Composer Z. Randall Stroope, as a special premier commission with National Concerts in Carnegie Hall, has written a large choral/orchestral work, titled FRANKLIN. This is part of the 250 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin is the only person who signed all three founding documents of this nation - The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Treaty of Paris. He is the only non-president to appear on US currency. Though well-known for his experiments with lightning (and creation of the lightning rod), he also invented the Franklin stove, founded the first public lending library, established postal service between the colonies, first hospital, founded the University of Pennsylvania, and many other activities in the service of others. He made his inventions free (no patents) and did not desire that his name be on any structures. Randall will be the composer-in-residence for the rehearsals/performance of this new work.