Bruce Healey

Featured are a violin duet and an Eb clarinet solo passage. The children's choir parts are written mostly in unison, breaking into two parts occasionally and in three parts for about 32 bars. A simplified (nearly all unison) choir part is available, and the piece could also be performed by an adult choir, just for fun. The piece is 222 bars in length and the duration is approximately 5:00.

"This is a new piece for the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and, as the title states it is in honor of the American patriot, George M. Cohan. I have always been impressed by true and sincere patriotism. It is an expression of gratitude for the freedom we have in the United States of America. I wrote the piece as a "melting pot" of styles unique to the U.S.A. Starting and ending with an original fanfare inspired by great Hollywood Bowl Orchestra music of past and present, it reflects my own American musical instincts. The piece reveals songs of Cohan in a variety of entertaining ways. I admired the fact the Cohan was unabashed in his homage to American folk themes such as Yankee Doodle, and The Star Spangled Banner, and I seized the opportunity to take this approach a step, or two, further."