Hail to the chief AUDIO

Hail to the chief 64Kbps MP3 324 kb, Hail to the chief VBR MP3 487 kb, Hail to the chief OGG format 495 kb which is a free, open standard container format maintained by the Xiph.Org Foundation. The OGG format is unrestricted by software patents and is designed to provide for efficient streaming and manipulation of high quality digital multimedia.



Performing Ensemble: United States Air Force Concert Band. Publisher(s): Department of Air Force. Keywords: Air Force Concert Band; Hail to the chief; President; potus

Generally speaking, works created by U.S. Government employees are not eligible for copyright protection in the United States. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" from the U.S. Copyright Office.

This MP3 (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 are now in the public domain. This media file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris) in this case James Sanderson (1769-1841), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that date.

"Hail to the Chief," with its preceding fanfare known as "Ruffles and Flourishes," is traditionally played to announce the arrival of the President at State functions. Possibly derived from an old Gaelic air, "Hail to the Chief" was used in James Sanderson’s musical play of 1812, The Lady of the Lake. It appears in a gallant boating scene honoring the highland chieftain, Sir Roderick Dhu. The song was already very popular when the Marine Band played it from a barge for the opening of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal on July 4, 1828, in the presence of President John Quincy Adams.

On March 4, 1829, the Marine Band performed at the inauguration of President Andrew Jackson, the first inaugural ceremonies held on the U.S. Capitol steps. President Martin Van Buren instituted formal outdoor concerts on the U.S. Capitol grounds, a tradition carried on today during the summer months. President William Henry Harrison died one month after his inauguration, and the Marine Band led his funeral cortege on April 4, 1841.

President John Tyler is believed to be the first to use "Hail to the Chief" as the official Presidential honors. "Hail to the Chief" had been played in the White House under Presidents Jackson and Van Buren, but it did not become the official Presidential honors until First Lady Julia Tyler instructed the Marine Band to play it whenever the President made an official appearance. President Tyler also instituted weekly public concerts on the White House grounds, a tradition that continued on Saturday evenings from spring to fall until the administration of Herbert Hoover. In 1854 President Franklin Pierce approved legislation allowing the band extra pay for playing "on the grounds of the President and the Capitol."