Songs

Book 1 has two songs. The new cadets are introduced to the Academy Anthem at their first meal when the older cadets enter singing. The heart-stirring melody and words of the song help the cadets feel they belonged to a new home with a rich past.

• Our Academy (download the music)
• Our Academy (listen to the melody)

The second song in Book 1 appears at the end of the meal when the Benediction is sung. The new cadets, ignorant of the words and tune, could only listen, but a feeling of friendliness and comfort came over them at the sound of the simple tune.

• Benediction (download the music)
• Benediction (listen to the melody)

Book 2 includes two songs, a Ballad and a Round, both sung by the dogs around the campfire where they celebrate having passed their exams.

• The Ballad of Wandering Finn (download the music with verse 1)
• The Ballad of Wandering Finn (download the words to all the rest of the verses)
• The Ballad of Wandering Finn (listen to the melody)

• Gather Round (download the music)
• Gather Round (listen to the melody)

Composers

Janet C. Anderson composed the songs in Book 1. A lover of music all her life, she served as the pianist for her local church and taught piano for years. She well knows the styles of anthems and benedictions and enjoyed contributing to The New Cadets.

Susan Wilcox composed the songs in Book 2. Susan plays a dozen ancient instruments and a few modern ones, but her heart is with classical and singable styles. This love started as a child, singing in the dining hall with a hundred other campers and gathering around a fire. All this easily transfers to the experiences of the New Cadets.