In a time when as many as two out of every three Americans do not know the words to their own National Anthem, this article provides some much needed answers.
On September 13, 1814 a poem titled “Defense of Fort M'Henry” was penned by poet Francis Scott Key. The poem was based on events he witnessed while observing the battle for Fort McHenry near Baltimore, Maryland. Years later this poem was set to the music of John Stafford Smith’s song “To Anacreon in Heaven.” The irony in this progression is that the resultant “Star Spangled Banner,” a symbol of the United States’ national spirit and independence, was set to drinking song written by a British composer.
The Star Spangled Banner slowly spread throughout the United States, gaining acceptance by citizens and the military alike until finally, in 1931 President Hoover declared the song to be the official national anthem of the United States. Here are some other interesting facts about the Star Spangled Banner:
First Public Performance: October, 1814 in Baltimore at Captain McCauley’s Tavern.
First Public Printing: September 17, 1814 in a leaflet published in Baltimore, only two original copies survive to this day.
First Performance at a Sporting Event: Baseball Opening Day in Philadelphia, 1897
What Influenced The United States Finally Accept the Star Spangled Banner as our National Anthem?
A cartoon published by Robert Ripley (writer of the famed Ripley’s Believe It Or Not series) pointed out the fact that our country had no official National Anthem. Soon after this publication the idea took root and was expanded upon by other notable Americans including John Philip Sousa. Two years later in 1931, Herbert Hoover signed the Star Spangled Banner into law as the National Anthem of The United States of America.
Current Events Surrounding the Star Spangled Banner:
In 2004 a poll showed that an alarming percentage of people in the United States did not know the words to the Star Spangled Banner. As a result of this study the Music Educator's National Conference (MENC) initiated the National Anthem Project to rekindle interest and knowledge about the song.
What are the words and music to the Star Spangled Banner?
The words and music to our national anthem are available separately in many places on the Internet. However both are available in sheet music form as a free download from the web site Music Education Magic.
The copyright of the article The Star Spangled Banner in Music Education is owned by Chad Criswell. Permission to republish The Star Spangled Banner in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
If you have already participated in or intend to participate in the
National Anthem Project prior to its grand finale in the summer of 2007,
please let us know about your experiences.
Mar 8, 2007 9:32 AM
Bryce Westervelt
:
I am not, though I am singing it at a Devil Rays game sometime this summer!
Apr 5, 2007 8:29 PM
Joseph Pisano
:
Chad,
Maybe it's just me, but doesn't it seem that the United
States, as a whole, is not aware of this program? I asked my son's grade
teacher if she was aware of the big "push" by MENC to get people
"into" the National Anthem... Nothing.
Further
evidence to me that MENC needs a big boost, a "world voice" and a
fire lit under them about SOME things. I've said it before, but I think
that a lot of music educators live in a "box". At PMEA next
month, I'm going to be asking about some of these issues.
I
was checking out the PMEA technological parts of their site and most of
them are "under construction" and coming soon... Further evidence
to me...
Quite frankly, I really proud our Anthem and it's
words. I'm glad we don't have a cheesy, easy anthem. Ours is diverse,
strong, noble and complex...just like our Country! People should take a
little pride in that fact.
Kudos on your site and your voice,
people ARE hearing you!
Joe Pisano -MUSicTECHnology.net http://www.mustech.net
Jan 21, 2009 4:13 PM
Guest
:
If you have already participated in or intend to participate in the
National Anthem Project prior to its grand finale in the summer of 2007,
please let us know about your experiences. Mar 8, 2007 9:32 AMBryce
Westervelt : I am not, though I am singing it at a Devil Rays game sometime
this summer! Apr 5, 2007 8:29 PMJoseph Pisano
Maybe
it's just me, but doesn't it seem that the United States, as a whole, is
not aware of this program? I asked my son's grade teacher if she was aware
of the big "push" by MENC to get people "into" the
National Anthem... Nothing.
Further evidence to me that MENC
needs a big boost, a "world voice" and a fire lit under them
about SOME things. I've said it before, but I think that a lot of music
educators live in a "box". At PMEA next month, I'm going to be
asking about some of these issues.
I was checking out the PMEA
technological parts of their site and most of them are "under
construction" and coming soon... Further evidence to me...
Quite frankly, I really proud our Anthem and it's words. I'm glad we
don't have a cheesy, easy anthem. Ours is diverse, strong, noble and
complex...just like our Country! People should take a little pride in that
fact.
Kudos on your site and your voice, people ARE hearing
you!
Mar 3, 2009 9:31 AM
Guest
:
A drinking tune that glorifies war - sadly appropriate. And it usually
sounds like a dirge. Maybe the fact that hardly anyone knows the words
means we should rethink the choice of anthem. I've long thought our anthem
should be America The Beautiful instead, but Americans seem to see
criticism of one of our institutions or a move for change as an attack on
the country itself.
