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Plan to participate in this year's event on
6-12 October 2024
Help celebrate his centennial anniversary
with the songs by Henry Mancini
including his best known song,
Read about Henry Mancini -- click here
This CD from American Classics
pays tribute to the lyricist
who received 4 Oscars for his songs
and was nominated for this year's Featured Tune
To learn about the "It's Magic" CD -- click here
This is the only official page for this annual web event
sponsored since 2001 by
The American Tune Lovers Society (ATLS)
Remember your favorite tunes!
- Help support this annual web event
- How did this annual event begin?
- Sample tunes for each of the six categories
- List of tunes from past Carry A Tune Weeks
- Related American Music Preservation Links
Please help support this long-running free web event
by ordering one of the four CDs
listed
below
and only available here...
CD No. 1: American Places: Musical Travels
click for more information about this CD
CD No. 2: Gentle Words - A Shaker Music Sampler
click for more information about this CD
CD No. 3: Music of the Civil War Era
click for more information about this CD
CD No. 4: Oscar-winning song lyricist
click for more information about this CD
After you have made your payment,
indicate which CD you wish to receive
and please include your mailing address.
Send your information to:
How did this annual event begin?
Back in 2001, music preservationist and songwriter, Roger Hall (The Tune Man), 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
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
October 7 was also the date that the popular program, YOUR HIT PARADE, was premiered on national TV in 1950. This program had been on radio for many years. Each week the TV program went through the top songs of the week, with a few older songs included in the program.
See the master list of over 500 tunes chosen in past years, with 20 tunes by its founder, Roger Hall -- click here
This year's Carry A Tune Day is Saturday, October 7 (William Billings Birthday).
Billings best known song was a favorite
during the American Revolution titled, "Chester" - possibly named after a dead 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 1786More about William Billings -- click here
If you have any questions about this week, send them to -- NCATW
- Here are the tunes chosen for the 23rd National Carry A Tune Week -- click here
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...
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...
American Music Recordings Collection -- click here
For Movie and Music 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 ShakersWatch the Zoom program,
"Bill Randle in Cleveland - From Electric Elvis to The Shakers" --click here
Remembering Radio
Great Songwriters and Singers
Tune Samples
Click the links for several music samples (for listening only)
I. Patriotic:
"John Brown & Battle Hymn of the Republic"
"God Bless America" (Irving Berlin)
"Land of Our Hearts" (George W. Chadwick)
"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)
"We Shall Overcome"
"Where Have All The Flowers Gone" (Pete Seeger)
III. Religious:
"Amazing Grace" (Folk hymn)
"David's Lamentation" (William Billings)
"Go Down, Moses" (Afro-American spiritual)
"Nearer My God To Thee" (Lowell Mason)
"Simple Gifts" (Elder Joseph Brackett.)
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IV. Popular:
"Cold, Cold Heart" (Hank Williams)
"Mood Indigo" (Duke Ellington)
"Morning Has Broken" (Cat Stevens)
"Star Dust" (Hoagy Carmichael)
"Don't Be Cruel" (Otis Blackwell)
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)
"My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free" (Francis Hopkinson) - first American classical song
"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)
Song: "The Way We Were" (Marvin Hamlisch)
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 Song History (1759-1959)
Essential American Recordings Survey
Bravo, Bing! Songs by Bing Crosby
Early Elvis - Facts and Fiction
To contact NCATW -- click here
Please help support National Carry A Tune Week
Order your music from the
American Music Recordings Collection (AMRC)
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