The Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American Independence. The actual bell was commissioned from the London firm, now known as, Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1752 and was cast with the inscription:
"Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof"
The bell was placed originally in the steeple of Independence Hall in Pennsylvania and historically cracked the first time it was rung.
Interest in the bell heightened across America in 1847 when it was claimed the bell was rung on the 4th July 1776 upon hearing the Second Continental Congress's vote for Independence. Despite the fact that this is undocumented and it is highly unlikely that the bell was actually struck on this date as it was in storage, the story was widely accepted and the bell was exhibited for many years at various expositions and patriotic gatherings across the United States.
John Philip Sousa originally composed the march as part of an operetta score called, "The Devil's Deputy" which, due to a lack of financing, was never completed. Sousa's manager George Hinton however, encouraged him to publish some of the music from the operetta as concert items, including the title-less march. While Sousa and his manager were attending the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, they watched a patriotic spectacle called "America" where the Liberty Bell was presented to the audience. Sousa's manager suggested that this would be a suitable title for Sousa's new march, to which Sousa agreed.
This classic American march has been superbly arranged here for brass band by Dr. Robert Childs.