America - A Fugue

I intended to upload a great piece of American music titled “America – A Fugue” which is based on a tune known to Americans as “My Country, Tis of Thee” and to people of the Commonwealth as “God Save The Queen.”

Since today (April 21) is Queen Elizabeth’s 91st birthday, I thought I would add two elements to the fugue and turn this upload into a tribute to her.

So, I’ve added the fanfare that was composed by Gordon Jacobs for the Queen’s 1953 Coronation (it’s an approximation because I couldn’t find it arranged for keyboard) and a straight-forward rendition of “God Save The Queen.”

Eugene Thayer (December 11, 1838, Mendon, Massachusetts – June 27, 1889, Burlington, Vermont) was an American organist and composer.

Thayer gave his first concert just after the installation of the new organ in the Boston Music Hall in 1863. An early student of John Knowles Paine, he advanced to study organ and counterpoint in Berlin with Carl August Haupt (who also taught Paine). After returning from Berlin he worked in Boston and later in New York City as an organist. He was also a touring virtuoso, organ teacher, and music writer.

America - A Fugue is a movement from Thayer's Opus 2 - Second Organ Sonata. At the time of composition, it was apparently a trend to work with patriotic songs, hence My Country, Tis of Thee as a movement.

The score is marked "Full Organ" and "Maestoso." I've played it at the stately pace that God Save The Queen is performed when the Queen is present. For a faster version, see Marilyn Oakes's version at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvnX--8M0jA

For the real Gordon Jacobs fanfare, the one that is played at Westminster Abbey, see this video from the Queen's 85th birthday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7ujvOWWfpY

Happy birthday, your Majesty!