For God and Country
by Amy Dunker

Grade 4 | 8:00 | © 2018

For God and Country was written in honor of Lt. Aloysius Schmitt for the Loras College Wind Ensembles, Glenn Pohland, director. The Catholic Chaplain and Columbia College (now Loras College) graduate gave his life helping twelve of his shipmates exit a porthole on the side of the U.S.S. Oklahoma as it took enemy torpedo fire, rolled over and finally faltered on the morning of December 7, 1941.

Throughout the work, the Navy Hymn “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” is a reoccurring motive.  Several U.S. Navy bugle calls are also used in the work including portions of “Abandon Ship,” “Man Overboard,” “Man Torpedo Defense Battery,” and “Watertight Doors”. The work ends with a quiet and solemn rendition of the Navy Hymn in various solo instruments.

Recorded January 21st, 2020 by the Trade Winds Recording Ensemble and Dr. Daniel J. Schmidt.