James Barnes

Inventions On Marching Songs

This work was commissioned by the U.S. Army Band (Pershing's Own) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the great victory by the Allied forces at the conclusion of the 2nd World War. Over the course of the work's composition, the piece began to be more of a tribute to every American soldier who put on America's uniform. Besides the obvious 'Caisson Song', which predominates most of the piece, one may hear snippets of the following American marching tunes: 'The Star and Stripes Forever', 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon', 'The Yellow Rose of Texas', 'Taps', 'Dixie', 'Marching Through Georgia', 'The Battle Cry of Freedom', 'Gary Owen', 'Ruffles and Flourishes', 'Over There', 'The Star-Spangled Banner', 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' and 'Amercian Patrol.'