Above / Kevin Kelly, Music Director of the Naperville Chorus, led the choral group and the Naperville Municipal Band during a performance of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” on July 2, 2026, at the Naperville Community Concert Center in Central Park.
The annual Naperville Municipal Band Independence Day concert with the performance of the “1812 Overture” accompanied by six cannons (and one additional small one this year), again attracted thousands of band fans to fill Central Park for an evening of patriotic music and familiar melodies.
The City band also accompanied the Naperville Chorus during a set of songs that included “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which ended up being the final song of the evening.
Published in The Atlantic in 1862, the poetic words of Julia Ward Howe were sung to the tune of an 1850s camp-meeting song titled “Say, Brother, Will You Meet Us?” In time, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” became the most widely sung of all Union songs during the Civil War and is often considered the Union’s Civil War anthem.
Just as the Naperville Chorus had finished its set, and three songs remained on the program, NMB Conductor Emily Binder announced the concert would conclude early since lightning could be seen approaching Central Park.
Though the Naperville Municipal Band Independence Day Concert was cut short, the resounding music of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” will be remembered for its rousing standing ovation during the Happy 250th Birthday America celebration in Central Park.
More than likely the historic tune is familiar to readers. The thoughtful and faithful words have value with or without the tune.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
by Julia Ward Howe
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
Chorus:
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.
Chorus
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
“As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on.”
Chorus
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
Chorus
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
Chorus
He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Chorus
For additional photos from the NMB Independence Day Concert, visit the PHOTO GALLERY on this website.
The Naperville Municipal Band is under the leadership of Conductor and Music Director Emily Binder as well as Associate Conductor William Jastrow. The Naperville Chorus is under the leadership of Music Director Kevin Kelly. NMB Emcee Steve Lord added historical narration throughout the program.
NOTE! Independence Day Concert and Fireworks Canceled!
From the Naperville Park District:
Due to additional storms forecasted for the area this afternoon and evening, tonight’s fireworks show at Frontier Sports Complex is canceled. This also includes the pre-fireworks concert. The Park District and City of Naperville will work with the fireworks vendor on a possible rescheduled date for the fireworks show.
