Ives’ “The Fourth of July” from the “Holidays” Symphony
Notes by TŌN tuba player Tyler Woodbury
In Charles Ives’ The Fourth of July, the clash of patriotic tunes and nostalgic memories creates a kaleidoscopic soundscape that transports listeners to a regular Independence Day in New England. Ives wrote this piece as part of a larger work, the Holidays Symphony, which also includes movements titled “Washington’s Birthday”, “Decoration Day”, and “Thanksgiving and Forefathers’ Day”. Altogether, his plan was to depict the passing of the seasons as he came to know them during his longtime residency in New England. As a native of the region myself, I can confirm that the mark of the summertime spirit concurs with Ives’ choice of the Fourth of July.
In my eyes, one of the most important aspects of this work is the idea of childhood memories. Especially as time passes, we can get a skewed view of the past in our minds. There can be small snippets of a moment, sometimes overlapping and evolving into a completely fabricated thought, rather than a memory. Or something forgotten can rush back to you instantly with one little spark. One way or another, memories are far from crystal clear pictures of the past, which is exactly how Ives composed his reminiscence of this holiday. In fact, nothing about Ives’ style can be described as “crystal clear”, but rather he is known for his overlapping musical quotations, distorted melodies, and complex harmonies. Almost as if you were watching decaying film, these elements come together to create a hazy yet realistic sound of the past.