Please help support this long-running web survey.
To order any of the four CDs below, click the "Add to Cart" below.
CD No. 1: American Places: Musical Travels
CD No. 2: My Shaker Home - Words & Music by Shaker Sisters
CD No. 3: Music of the Civil War Era
CD No. 4: :The Star Spangled Banner" -
Early Songs of Protest and Patriotism
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How did this annual event begin?
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Back in 2001, music preservationist and songwriter, Roger Hall, wanted to pay tribute to the victims of the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks. So he came up with the idea of asking web readers to select favorite tunes for a week of remembrance. Out of that has been this free web event known as --
National Carry A Tune Week
Began in 2001 as a response to the horrific events of terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.
This week is held annually near the birthday of America's
first important tune composer,
William Billings, born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 7, 1746.
Read all about this composer known as the Father of American Choral Music -- click here
This year's Carry A Tune Day is Monday, October 7 (William Billings Birthday).
Billings best known song was a favorite
during the American Revolution titled,
"Chester" - possibly named after a dead patriot soldier.
The song was later
arranged for band or orchestra by American composer, William Schuman, in the 20th century.
Listen to the original song sung by The Yankee Tunesmiths and Old Stoughton Musical Society Chorus:
"Chester" - William Billings - two versions - 1778 and 1786
More about William Billings -- click here
Win A Free CD!
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Send in personal remarks about your tune (or tunes) and you will be eligible to
receive a free copy of this CD:
To send in your tune (or tunes) with personal remarks, send them to -- NCATW
Total Tunes Selected from 2001 to 2023 = 550
support Natiorr Tune Week.
Order any oese items:
Definitions for a "tune" --
(a) a pleasing succession of musical tones.
(b) a dominant theme.
--from Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.
To participate in this free annual event
This event is open to all web readers in the USA and other countries too.
All tunes must be written in the USA and written or recorded before 2001.
You may wonder why the tunes must be before 2001 and only from the U.S.A.
The week was begun in memory of all those lost during the terrorist attacks on 9/11/ 2001, so it was felt appropriate to have only American tunes written before that year in memory of those who were lost on that terrible day in 2001.
Selecting Your Tunes
Do you have favorite tunes that have special meaning for you?
You might pick a favorite tune from your school days, from a favorite song you heard on radio or elsewhere, from a love relationship, in memory of a departed family member or friend, or some other time in your past.
This week is designed for those who want to recall favorite tunes from their past and "carry" them that week to remember them, like favorite old pictures.
It was felt that choosing only one tune or six favorite tunes (one for each tune category)
is the appropriate limit for this week long celebration to send in for the master list of listener choices.
Tune Categories:
I. Patriotic -- band music, patriotic songs
II. Folk -- traditional folk, singer-songwriter
III. Religious -- sacred instrumental or vocal, spirituals, gospel music
IV. Popular -- blues, jazz, easy listening, ethnic, country, r&b, rock, disco, or other music
V. Classical -- songs or arias, instrumental themes
VI. Film -- film score themes, movie songs
If you don't know which category to place your tune(s) in, just indicate the tune title and as much information as you can.
Your personal memories of your tune(s) are encouraged but are not required,
unless you wish to enter the contest to win a Free CD for best personal comments.
Musicians -- are encouraged to perform at least one American tune in commemoration of
National Carry A Tune Week in their concerts or online.
Teachers -- are urged to choose one to six American tunes for that week to assign to their students for them to find out about them.
Listeners -- are asked to play one or six favorite American tune during this week at home, in your car, while exercising or walking, or any other appropriate place.
Please provide the names of the songwriters or composers and year of origin if they are known,
But that is not required to be listed on the master survey on this website.
When contacting, please send in your full name -- which will NOT be published or sent to any advertisers.
Only your first name will be listed on the survey list unless you wish to be anonymous.
Send in only ONE TUNE in any of the tune categories.
Or, send in
ONE TUNE for each of the SIX TUNE CATEGORIES.
For sample tune titles see the list below -- click here
Remembrance of Tunes Past
List of the tunes chosen for the...
23rd National Carry A Tune Week in 2023 -- click here
22nd National Carry A Tune Week in 2022 -- click here
21st National Carry A Tune Week in 2021 -- click here
20th National Carry A Tune Week in 2020 -- click here
19th National Carry A Tune Week
in 2019 -- click here
18th National Carry A Tune Week in 2018 -- click here
17th National Carry A Tune Week in 2017 -- click here
16th National Carry A Tune Week in 2016 -- click here
1st-4th National Carry A Tune Week. 2001-2004 -- click here
The 2015 Tune Week was dedicated to
one of the best known popular American singers
on the
100th anniversary year of his birth...
Frank Sinatra
For Movie and Radio Fans
A Guide to Film Music: Songs and Scores
A book in commemoration of the 100th birthday
of this Cleveland disc jockey,
William (Bill) Randle (1923-2004)
The Bill Randle Chronicles:
From Electric Elvis to The Shakers
Watch the Zoom program,
"Bill Randle in Cleveland - From Electric Elvis to The Shakers" --click here
Tune Samples
Click the links for music samples (for listening only)
I. Patriotic:
"Chester" - William Billings
"Battle Hymn of the Republic"
God Bless America" (Irving Berlin)
"The Stars and Stripes Forever March" (John Philip Sousa)
"You're a Grand Old Flag (George M. Cohan)
II. Folk:
"Goodnight, Irene" (Huddie Ledbetter aka "Lead Belly")
"This Land Is Your Land" (Woody Guthrie)
"The Times They Are A'Changin'" (Bob Dylan)
"Where Have All The Flowers Gone" (Pete Seeger)
III. Religious:
"Amazing Grace" (Folk hymn)
"Go Down, Moses" (Afro-American spiritual)
"Nearer My God To Thee" (Lowell Mason)
"Simple Gifts" (Elder Joseph Brackett.)
IV. Popular:
"Cold, Cold Heart" (Hank Williams)
"Don't Be Cruel" (Otis Blackwell)
"Mood Indigo" (Duke Ellington)
"Star Dust" (Hoagy Carmichael)
V. Classical Music (Vocal and Instrumental):
"Fanfare For The Common Man" (Aaron Copland)
"Glitter and Be Gay" from CANDIDE (Leonard Bernstein)
"Be Glad Then, America" (William Billings- arr. by William Schuman)
"A Real Slow Drag" from TREEMONISHA (Scott Joplin)
VI. Film Music (Themes and Songs):
Song: "As Time Goes By" from CASABLANCA (Herman Hupfeld)/Film Score by Max Steiner)
Song: "Moon River" from BREAKFAST AT TIFANNY'S (Henry Mancini)
Main Theme from GONE WITH THE WIND (Max Steiner)
Main Theme from STAR WARS (John Williams)
Related AMP Links
A Centennial Tribute to Sammy Cahn
100 Essential Songs of the 20th Century
American Popular Music Survey
American Song History (1759-1959)
American Tune Lovers Society
Essential American Recordings Survey
Movie Song Poll
Sammy Film Music Awards
Song Anniversaries
Songs from 1860s to 1960s
Bravo, Bing! Songs by Bing Crosby
Early Elvis - Facts and Fiction
Tunemaker Hall of Fame
To contact NCATW -- click here
Please help support National Carry A Tune Week
Order your CDs from the
American Music Recordings Collection (AMRC)
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