Yesterday I had an epiphany.
A realization that I had just achieved an important milestone.
It’s not what I set out to accomplish when I started working on this project nearly seven months ago.
I'm quite stunned to see what it has become as of right now.
It presently consists of more than six hours of audio (only two hours of which have been released as Journey to Liberty), nearly 150 pages of accompanying educational materials, and dozens of supplemental articles.
All focused on the founding of the United States of America, and living the principles of liberty today with genuine patriotism, respect, and unity.
I call it The Spirit of 76.
Today I’m only going to summarize what now exists and share a few thoughts about future goals.
Summary
The Spirit of 76 is seventy-six songs celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in educational, emotionally resonant, and respectful music and narrative. The goal is to support a meaningful increase in genuine patriotism, respect and unity within individuals, families, and communities. The music is supported by several Discovery Companions to encourage exploration, reflection, and discussion of our shared history, what liberty means, and how we can each help maintain its principles today and for generations to come.
The Spirit of 76 is comprised of:
Journey to Liberty: Washington’s Final Testament
A 25-song musical odyssey recounting the story of the American Revolution and some of its participants, introduced by George Washington two days before his passing. The suite contains one song for each decade of our independence and was sanctioned by America250 as an official part of this year's celebrations. The music helps create emotional resonance with our foundational history.
My Country: E Pluribus Unum
An experimental album containing 50 voices and 1 message, sharing perspectives about liberty in our nation today. One lyric is produced in fifty different musical styles in honor of America's 50 states while reflecting our diversity and potential for respectful unity. The album is intended to be an entertaining exercise in diversity, empathy, and unity.
Promise to My Country
1 bonus track on the E Pluribus Unum album. It is a personal pledge to live the principles of and help sustain liberty today in the United States of America. The song is based on several historical patriotic pledges, including the Pledge of Allegiance.
All of the above content is complete in digital form.
Links
The Journey to Liberty suite is available for purchase in multiple editions here.
The official 130-page Journey to Liberty - Discovery Companion is complimentary and available here.
An online Discovery Companion Supplement featuring the NSSAR Library in Louisville, Kentucky (where an original copy of the Stone Engraving of the Declaration of Independence was on display) can be explored here.
My Country: E Pluribus Unum including bonus song "Promise to My Country" is fully produced but currently unreleased, with several tracks exclusively previewed here for the first time.
The official 16-page My Country: E Pluribus Unum - Discovery Companion is complimentary and available here.
The Future
From the very first songs of this project, I have seen what has become The Spirit of 76 as an entertaining educational experience. With the inclusion of the new material, it now bridges the past and the present in a way I had not foreseen and only realized just yesterday.
My goal is for all of this material to be used in educational ways as broadly as possible by people of all ages. I believe that teaching history and civics through music transforms passive listening into active discovery by grounding abstract concepts in emotional and auditory experiences. Pairing historical narratives with musical composition and supplemental discovery resources helps listeners internalize foundational principles, view historical events and the modern day through diverse cultural lenses, and engage in meaningful, heart-level reflections and discussions on liberty, modern citizenship, and unity.
I’m actively seeking a film production partner to bring Journey to Liberty: Washington’s Final Testament to the screen and to support marketing for the project. The new music is a natural supplement to these efforts. I believe it is still a challenging but viable goal (based on a specific production approach and the right team) to complete the project in time for a December 12 premier, which coincides with the day Washington would have had these dramatized recollections. Based on my fondness for project milestones aligning with historic events, I believe this would be a fitting contribution as we approach the end of America's historic 250th anniversary year.
Regardless, my ultimate hope is that all this material eventually becomes part of the American legacy and helps living and future generations discover what our liberties really mean, and how all can live with greater patriotism, respect, and unity in our country.
After all, for each of us, this is My Country.