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The Star Spangled Banner. Francis Scott Key’s Inspiration. Eye witness to the bombardment of Fort McHenry 9/14/1814, when he saw the American flag soaring above the fort “by the dawn’s early light,” he knew that Fort McHenry had not surrendered
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Francis Scott Key’s Inspiration • Eye witness to the bombardment of Fort McHenry • 9/14/1814, when he saw the American flag soaring above the fort “by the dawn’s early light,” he knew that Fort McHenry had not surrendered • Began to write a poem on the back of a letter he was carrying • Instructions when published to sing to the tune of “Anacreon in Heaven” • “The Defence of Fort McHenry” = original title • Lyrics were distributed to every man at the fort and around Baltimore • Holiday Street Theater in Baltimore on October 19, 1814 • A music store subsequently published the words and music under the title “The Star Spangled Banner” • Helped transform Key’s vision of the flag into a national symbol of patriotism
March 3, 1931 – Designated the National Anthem by an act of congress Key’s poem had 4 verses, although today, only the first stanza is sung The tradition of singing the anthem at sporting events spread during WWII
Renditions • National Anthem performed by Whitney Houston during the Persian Gulf War • The Anacreontic Song performed by the Georgia Tech Glee Club
Tone-The Power of Words • Define tone • Anacreontics=Verses in a meter used by Greek poet Anacreon in poems dealing with love and wine • F.S. Key created patriotic lyrics to be sung in the tune of a drinking song. How is he able to change the tone while keeping the tune?
Reflection Questions • 1-Explain how you react to hearing/singing “The Star Spangled Banner.” • 2-Do you have a special memory of seeing the American flag? To you, what does the flag stand for? • 3-Which lyrics in F.S. Key’s first stanza (that you are familiar with) stand out the most and why?
