America the Beautiful

America the Beautiful, beloved as a favorite patriotic hymn of many Americans, in some cases doubles as the U.S.’s unofficial second national anthem. The timeless words of Katharine Lee Bates set to Samuel A. Ward’s melody evoke the good and peaceful characteristics of our country.

This version, commissioned by Carnegie Hall for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America as an encore for their 2014 tour, was performed at Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, Chicago’s Millennium Park, Los Angeles’s Disney Hall, and elsewhere across the nation. It has since been performed by countless bands and orchestras.

A version for professional or advanced ensembles was created for the West Point Band and featured on the 2017 Macy’s July 4 Fireworks national telecast on NBC.

It can be performed with or without chorus and/or audience participation.

Duration of orchestra or band version: 3 minutes 45 seconds

Duration of band version, abridged for professional or advanced ensembles: 2 minutes 15 seconds