America The Beautiful

Concert Band Series — 3 min. 12 seconds

Music by: Samuel A. Ward

Text by: Katharine Lee Bates

Arranged by: Charles Booker

America the Beautiful is one of America’s most enduring and beloved patriotic songs. The original poem, written by Katharine Lee Bates, was inspired by her journey across the United States from New England to Colorado, where she experienced firsthand the breathtaking beauty and grandeur ofthe nation’s landscapes. The familiar melody was composed by New Jersey choirmaster and organist Samuel A. Ward, creating the timeless musical setting that generations have come to know as America the Beautiful. First published in 1910, the song has remained one of the most cherished expressions of American pride and patriotism.

Within the wind band and concert band repertoire, the celebrated arrangement by Carmen Dragon, originally published in 1963 by Sam Fox Publishing, has long served as the benchmark against which all subsequent editions have been measured.
This new edition by Charles Booker honors the song’s timeless melody while showcasing his exceptional skill as an orchestrator. Faithful to the spirit of the original, Booker’s masterful setting brings renewed vitality and richness to this American classic, creating an arrangement destined to become a favorite for concert bands and audiences throughout the nation.

Printed Complete Score and Parts (B27003)           $85.00
Printed Large Full Score (B27003LGPFS)              $38.00
Complete Score and Parts Download (B27003DL)        $65.00
Large Full Score Download (B27003LGFS)              $28.00