American Patrol
Encyclopedia
"American Patrol" is a popular march written by F. W. Meacham
in 1885. Written originally for piano, it was then arranged for wind band
and published by Carly Discher in 1891. Meacham's widow renewed the copyright in 1912. It was later arranged for Glenn Miller
's swing band by Jerry Gray
in 1941, and was also arranged by composer Morton Gould
. It incorporates melodies from other patriotic American songs of the era such as "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" and "Dixie
".
The "patrol" format was popular in the second half of the 19th century and a number of compositions are so entitled "Turkish Patrol", "Ethiopian Patrol", "Owl's Patrol", "Welsh Patrol", "Arab Patrol", and many more. The format was intended to represent a military band approaching, passing, and fading into the distance. It usually involved an introduction played p
or pp, imitating bugle calls or drums, then a theme played a little bit louder, then another very loud theme, then a return to the first theme gradually dying away and finishing pp, ppp, or even pppp.
The original piano version of "American Patrol" follows this scheme exactly.
The following words were written in 1940–1945.
The author unknown.
We must be vigilant, we must be diligent,
_____ American Patrol !
Arms for the army, ships for the navy --
___Let this be our goal !
We must be vigilant, we must be diligent,
_____ American Patrol !
Protect our shore-line to the door-line
___Of every native soul !
We need your solidarity
Or else divided we will fall.
Protect the popularity
Of peace and happiness for all.
Behind our cause we must keep rallying.
Let there be no dilly-dallying,
Let there be no shilly-shallying !
Hark to Freedom's call !
The American, the American
The American Patrol !
in 1942.
F. W. Meacham
Frank W. Meacham was an American composer and arranger of Tin Pan Alley.His most famous work is "American Patrol" , a popular march. Written originally for piano, it was then arranged for wind band and published by Carl Fischer in 1891...
in 1885. Written originally for piano, it was then arranged for wind band
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
and published by Carly Discher in 1891. Meacham's widow renewed the copyright in 1912. It was later arranged for Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
's swing band by Jerry Gray
Jerry Gray (Arranger)
Jerry Gray was an American violinist, arranger, composer, and leader of swing dance orchestras bearing his name. He is widely known for his work with popular music during the Swing era. His name is inextricably linked to two of the most famous bandleaders of the time, Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller...
in 1941, and was also arranged by composer Morton Gould
Morton Gould
Morton Gould was an American composer, conductor, arranger, and pianist.Born in Richmond Hill, New York, Gould was recognized early as a child prodigy with abilities in improvisation and composition. His first composition was published at age six...
. It incorporates melodies from other patriotic American songs of the era such as "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" and "Dixie
Dixie (song)
Countless lyrical variants of "Dixie" exist, but the version attributed to Dan Emmett and its variations are the most popular. Emmett's lyrics as they were originally intended reflect the mood of the United States in the late 1850s toward growing abolitionist sentiment. The song presented the point...
".
The "patrol" format was popular in the second half of the 19th century and a number of compositions are so entitled "Turkish Patrol", "Ethiopian Patrol", "Owl's Patrol", "Welsh Patrol", "Arab Patrol", and many more. The format was intended to represent a military band approaching, passing, and fading into the distance. It usually involved an introduction played p
Dynamics (music)
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
or pp, imitating bugle calls or drums, then a theme played a little bit louder, then another very loud theme, then a return to the first theme gradually dying away and finishing pp, ppp, or even pppp.
The original piano version of "American Patrol" follows this scheme exactly.
The following words were written in 1940–1945.
The author unknown.
We must be vigilant, we must be diligent,
_____ American Patrol !
Arms for the army, ships for the navy --
___Let this be our goal !
We must be vigilant, we must be diligent,
_____ American Patrol !
Protect our shore-line to the door-line
___Of every native soul !
We need your solidarity
Or else divided we will fall.
Protect the popularity
Of peace and happiness for all.
Behind our cause we must keep rallying.
Let there be no dilly-dallying,
Let there be no shilly-shallying !
Hark to Freedom's call !
The American, the American
The American Patrol !
1942 Glenn Miller Recording
Glenn Miller recorded the song in 1942 in a swing arrangement by Jerry Gray. The song was released as a Victor 78 single, 20-1564-A, backed with "Song of the Volga Boatmen". The record reached no. 15 on BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
in 1942.
External links
- "American Patrol", New York Military Band (Edison Blue Amberol 3221, 1917)—Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project.