Classical music for the Fourth of July with kids

The Fourth of July has its own sound: marches, fanfares, and one Russian overture with cannons. These pieces work for a cookout, a parade at home, or the hour before the fireworks. A short list for Canada Day on July 1 comes at the end.

Marches

1. “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” by Sousa. John Philip Sousa wrote it in 1896. An act of Congress made it the national march of the United States in 1987. Listen for: the piccolo that dances over the big tune near the end. Read The Stars and Stripes Forever for kids.

2. “The Washington Post,” by Sousa. He wrote it in 1889 for a newspaper’s essay contest. Game: march around the yard and switch direction at each new section. Read John Philip Sousa for kids.

3. “American Salute,” by Morton Gould. Gould took the old tune “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” and wrote a set of changes on it. Game: hum the tune, then count how many ways the orchestra dresses it up.

Fanfares and wide open spaces

4. “Fanfare for the Common Man,” by Copland. Brass and drums only. Aaron Copland wrote it in 1942. Game: stand tall and move one arm on each drum stroke.

5. “Hoe-Down” from Rodeo, by Copland. A square dance for orchestra, built on an old fiddle tune. Game: gallop. Read Rodeo and Appalachian Spring.

6. “On the Trail” from the Grand Canyon Suite, by Grofé. A donkey clip-clops down into the canyon, and a violin brays at the start. Game: clip-clop with two cups. Read Ferde Grofé for kids.

7. “Liberty Fanfare,” by John Williams. He wrote it in 1986 for the hundredth birthday of the Statue of Liberty. Read John Williams for kids.

City sounds

8. Rhapsody in Blue, by Gershwin. It opens with a clarinet that slides up like a siren. George Gershwin wrote it in 1924. Read the Rhapsody in Blue guide.

9. Variations on “America,” by Charles Ives. Ives wrote this for organ when he was a teenager. He takes the tune of “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” and plays tricks with it. Some parts sound like a circus. Game: laugh at the right moments. Read Charles Ives for kids.

Fireworks

10. 1812 Overture, by Tchaikovsky. This piece is not about the United States. Tchaikovsky wrote it in 1880 about Russia’s fight against Napoleon’s army in 1812. It became a Fourth of July tradition after the Boston Pops played it with cannons, church bells, and fireworks in 1974. Listen for: the French anthem, which the orchestra drowns out near the end. Read the 1812 Overture guide.

11. Music for the Royal Fireworks, by Handel. King George II of England ordered this music for a fireworks show in London in 1749. The fireworks went wrong, and part of the building for them caught fire. The music was a success. Game: play the overture and draw fireworks in time. Read Handel for kids.

The songs

• “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Francis Scott Key wrote the words in 1814. The tune is older and came from England. It became the national anthem in 1931.
• “America the Beautiful.” Katharine Lee Bates wrote the words after a trip to Pikes Peak in Colorado. The tune is by Samuel Ward.
• “Yankee Doodle.” A tune from the 1700s that both sides sang in the American Revolution.

A plan for the day

When	Piece
Morning parade at home	Sousa, “The Washington Post”
Setting the table	Copland, “Hoe-Down”
Quiet time	Grofé, “On the Trail”
Before the fireworks	Tchaikovsky, 1812 Overture
The walk home	Copland, “Fanfare for the Common Man”

Fireworks and outdoor concerts are loud. Read ear protection for kids at concerts before you go.

For Canada Day on July 1

• “O Canada.” Calixa Lavallée wrote the music in 1880. Read Calixa Lavallée for kids.
• “Hymn to Freedom,” by Oscar Peterson. Read Oscar Peterson for kids.
• More to hear. Read Canadian composers for kids. For a full plan, read classical music for Canada Day.

For more American music, read American composers for kids: ten to know. For the rest of the summer, try the summer listening challenge.