Album

American Salute: Spirit of the Nation is a tasteful collection of orchestral pieces devoted to the history and vitality of the United States. Performed by a series of orchestras, highlights include Aaron Copland's sweeping "Hoe Down," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," and Ferde Grofé's "Grand Canyon Suite 'Sunrise'," during which the anticipation of the sun hitting the lip of the canyon is palpable. The introspective moments of "Variations on 'America'" and Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" are also a nice touch, as they offset the collection's more bombastic moments. Basic versions of the "Star Spangled Banner" and "Stars and Stripes Forever" round out the set.

© Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide

CD 1
Morton Gould Composer American Salute Work Theodore Kuchar Conductor, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine Orchestra
1	American Salute	4:24			$0.99
Aaron Copland Composer Rodeo (ballet) Work Stephen Gunzenhauser Conductor, Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava) Orchestra
2	5.Hoe-Down	3:16			$0.99
John Philip Sousa Composer Hail To the Spirit of Liberty Work Keith Brion Conductor, Royal Artillery Band Orchestra
3	Hail To the Spirit of Liberty	3:14			$0.99
Victor Herbert Composer Pan-Americana, morceau characteristique Work Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Bratislava Orchestra, Keith Brion Conductor
4	Pan-Americana, morceau characteristique	4:04			$0.99
Morton Gould Composer Stephen Foster Gallery Work Theodore Kuchar Conductor, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine Orchestra
5	1.Camptown Races	2:08			$0.99
Ferde Grofé Composer Grand Canyon Suite, for orchestra Work William T. Stromberg Conductor, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
6	1.Sunrise	5:20			$0.99
John Williams Composer Liberty Fanfare Work Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Richard Hayman Conductor
7	Liberty Fanfare	4:50			$0.99
Samuel Barber Composer Adagio for Strings (arr. of 2nd mvmt. of String Quartet), Op.11 Work Marin Alsop Conductor, Royal Scottish National Orchestra Orchestra
8	Adagio for Strings (arr. of 2nd mvmt. of String Quartet), Op.11	7:41			$1.49
Charles Edward Ives Composer Variations on 'America,' for organ, S.140 Work José Serebrier Conductor, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
9	Variations on 'America,' for organ, S.140	7:09			$1.49
Morton Gould Composer American Ballads Work Theodore Kuchar Conductor, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine Orchestra
10	American Ballads	7:21			$1.49
G. S. Scofield Composer Battle Hymn of the Republic Work Richard Hayman Conductor, Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
11	Battle Hymn of the Republic	4:58			$0.99
John Philip Sousa Composer Stars and Stripes Forever Work Keith Brion Conductor, Razumovsky Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
12	Stars and Stripes Forever	3:20			$0.99
John Stafford Smith Composer The Star-Spangled Banner (National Anthem, USA), for orchestra and voice/chorus, ad lib Work Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Bratislava Orchestra, Peter Breiner Conductor
13	The Star-Spangled Banner (National Anthem, USA), for orchestra and voice/chorus, ad lib	2:56			$0.99