Published November 11, 2026
Recently, both my social media feeds and the movie theater previews have been showing me the trailer for a new film about James Stewart, focusing on his time serving in World War II and the making of It's a Wonderful Life. The film is partnering with several organizations to provide veterans with free tickets to see it on Veterans Day, which I thought was a particularly lovely gesture. As a big fan of Stewart, I’m still undecided about whether I’ll see the film. However, the trailer did get me thinking about veterans and, in particular, Veterans Day.
Several members of my extended family have served in the military. However, no one in my immediate family has, and I think that's why I’ve perhaps been less consciously connected to the holiday than I should be, something I admittedly feel guilty about.
I’ve never been an advocate for war, and I wish we lived in a world where a military wasn't necessary to protect us; a world where we respected one another and chose not to cause harm. Unfortunately, that seems like a pipe dream. With that, I recognize how vital every branch of the U.S. military is to our country, and I remain abundantly grateful to those who have and continue to serve. They have made, and continue to make, sacrifices for our protection that many of us cannot begin to comprehend. Today’s article is dedicated to them. Thank you for your service.
Whenever I think about music associated with wartime, I inevitably think of big band music. Who doesn't? My favorite bandleader of that era is Glenn Miller.
Miller also came to mind when I remembered that James Stewart portrayed him in a film (see how we came back to James Stewart?). Looking through my record collection, I found an album featuring some of Glenn Miller’s biggest hits, including original recordings from his time in military service.
The world will never know what a post-World War II Glenn Miller might have looked or sounded like, as he disappeared in a tragic plane accident during the war. Nevertheless, his legacy lives on through the joy his music brought to audiences both at home and to servicemen and women stationed overseas. His legacy is truly remarkable, and I encourage you to read more about him when you have the opportunity. His contributions were so significant that he was ultimately honored with a burial at Arlington National Cemetery.
I don't think Miller would have wanted us to dwell on the sadness, though. I think he would have wanted us to turn our attention to the music, and so, let's begin!
First Impressions
Looking at this album's cover, I cannot help but admire how handsome the illustration of Glenn Miller is in his military uniform. There’s something almost heavenly about it, as he seems surrounded by—or perhaps even part of—the clouds in the sky. The cover identifies the album as selections from The Glenn Miller Story and other hits, but what really catches my attention is the bold lettering announcing that these are Glenn Miller’s original recordings. Oh, how glad that makes me! I flip the record over to discover a black-and-white illustration depicting Miller leading his band, but what touches my heart most is the note on the back, written by George T. Simon, former editor of Metronome and an alumnus of the Miller band.
He begins his tribute in almost fairytale fashion, immediately suggesting how much he revered Glenn Miller. He writes:
“Once there was a musician who wanted to lead a band. He had been doing pretty well for himself as a sideman in several bands, as an organizer of the Ray Noble Orchestra, as an arranger, and as one of the top trombonists in the New York studios. Still, he wanted a band of his own, so he set about putting one together.”
The story continues, explaining, “When the war came, Glenn felt that his place was in the armed services. In 1942, he applied for an Air Force commission, was accepted, and proceeded to build a superb dance band for that service.”
Simon also describes how the band's theme song became "Moonlight Serenade," which apparently grew out of an exercise Miller had prepared for an arranging lesson with the renowned Joseph Schillinger.
The tribute continues with more historical context, although I have to admit that, as it progresses, I feel it moves a little further away from the heartfelt storytelling with which Simon began. The historical details are certainly interesting, but the writing becomes a bit dry toward the end. I almost wonder whether that shift was Simon's way of steadying himself, gathering his thoughts, and finding the words to finish a tribute to someone who meant so much to him. After all, how do you properly pay tribute to someone whose contributions were so significant to both our nation's history and the history of music? The facts can only take you so far; it's the emotion behind them that says so much more. Thinking about that, I find myself with a tear in my own eye.
Let’s put this record on.
Listening Experience
I remember being a kid and sometimes hearing songs differently. That was how I described it back then. Today, I would explain it as the way transposing a song into a different key can completely change how it sounds and feels. The key a song is played in really does affect the listening experience. It can make a song sound brighter, more lovey-dovey and romantic, or perhaps more dramatic, melancholy, or even sensual. In the case of this album, Glenn Miller and the band’s live performance of “Moonlight Serenade” sounded particularly lovey-dovey and bright. It felt purposeful, almost as though they were trying to cheer up audiences and give them a glimmer of hope. Listening to the music with that context in mind definitely brought a tear to my eye.
As you listen to this album, you can really hear different players shine, almost like different voices joining in a conversation. My mind began to wander as I wondered who each player might have been eyeing in the audience or thinking about with each note. Where did that longing come from? Was it for someone sitting right in front of them, or was it a memory of home? It’s all terribly romantic. What is it about World War II that feels so romantic? How is it that some of the most beautiful romances can unfold during some of the most tragic times? I contemplated all of this while listening to the record, and even upon further reflection, I still can't quite find an answer.
As I listened, I recognized a whole bunch of songs. Some I could name aloud, while others I couldn't quite pinpoint by title but could easily hum along to. The crazy thing is that just the other day, I found myself singing the lyrics, “Don't fall far from the apple tree,” and it turned out to be a melody featured in one of Glenn Miller's tracks! Certain songs stick with us. That's the power of the big band era: so many of these melodies have woven their way into the hearts and memories of generations.
The only downfall of this record is that you really have to be careful about when you choose to listen to it. I say this because I put it on feeling very relaxed, only to experience heart palpitations for whatever reason suddenly and have to take a moment to calm myself down. As it turns out, Glenn Miller isn't necessarily what you want to listen to when you're trying to recover from anxiety or anything else that might cause your heart rate to speed up! Nevertheless, Glenn Miller's music is beautiful.