Frederick Fennell has said of the march National Emblem that it is as perfect as a march can be. It erupts in the key of E flat followed by the first twelve notes of the Star Spangled Banner as played by the trombones and baritones. The famous second strain uses material that Bagley first had in a saxophone quartet. We recognize it as the doggeral verse- 'Monkey Wrapping Tails Around Flagpoles'. Finally, the trio, introduced as simply as possible, four A flat chords followed by the sonorous statement in the low brass.
