Banner Moment #6: Jan. 8, 1917—Key's Song Named "National Anthem" of U.S. Military

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Banner Moments #5: Holmes Adds Civil War Verse to Anthem

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Proudly We Hail! MMB #Anthem200 Halftime Show

RED, WHITE & “GO BLUE!” (Click Here to View Video of the Show) U-M TO HOST ONE OF NATION’S BIGGEST CELEBRATIONS FOR NATIONAL ANTHEM’S 200th BIRTHDAY Michigan Marching Band to perform half-time extravaganza in celebration of “The Star Spangled Banner” bicentennial September 13, 2014, (Ann Arbor, MI) – The University of Michigan will be home…

Seven Surprising Star-Spangled Facts

Key had a father who fought in George Washington’s Continental Army, but an uncle who was a British loyalist. Key was deeply religious and had considered a career as a minister instead of a lawyer. Key and his wife Mary (aka. Polly) had 11 kids. Key inherited a family plantation as well as slaves. He…

Banner Moment #4: Inspiration—Key Witnesses American Victory (& History)

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Banner Moment #3—August 19, 1813—Garrison Flag Delivered to Fort McHenry

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Banner Moment #2—Oct. 3, 1787—First Documented Performance of the Melody

Banner Moments History Series (forward / back) While “The Anacreontic Song” was written in 1775 or ’76, The London Times (which believe it or not reported and reviewed Anacreontic Society meetings) did not start publishing until ten years later, so the first mention of a performance of the melody that Francis Scott Key would use…

Banner Moment #1—August 1, 1779—Francis Scott Key is Born

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Banner Moments: A Quick History of Francis Scott Key's Anthem

Our Banner Moments exhibit is available to display in your town!

On Thursday, September 12 in honor of Star Spangled Music Day, a dazzling exhibit will open in celebration of the #Anthem200 anniversary. Titled “Banner Moments: The National Anthem in American Life,” the exhibit features items from collections drawn across the University of Michigan’s archival holdings, including one of the dozen or so surviving copies of…

A Banner Arrangement for Beginning Band

T. J. Wolfgram, a University of Michigan graduate, who is now the band director at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, as well as a member of the 338th U.S. Army Reserve Band, has created a new arrangement of “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the Star Spangled Music Edition. While musicians early in their…

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