A concert of Fourth of July music may inspire complex varieties of patriotism.

In this moment in U.S. politics, in which jingoism informs patriotism, debate is divisive, and the White House… let’s not even go there… a July Fourth program of patriotic music seems like a throwback to a simpler idea: celebrate the United States.

Maybe not all parts of the United States (like, “I Wish I Was in Dixie”), but the proud, shared ideals of the country – equality, prosperity and liberty.

Carl Christensen, the conductor of the Monterey County Pops! orchestra, is adept at putting together a varied concert, mixing folk music, patriotic tunes, pop songs, light classical and showtunes. Their annual Fourth of July concerts are more traditionally patriotic and military boosterish, but there is diversity.

It starts with the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Armed Forces Salute.” Then, an arrangement of a suite of folk songs, including “Shenandoah” and “Sweet Betsy from Pike,” by Italian-American Luigi Zaninelli. He bridges the United States to Europe, bringing us to the “Allegro” strings of Vivaldi’s Concerto Grosso.

Then we stay in Europe with British guest conductor Paul Goodwin, popping over before his eighth season of Carmel Bach Festival. (Actually, is England still considered part of Europe after Brexit?) He’ll lead the orchestra through the overture to Strauss Jr.’s operetta Die Fledermaus.

“It creates the frenetic whizz of a masked ball,” Goodwin writes by email, “and then it stops and starts to indicate all the various intrigues, hidden identities and indiscretions that are yet to happen!”

Last year Pops! invited Goodwin to guest conduct a Holst arrangement of a Bach fugue, which the audience loved. But that wasn’t the first Bach/Pops! crossover. Christensen used to conduct the Bach Festival’s outreach concert a dozen or so years ago, while trumpeter Scott Seward and trombonist Sue Madge work with both organizations.

“We see it as a mutually beneficial thing,” Christensen says. “It gives us a bit of star power, and they want to deepen local connections.”

The Monterey County Pops!/Pelenke Arts Youth Chorus are returning to do Alessia Cara’s youth – and diversity-embracing anthem “Scars to Your Beautiful” and Latin American standard “La Muralla.” Talented viola, violin and cello players from Youth Orchestra Salinas and Youth Music Monterey County will play a few pieces by Vivaldi.

They end the program on a July Fourth tradition – the finale of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” Yes, it’s Russian, and yes it incorporates a snippet of the French national anthem, but it’s bombastic and triumphant, and besides, being connected to other countries, traditions and people seems essentially American.

THE FREE INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT is 7pm Wednesday, July 4, at Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. Free. 484-5511, montereycountypops.org