Customer Reviews

State Songs: Anthems and Their Origins

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This sheet music style book contains historical info on almost all the 50 State songs of the USA. Each State has a short history of their chosen song, and most are in standard sheet music format.

Not all States have an official song, so the author provided the music to songs that are commonly observed and often believed to be the official state songs. For instance, Tennessee, has 6 songs included: 1. My Homeland Tennessee, 2. When it's Iris Time in Tennessee, 3. My Tennessee, 4. Tennessee Waltz, 5. Rocky Top, and 6. Tennessee.

Would you believe that the official song of Kansas is "Home on the Range"? Apparently Michigan at the time this book was published had no official state song.

I always thought from a Trivia Pursuit game card that the "Yellow Rose of Texas" by Foster was their state song. According to this book, it is actually "Texas, Our Texas".

Also, States sometimes change their official song. In Florida, the Stephen Foster song "Old Folks at Home" is currently being challenged in favor of a new song about the Sawgrass Plains.

As a music teacher, I found this a fun way to encourage my piano students to learn new theme songs. I bought two copies, one for me and one for the library at the school my children attend.

I purchased the book for a group invloving membership from all over United States. All the music in one book made it easy to pay tribute to each state.