to see life through music
I am the Common Man. This is for us. For "We the people" and it's an honor and a privilege to be an American. Be Good. Be Honorable. Be Truthful. Earn this.
This music was for the special generation. The ordinary men and women who, in a nations darkest time, laid their lives on the line for not only their nation but for the belief that freedom was worth everything that they had to offer. Thank you to all of these people.
For our veterans. Our trash collectors. Our home health nurses. Our masons, carpenters & painters. Our hotel housekeepers. Our common men & women who make civilization possible ❤
May those who serve to ensure our freedom endures be blessed by The Lord God Almighty. Their ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten, always remembered.
Our local radio station played this on September 11, 2001 while we were trying to understand and recover from the events of the day. It was amazing and the perfect song for that day.
Our Father requested that we play this song at his funeral as we carried him from the hearse to his final resting spot on the hill above. Somehow he knew that it would take exactly the length of this musical piece to carry him that distance. He chose this to be played as he likened death to being just the first step into the greatest adventure of all time, and believed it embodied that final goodbye perfectly, much as you would expect to hear it playing as a group of astronauts turn and wave that final goodbye before stepping into their rocket and blasting into the unknown!!! It has almost been a year now since we lost him, and as a Marine Corps Veteran myself, hearing this song played so amazingly by my brothers and sisters in uniform, truly hit that tender spot!!! Safe journey Pops!!! We all miss you!!! Until our time comes to make that journey ourselves, may you find peace in yours!!!----------Your Son, Russ Semper Fidelis!!!
What a beautiful testimony to your father. I’m planning my dad service right now and came across this song it’s beautiful . Dad was a World War II veteran -Air Force.
I'm a USN vet. My ship carried Marines to Desert Storm. Like your dad, I want this played at my funeral, but maybe for different reasons. The song celebrates the common man. Like, me. Like, all the folks I served with. Like, all the folks back home that I was serving for. Every common man can be a hero, if he or she serves a higher cause. I served to protect and defend our Constitution. I'm ok with that.
On the day of my father's funeral. I woke in the morning and turned the radio on when without a pause the tune was starting up. I sat in wonder at the timing. My Dad was the great common man.
I remember quite vividly from the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. It still brings me to tears of patriotic joy! God Bless America 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Superb. The "common" man is far less common than despots and leaders would have us think. We're not sheep. We've all got seeds of greatness in us. Every one of us.
I played French horn for ten years and couldn’t hold back tears while playing this anthem. Had to remember to wear waterproof makeup in the dress blues. I never got the honor to serve, cancer claimed me first, but had many of my friends go overseas. The return of one in a flag-draped casket gave me one final honor of playing. I was laying on the floor in a puddle of tears as soon as I said goodbye. I’ll never play again.
Both of my Uncles fought in World War II. This rendition is a great tribute to all veterans. On behalf of my family - we are ETERNALLY GRATEFUL for the sacrifices paid by all who have served and died for the preservation of our Republic. God Bless You All.
This song goes out to all the grocery store workers, healthcare professionals, delivery workers, and other front-liners. Thank you--all the "common men" who are holding the world together right now.
This is a concert work, NOT a song. Your terminology is wrong. Copland thought of the 'common man' when he composed this in 1944 whilst WW II raged on.
I don't know if you''ll ever read this, but I have to say that your comment struck home in a way that none of the others did. Thank you (what an inadequate phrase) for sharing.
This WAS written for you, your Dad and remember that America is a country with a lot of "class" but without the negative implications of a class system so it is for all Americans. You have to work for what you want anywhere and anything worth achieving is worth the work. We had this in our home when I was a kid and I "believed". The Cincinnati Orchestra recorded our version and it may well have been the most played "hymn" in the whole collection. Hats off to all Americans!
What an absolutely beautiful performance of an AMERICAN (democrat or republican) icon of the musical part of being truly AMERICAN. I pray all of our beloved country find JOY in works like this.........
This is an extraordinary performance!. One of the best brass sections ever! Silky smooth trumpets, rich sonorous french horns, commanding trombones and precise tympani and bass drum. Fabulous!!
I'm not Marine Corp but a British Army vet of 24 years but that doesn't take away what this awesome piece of music means to so many. Respect all especially those of us that stood shoulder to shoulder.
This piece is truly beyond borders. Though not written specifically for the service, it's haunting gaps of space and sweeping melody is emotional for all. Thank you for your service.
I had the honour of studying composition with Aaron Copland in 1969 years before his death. Truly a great American composer but one of the most humble individuals I have ever known. He later used this great fanfare as the theme for his Symphony No. 3. Thank you Mr. Copland for giving me inspiration and confidence.
Where did you study composition with him? Friends and I were delighted to catch an recital at Cornell with Copland on piano accompanying a student of his. In the early 1970s.
I want this song to be played at my funeral, especially if I unfortunately die while I’m still in the Army. I played this song way back in high school and it’s been permanently stuck in my head ever since. The title and emotions of this song speak to me. The reason I want this played at my military funeral is to say “I wanted nothing more in life to be a ‘common man’ but felt in my heart I had a responsibility to fulfill and sacrifices to make”
My marching band played this as our opener every single year. Playing this song on the football field was such an amazing experience and never failed to get the goosebumps going!
When Sir Eugene Goosens commissioned those American composers of note to compose fanfares honouring Americans [and Europeans in the axis powers] in various branches of the armed services, Aaron Copland chose to honour the 'common man'. His fanfare, which stands quite alone, is the only one to remain in the current concert repertoire. Once heard, never forgotten.
There is nothing as proud and peircing as this magnificent peice, especially when played with honor as a service man or woman. God bless our great nation and every person in it. May the trumpets of freedom always sound off here and the light of God spread to every nation under heave.
Impressive. Clean. Each section of musicians in perfect order, harmony, and tune. I assume the objective is to represent the spirit of the USMC. Well done!
I am so glad to read I am not the only one moved to tears by this piece. I'm still not exactly sure why. In the 1960s or 70s at least a part of this piece preceded the National Anthem and was accompanied by very regal, sweeping landscapes and Armed Service footage- it was used as a TV station sign-off, possibly one of the big three in the Philadelphia area. (Yes, TV didn't always play 24/7!). Decades later, this tune haunted me. I didn't know the name of it. I couldn't find it anywhere, not even on a website that featured TV sign-offs. I don't remember how I found this (maybe a classical station played it?), but when I found it, I was both ecstatically joyful and deeply somber, and flooded with tears. Can't explain it, will just have to embrace it. Semper Fi.
God bless the marine past and present I was usn and I am proud of that but regret not going to the marines god bless the marine you are why we are free today
This is the best interpretation I have ever heard. Most of the others have a gong that sounds way too much like a cymbal. This gong has the strong bass fundamental pitch that has the gravitas to be the foundation for the aspirational high brass. This could be the theme of a star ship. This brings tears to my eyes.
Certainly one of the most stirring fanfare suites ever written, and the best-known and best-loved today, owing to the trio Emerson Lake and Palmer. A wonderfully valedictory work, full of the great American pride. A terrific and essential performance by the President's Own.
I have had the pleasure of playing the Timpani part on a number of performances of this piece (in Sydney Australia). Absolutely amazing experience. Whilst, technically, it is not a difficult part in rhythm ( @ a slow 4/4), it does demand the percussionists to have absolute command over the drums. The art here is to stir the spirits without deafening the audience. You call for the roar from the deep bowl of the drum (32" F) and Copland brings in the second drum ( 29" C) to lift the dark note. They are stately and commanding, yet they soar to heaven. Your whole body literally moves with each beat and the notes on the drum... in hope that God (or the gods) will hear you and bless all the common man (and women) that hear them...
Well said Lawrence. The amount of people on earth who get to experience that from a timpanist's shoes is extremely small. It's a feeling thet cannot be fully explained with words. The timpani part near the last quarter of Bachannale is another great piece for timpani but not in this specific style.
The intonation of the brass players of this band is nothing short of stunning! I've heard major symphony orchestras fall short in this area when performing this piece.
So fitting that the inspiration for this beautiful piece of music was given to Aaron Copland. I can't think of a more humble composer. While Sousa's marches reminded us how great America is, Copland's scores were a reminder of what we should aspire to be.
Amazing piece of music ,always puts me in mind of president Kennedy for some reason, also I would like to give my respects to the band . as a former Royal Marine commando I salute my cousins in the service across the pond.
This is one of the best played version on You tube, great orchestra very good condubter en the tympany' s are Fantastic. Greetings from the Netherlands
The finest and most memorable of all the Fanfares commissioned by Eugene Goosens, conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, during the dark days of World War II. The U S Navy Band do it full justice.
President's Own is an elite group of brass and percussionists from the Marine Corp Band... better known as the Men's department of the Navy... Don't insult those poor jarheads by insinuating they're merely special squidflakes, lol.
To name just a few: Leonard Bernstein, Duke Ellington, George & Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Glenn Miller, Samuel Barber, and Benny Goodman. There are many others with numerous genres of music.Ray Zhang
Al Cd Most of them are jazz composers. True, Jazz is important, but it's just much more different than classical. 2nd, America really hasn't had any composers outside the 20th century. They popularized Jazz so that they could have more composers. 3rd, think of all the composers in Europe we still remember after hundreds of years: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc....
+Ray Zhang The only real place to find good orchestral music in the 20th century is in film scores, and most of those composers are American, or have done their best work on American projects. John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and Danny Elfman all pop to mind immediately. Ennio Morricone's name lags a few moments behind only because I keep wanting to call him Enrico.
The finest fanfare in the history of man, performed by some of the finest musicians. I am sure this is what Aaron Copeland envisioned when he put such thoughts to music.
During World War II, my father was a gunner's mate on cargo ships, operating mainly in the North Atlantic & Mediterranean theater. On the 75th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War, I played the fanfare to remind myself of the sacrifices and accomplishments of the greatest generation.
