Liberty for All–A Musical Journey, Interactive CD-ROM, to be Released by MENC: The National Association for Music Education
Voices of General Tommy Franks, Amy Grant, Chely Wright, Gary Sinise, and Richard Marx Featured, Along With Performances by the U.S. Marine Band
RESTON, VA (August 20, 2004) – The sounds of the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band performing such inspirational patriotic tunes as “God Bless America,” “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” and “The Star Spangled Banner” are just part of a new, interactive CD-ROM, Liberty for All–A Musical Journey, to be released by Altissimo! Recordings on September 7, 2004 as a joint project with MENC: The National Association for Music Education. A portion of the project was funded by a grant from The Lockheed Martin Corporation.
These never-before-released live musical performances trace America’s history from the American Revolution through the 20th century. The enhanced CD-ROM provides insight that places the musical selections within a historical time line. The compilation includes an introduction by Army General Tommy Franks (Ret.). GRAMMY® award-winning artist Amy Grant, Country Music Association award winner Chely Wright, Academy Award-nominated actor and director Gary Sinise, and GRAMMY award-winning producer Richard Marx contribute narrations to the CD from the six historical eras featured. The CD-ROM includes 15 stirring musical selections that build pride while enhancing the knowledge of America’s special place in history.
Country artist Chely Wright, founder of the Reading, Writing and Rhythm Foundation, didn’t hesitate when asked to lend her voice to this project. “When I was approached by MENC to become involved in this project, I immediately agreed,” said Wright. “Having come from a military family–my grandfather was awarded a Purple Heart after being injured on the beaches of Normandy, my dad served in Vietnam in the navy, and my brother is a gunnery sergeant and a 15 year marine–the military has a warm place in my heart. As a trumpet player growing up in Wellsville, Kansas, I played “Taps” for over 50 military burials. I’m happy to do my part to insure that this music is preserved and that new generations of Americans can be exposed to this historical and patriotic music.” Wright narrates The American Revolution and The Young Republic sections of the CD.
“We are delighted to collaborate with MENC for the release of this CD,” said Al McCree, president of Altissimo! Recordings. “This production is a wonderful example of how MENC includes the celebration and preservation of our cultural heritage in its mission to advance music education.”
A portion of the proceeds from sales of the CD will go to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation of volunteer men and women dedicated to providing financial assistance in the form of scholarships for higher education to deserving sons and daughters of United States Marines and children of former Marines. Visit www.marine-scholars.org.
Liberty for All-A Musical Journey (#3050) is available from MENC for $17.00. MENC members receive the discounted price of $12.75. To order, call 1-800-336-3768.
Track Listing
The White Cockade-Anonymous
Washington’s March-Hopkinson/Schumann
Chimes of Liberty-Goldman
Liberty Bell March-Sousa
American Salute-Gould/Lang (Mills Music)
Stephen Foster Medley-Foster/Nestico
George M.-Cohan/Jolly
Hands Across the Sea-Sousa
God Bless America-Berlin/Know (Williamson Music)
Semper Fidelis-Sousa
Victory at Sea-Rodgers (Williamson Music)
Eternal Father-Dykes/Smith
Taps-Butterfield/Knox
When Honor Whispers and Shouts-McBeth
The Stars and Stripes Forever-Sousa
The Marines’ Hymn-Offenbach/Phillips
The Star Spangled Banner-Key
For more information, call 1-800-336-3768, or visit www.menc.org.
MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world’s largest arts education organization, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. Nearly 120,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC’s activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.
Altissimo! Recordings — Since its inception in 1991, Altissimo! Recordings has been dedicated to the continuing production and distribution of the vast array of music from the wonderful musicians of the U.S. military bands, orchestras, ensembles and choruses. Prior to the founding of Altissismo!, these phenomenal recordings were not available to the general public.
