Charles Ives - 4th of July

A parade of Americana with thematic nods to such popular tunes as Columbia the Gem of the Ocean, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Battle Cry of Freedom, and Yankee Doodle. Probably the most complex and fascinating of the four movements of the "Holidays" Symphony, Ives's Fourth of July takes metrical and motivic play to its outer limits. Commenting in his Memos, Ives wrote, "I did what I wanted to, quite sure that the thing would never be played, although the uneven measures that look so complicated in the score are mostly caused by missing a beat, which was often done in parades. In the parts taking off explosions, I worked out combinations of tones and rhythms very carefully by kind of prescriptions, in the way a chemical compound which makes explosions would be made."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Charles
• Ives
• 4th
• of
• July
• Holidays
• Symphony

[PercussionistIvan]

does anyone know who performed this version?

[inlandempires]

@PercussionistIvan The Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.

[rickramble1]

No July 4th backyard BBQ is complete without cranking this up on your boombox so the neighbors can feel your patriotism :-) One of my favorite Ives pieces -- nicely done!

[inlandempires]

@rickramble1 Lol :-)

[pbobassist]

hahaha love the pictures... happy independance day! :P

[avivagabriel]

Charles Ives - Holidays Symphony - 4th of July ~ Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1988) ~ 'Every man for himself,' said Ives on hearing the first performance...

[jonb107]

The story goes that Ives was in poor health when this symphony was first performed and he was only able to hear it on the radio. He commented to his wife, Harmony, "Wonderful how it all came out. Every man for himself."

The music is American through and through with all its beautiful diversity and creative chaos.

[mariacoustic]

It's hard to believe that his music was banned for sometime. Pure genius. There would be no Frank Zappa or King Crimson without Charles Ives. This is why to this day we don't know exactly where Mozart is buried. Stupid people. Lady Ga Ga indeed.

[AyumuVanguard]

@rickramble I will certainly remember to do that. I can't wait to see the look on their faces once they are introduced to the greatest American patriotic music ever composed (that I know of.)

[PercussionistIvan]

@inlandempires thx! :)

[rickramble1]

@alonschmul Oops! Poor choice of words on my part -- The Unanswered Question is truly a groundbreaking piece of music, but it (and that other delicious piece of Ivesiana, Central Park in the Dark), seem to end up on nearly every Ives recording that I bought and then some (kinda like all those versions of Sibelius' Finlandia...). Far be it for me to complain, however. If the Ives recording is as you say, then that *is* the one I'm thinking of. A real gem. I'm still looking for the old Bernstein..

[alonschmul]

@rickramble1 This is the 1988 recording for CBS' "critical edition" of the Holidays Symphony. The CD also included the two versions of The Unanswered Question (not a filler by any standard!).

I haven't heard the Bernstein recording, but I wonder how it sounds....

[rickramble1]

@inlandempires Hmmm...is this the same recording that Mr. Tilson Thomas made for Sony/Columbia a while back of the complete Holidays Symphony? He then went on to record the 4 symphonies (plus fillers like The Unanswered Question). Fine recordings all. However, my favorite ending 'Yawp' to the 2nd Symphony is still the one made by Mr. Bernstein in another Columbia recording which dates back to the 60s, when I was very young, indeed, and loved needling my parents. Ah, what memories!