Variations on a Revolutionary Hymn

Commissioned and premiered in 1987 by the U.S. Army Field Band, this piece stands as Claude T. Smith’s final completed work, written in honor of the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution. Drawing inspiration from the hymn tune Resignation (“How Firm a Foundation“), Smith crafted a mature and powerful composition that showcases the full technical range of each section of the wind band. Bold and stirring, it serves as both a concert centerpiece and a tribute to the founding fathers, whose faith and determination launched the great American experiment.