Composer

:

Gene Scheer

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

3:56

American Anthem is a choral work composed by Gene Scheer in 1998. It was premiered on October 29, 1998, by the Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, Texas. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own unique characteristics. The first movement, titled "The New Colossus," is based on the poem by Emma Lazarus that is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty. It begins with a solo soprano singing the famous lines, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." The choir then enters, singing a lush and soaring melody that captures the hope and promise of America as a land of opportunity and refuge. The second movement, titled "The Dream Keeper," is based on the poem by Langston Hughes. It is a more introspective and contemplative piece, with a gentle and flowing melody that evokes the idea of dreams and aspirations. The choir sings the words, "Bring me all of your dreams, you dreamer, bring me all your heart melodies that I may wrap them in a blue cloud-cloth away from the too-rough fingers of the world." The final movement, titled "One Voice," is a rousing and uplifting anthem that celebrates the power of unity and community. It features a driving rhythm and a catchy melody that encourages listeners to join in and sing along. The choir sings the words, "We are one voice, and we will not be silenced. We are one voice, and we will not be denied." Overall, American Anthem is a powerful and moving tribute to the ideals and values that have made America great. It is a testament to the resilience and strength of the American people, and a reminder of the importance of coming together in times of hardship and adversity.

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