The musical inspiration for this piece came from the scenes and speeches on a rock emblazoned with battle scenes from our nation's history. The piece opens with a military-sounding march that leads to a solemn section over which a narrator reads the speeches seen on the rock while a muted trumpet plays "Taps" in the background. The initial march then returns, with fragments of numerous patriotic melodies juxtaposed with the original melody, coming to an exciting ending.

Recorded by the Roosevelt University Wind Ensemble
College of Performing Arts, Chicago, IL
Stephen Squires, Conductor