Triumphal March, Op. 26

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Dudley Buck (1839-1909) was born in Hartford, Conn., and died in Orange, N.J. He was an American composer and organist
and enrolled at Trinity College, Hartford, and thereafter spent several years in Lepizig, studying organ with Johann Schneider. He returned to Hartford and became organist at the North Congregational Church, quickly attaining a reputation as an organ virtuoso. In 1869 he became organist of the fashionable Episcopal Church of St. James in Chicago. He was the first American to write an organ sonata, and his works established a precedent for higher levels of craftsmanship in American organ composition. Buck was the first American composer to be internationally recognized for church music composition (mostly choral literature), and wrote a well-known book entitled "Illustrations in Choir-Accompaniment with Hints on Registration."

His organ works include: Grand Sonata in E-flat. Op. 22, Triumphal March, Op. 26,Impromptu and Pastorale, Rondo-Caprice, At Evening: Four Tone Pictures,18 Pedal-Phrasing Studies, Six Chorale Preludes on Familiar Church Tunes, Op. 49,
The Last Rose of Summer, Op. 59, Home Sweet Home, and Variations on the Star-Spangled Banner.

The "Triumphal March, Op. 26" was written in 1868, and is the perfect work for the 4th of July! It sounds like a mighty band playing with shades of Sousa-like sections to be sure! All of this with a REALLY BIG FINISH!

I dedicate this to my MANY friends on the Concert Hall. THANK YOU!