The Star Spangled Banner

SKU: CF.SPS73

ISBN 9781491147689. UPC: 680160905188. 9 x 12 inches. Key: Bb major.

Composer/arranger Sean O'Loughlin has provided a refreshing new setting of our National Anthem. It was originally written for orchestral brass and percussion and has been performed at both MLB and NBA events. The arrangement begins with a bold fanfare to set the tone, but also to provide the motive glue to hold the arrangement together and create something unique. Creative harmonic usage and colorful orchestration really make this version stand out from the rest.
There have been many great arrangements of our National Anthem throughout the years . The responsibility of creating one that truly brought something new to the mix was very daunting . I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to write this version for the Oregon Symphony Brass Section to perform at the Portland Trail Blazers NBA games . Subsequent performances have occurred with the Baltimore Symphony at the Baltimore Orioles MLB games . At this time, it is my supreme honor to adapt this for the advanced concert band .In bringing something new, I decided to start with a bold fanfare to set the tone for this great music . Introducing some more dissonant harmonies also created a more intense feel .The first stanza includes a flowing counter line in the horns and alto saxophones . The trumpets interject some flourishes on the second pass to further the intensity . These flourishes continue “ . . . when the rockets red glare!” The final push at m . 29 is colored with pulsating 16th notes in the woodwinds that lead to some dramatic harmony at the fermata in m . 32 . The opening fanfare then returns to let everyone know that it's time to “Play ball!”.