program notes by composition > a > An American Fanfare
An American Fanfare
Rick Kirby
The melody in An American Fanfare is based on the traditional patriotic tune America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee). The original lyrics to America were written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1831, and the melody comes from the British national anthem, God Save the King. Rick Kirby has taken this slow, hymn-like melody and set it to a driving fanfare. The original melody is stated in full only once in the entire piece, followed by several changes to both the melodic and harmonic structure.