Threads of Glory: 200 Years of America in Words & Music

Read About This Recording

Threads of Glory is a brilliant compilation that sews together the patchwork that is the American tapestry. In the course of this fantastic 4-CD set, Society Members will be treated to an overview of American history in words and music. One can only imagine the work it took to assemble this remarkable pastiche, but for American history fans, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the country's history using the power of the spoken word and the colorful emphasis of music.

Each CD in the set covers a different era or aspect, with CD 1 taking us from the Revolution past the War of 1812 and into Expansionism. CD 2 centers on the Civil War and continues through the Opening of the Oregon Territory. CD 3 covers through the end of the Second World War, while the final CD includes the struggles of the latter half of the Twentieth Century and includes a view of the journeys into outer space.

The voices assembled for this collection are truly a who's who: Burt Lancaster, Ernest Borgnine, John Forsythe, Lorne Greene, Rosalind Russell, Anna Baxter, Walter Pidgeon and the list goes on and on.

Musically, the set includes relevant samples of American music and music inspired by America, but the genius of the set is the story it tells and how it is told!

-Jacob Anthony

Extended Article

Threads of Glory-through narration, music and sound effects-recreates a concise and entertaining outline of American history from the inception of the republic 200 years ago to the bicentennial. This 4-CD set is a dramatization of our proud history by the most distinguished actors and voices of all time, created to inform, involve and entertain an audience looking to be reminded of all that is great about the United States.

Artists include: Henry Fonda, Burt Lancaster, Johnathan Winters, Forrest Tucker, Rosalind Russell, Hugh O'Brian, Fred MacMurray, Walter Pidgeon, Ronald Reagan, Ernest Borgnine, John Forsythe, Richard Carlson, Lee Bowman, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Cesar Romero, Roscoe Lee Browne, Anne Baxter, Susan Oliver, William Bakewell, George Hamilton, Lloyd Nolan, Lorne Greene, Nancy Davis Reagan, Virginia Gregg, Joan Foster, Daws Butler, narrated by Lee Bowman.

Contents

CD 1: Revolution and the Birth of a Nation - Jeffersonian Democracy, The War of 1812, Expansion: B. Sharples: Fanfare; Edwin E. Bagley: National Emblem; Traditional: Rule Britannia; British Grenadiers March; Yankee Doodle; The Girl I Left Behind Me; Amazing Grace; America, The Beautiful; Battle Hymn of the Republic; Hail to the Chief; Plaisir d'amour; Blow the Man Down; Turkey in the Straw; Song of the Volga Boatmen; Bulerias; Smith: America; DeLisle: La Marseillaise; American Revolutionary War Medley: March of the British Grenadiers (Traditional), Yankee Doodle (Traditional); G. Hilton: Nocturne; Antonio Vivaldi: Four Seasons; Francis Scott Key: Star-Spangled Banner; J. D. Zelenka: Fanfare; Stephen Foster: De Camptown Races; John Philip Sousa: El Capitan.

CD 2: The Alamo, Equal Rights, The Push West, Unrest in the Union - The Civil War, The Opening of the Oregon Territory: Traditional: Reveille; America, The Beautiful; Yellow Rose of Texas; Shenandoah; Deep River; Maryland My Maryland; Columbia the Gem of the Ocean; Dixie; Hail to the Chief; Evening Hymn; Indian Lament; Frankie and Johnny; Streets of Laredo; R. Hanmer: Fantasia; J. R. Vidre: Concerto de Aranjuez; J. Moross: The Big Country; Antonin Dvorak: Symphony No. 9; Sullivan/Baring-Gould: Onward Christian Soldiers; Stephen Foster: De Camptown Races; Emmett: Dixie; Civil War Medley: Dixie (Emmet), Battle Hymn of the Republic, We're Tenting Tonight (Traditional); Steffe/Howe: Battle Hymn of the Republic; M. Otner/L. Parker: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.

CD 3: Immigrants, Enterprise, World War I and the Depression - Pearl Harbor, World War II, The Uneasy Peace: Traditional: Shema; Meadowland; Eili Eili; When the Saints Go Marching In; Silent Night; When Johnny Comes Marching Home; Caissons Go Rolling Along; Stephen Foster: Stephen Foster Rhapsody; John Philip Sousa: El Capitan; Washington Post March; Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite; Rite of Spring; Jules Massenet: Le Cid; Antonin Dvorak: Symphony No. 9; Scott Joplin: The Entertainer; Grant: The Lord Is My Shepherd; World War I Medley: Deutschland UberAlles (Haydn), Meadowland (Traditional), Marcia Reale (St. Clair), It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary (J. Judge/H. Williams), Aupres de ma Blonde (Traditional), National Emblem (Bagley); James P. Johnson: Charleston; F. Fisher: Chicago; G. & I. Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue; Irving Berlin: A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody; Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings; Sir Edward Elgar: Nimrod Variation from Enigma Variations, Op. 36; Elegy for Strings, Op. 58; Wessel: The Horst Wessel Song; Rodgers/Hammerstein: Victory at Sea; G. Goldsmith: March Theme from Patton; Phillips: Marine Corps Hymn; E. Hawkins/J. Dash/W. Johnson/B. Feyne: Tuxedo Junction; F. Baldridge/G. Stone/J. Bonime: Let's Dance; G. Bassman/N. Washington: I'm Getting Sentimental Over You; O. & L. Rene/C. Muse: When It's Sleepy Time Down South; Billy Strayhorn: Take the A Train; Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien; Charles Ives: Symphony No. 2.

CD 4: Korea, Cuba and Civil Rights - Kennedy's Assassination, Vietnam, Space, Reprise of Greatness: Central Philharmonic Society: The Yellow River Concerto; Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite; Rite of Spring; Traditional: The East is Red; The Holy City; Under Moscow Skies; America, The Beautiful; America; Fanfare; H. Martin/R. Blane: Buckle Down, Winsocki; Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Richard Strauss: Death and Transfiguration, Op. 24; Also Sprach Zarathustra; H. Arlen/T. Koehler: I Got Dat Feeling; Leroy Anderson: The Syncopated Clock (Late, Late Show Theme); A. Lerner/F. Loewe: I Talk to the Trees; N. Washington/D. Tiomkin: High Noon; L. Bernstein/S. Sondheim: Something's Coming; Dykes: Eternal Father, Strong to Save; M. Willson: Ask Not; D. Lottman/C. Zimmerman/A. Miles: Anchors Aweigh; G. Hilton: Nocturne; Z. Horton/P. Seeger/F. Hamilton/G. Carawan: We Shall Overcome; Frank Loesser: Big D from Most Happy Fella; Bernard Herrmann: Music from the Columbia picture Jason and the Argonauts; Johann Sebastian Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor; M. Pinder: Have You Heard; Lennon/McCartney: A Hard Day's Night; Yesterday; Jim Webb: Up, Up and Away; Edvard Grieg: Ingrid's Lament from Peer Gynt; Gustav Holst: Neptune, The Mystic from The Planets; Francis Scott Key: Star-Spangled Banner; John Philip Sousa: Stars and Stripes Forever.

Artists: Eileen Farrell, Soprano; Robert Merrill, Baritone; Ronnie Aldrich, Piano; Tony D'Amato; Roger Laredo; Ainslee Cox; Ilana Vered; Sounds Galactic; Bob Sharples & His Orchestra; Eric Rogers Choral & Orchestra; Mantovani & His Orchestra; Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra; Roland Shaw & His Orchestra; RAF & Field Artillery Brass Band/Maj. Roberts; Edmund Ros & His Orchestra; New Philharmonia Orchestra; London Philharmonic Orchestra; Czech Philharmonic Orchestra; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; The London Festival Orchestra; London Festival Brass Ensemble; London Festival Orchestra & Chorus; London Festival Band; The London Symphony Orchestra; Vaudeville Orchestra & Chorus; Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra; People's Republic of China Chorus; Camarata; Kingsway Symphony Orchestra; London Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus; Antal Dorati, Leopold Stokowski, Erich Leinsdorf, Bernard Herrmann, Lorin Maazel, Henry Lewis, Stanley Black, Conductors; Elgar Howarth, Alan Civil, Directors.