2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States’ Declaration of Independence, a moment that will be marked by reflection, celebration and, of course, music making across the country.
We’ve gathered together our picks of ten musical works that we think could form the core of this celebration. Forming only the small tip of our extensive collection of U.S. music, they are chosen to represent the nation’s history, its ideals, struggles and evolving identity.
Some of these works will be very familiar, but you will also find a few surprises…
Follow the links on each piece to find all the sheet music you need for your anniversary celebration. And if you are a subscriber with an unusual ensemble, let us know—we can normally make a version of the piece that will work for you.
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It’s sometimes said that ‘the devil has all the best tunes,’ but if we cast an eye back on the history of Western music, that is very far from being the case. Some of the most gorgeous music ever to have been written is religious. And of this the aria, a work for solo voice, is the purest, most distilled essence of this beauty.
We’ve rummaged through the whole of this history to bring you our picks of the very greatest religious arias, the only rule being that each composer can only be represented by one piece (with one sneaky exception at the end!).
This list is not just for singers; these pieces make great concert pieces on any instrument—follow the links to access our catalogue of exclusive arrangements!
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Brahms's 21 Hungarian Dances are amongst the most popular pieces he ever wrote. And of these, No.5 is the undoubted star of the set—fiery, rhythmically incisive and full of dramatic contrasts, it has become emblematic of the 'Hungarian Dance' style. It has also become popular though the many arrangements of it that have been made of it over the years, one of the biggest collections being here on 8notes (we have over 50 versions to chose from!).
The history of this particular dance is, however, controversial to say the least...
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There have been great concertos written for many instruments, but somehow the piano concerto feels like the biggest of the concerto beasts. Perhaps this is because of the epic carrying power of a modern concert grand piano, perhaps because so many composers have also been great pianists.
There are many candidates for the greatest piano concerto, so we have had to work hard to whittle them down to the very greatest. They’re all pretty difficult to play, but luckily here on 8notes you will find not only the complete works, but also special easier arrangements so you can experience playing the best parts from them. This includes versions for solo line instruments such as the flute, violin and trumpet, so you don’t even have to be a pianist to experience these marvellous works. Just follow the links in the descriptions below.
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Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee is notorious for being one of the most difficult solo works in the repertoire. In spite of, or more probably because of this, almost all musicians are eager to play it. It is the ultimate technical challenge; to conquer it is to prove that one has attained a certain type of mastery. Unsurprisingly, then, it is one of our most popular works on 8notes, with more than 30 versions to choose from.
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The violin sonata literature is so deep and rich that it is often difficult enough to choose a favourite sonata by a particular composer, let alone the top ten of all time. Yet whilst any such list is debatable, it is possible to identify certain works that represent the apex of the genre, the most musically profound, technically challenging of their type. Taken as a whole, these works trace the expressive journey of the instrument over two centuries.
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Every musician knows the value of practice — hours spent working on scales, tricky passages, and acquiring technical fluency. It can be a lonely process. 
But there is something you can do that will help make every practice session feel more like the thrill of a real performance. And the good news is, this will not just keep you engaged, but it will supercharge your musical skills.
The trick is to practise with playalong tracks.
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The very essence of elegance, lyricism and subtle melancholy, Gabriel Faure’s Sicilienne, Op.78 (1893) is a masterpiece of the French Romantic period. At just four minutes to perform and prioritising expressivity over virtuosity, it has become a very popular work amongst cello players of intermediate and higher levels. Despite this, Sicilienne actually started life as a theatre work, with even the cello version not being the final version of the piece.
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J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 is, by some distance, the most instantly recognisable work for organ. It’s arresting ‘da-da-da’ opening, followed by florid runs, dramatic pauses and a bunch of chunky chords has something deliciously gothic about it. Small wonder our many arrangements of it here on 8notes are so popular with our members.
No matter how well you think you know this piece, however, some things about it may come as a surprise…
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The march is one of the most ancient of musical forms, its origins going back deep into antiquity. In the time of Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, music was used to accompany ceremonial and military movements, with drums, horns and pipes being used to coordinate the steps of soldiers and to inspire morale. Music was also important on the battlefield, with trumpet and horn-like instruments used to signal actions such as charge and retreat.
Whilst these uses didn’t form any kind of distinct musical repertoire that has survived, they set basic functions for the the march—for coordination, ceremony and motivation.
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