Instrumentation: conductor -- piccolo -- 1st & 2nd flute -- 1st & 2nd oboe -- eb clarinet -- 1st Bb clarinet -- 2nd Bb clarinet -- 3rd Bb clarinet -- Eb alto clarinet -- Bb bass clarinet -- 1st & 2nd Eb alto sax -- Bb tenor sax -- Eb baritone sax -- 1st & 2nd bassoons -- 1s Bb cornet -- 2nd Bb cornet -- 1st & 2nd horns in F -- 3rd & 4th horns in F -- 1st trombone -- 2nd trombone -- 3rd trombone -- baritone (T.C.) -- baritone (B.C.) -- tuba -- string bass -- percussion 1 (cymbs., s.d., tom-toms, B.d.) -- percussion 2 (xylophone, bells) -- timpani.

"Parade of the tall ships" was written to commemorate Operation Sail 1976, which was the largest gathering of tall sailing ships from all over the world. This historic event took place in the New York harbor on July 4, 1976 as part of America's bicentennial celebration.