The largest Constitution
Celebration in America may possibly be Gilbert
Constitution Week in Gilbert, Arizona. This according to former US
Secretary of Education, Dr. Rod Paige, guest speaker at the 2004
Constitution Week Fair. As many as 10,000
people gather for Constitution related entertainment and education. Past
guests also include Lee Greenwood and Sandra Day O'Connor.
While our
nation enjoys a deep history of amazing, rich, and moving patriotic music,
there is very little music written specifically and directly about the
Constitution, the purpose of its founding, and the relationship we have
with it now over two centuries later. The organizers of Gilbert
Constitution Week, Barb Stowell, Bill Norton, Jared Taylor, and many others, have been working tirelessly for
six years
to provide a foundation of education about the Constitution in the
southeast valley.
What better way to educate and inspire generations old and young to rally
behind this fortress of defense that is our Constitution than through the
power of music.
Thanks to the vision of Barb and Bill, and with their
collaboration, I have
written an anthem to the origin and purpose of this monumental document as a production of Gilbert Constitution Week. The Fortress Stone premiered
at the September 2007 Gilbert Constitution Week with a live vocal performance and CD recording featuring Jordan Bluth as
soloist with full symphony orchestra and choir. For information on purchasing a CD, contact jason@talmage.com.
