The Johnson Brothers Originally published in our 2014 Star Spangled Songbook, we are pleased to make the sheet music for the African American Anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” with by the brothers James Weldon Johnson (lyrics) and J. Rosamond Johnson (music) available. Despite the broad popularity of this song, which was featured recently by…
Category: Composers
Band Music of Alton Augustus Adams—Free Downloads
Alton Augustus Adams, Sr. (1889–1987) was a pioneering performer, composer, educator, and author who advanced the band culture of the Virgin Islands. A flutist and piccolo player, he founded the Adams Juvenile Band in 1910, teaching each of its musicians and drilling the ensemble to such a professional standard that the unit was inducted as…
Star-Spangled Myth #8: Igor Stravinsky's Mug Shot & "Illegal" Anthem
MYTH #8: A mug shot offers proof of composer Igor Stravinsky’s arrest by the Boston Police for desecrating a national symbol after conducting a performance of his own arrangement of “The Star-Spangled Banner” with the Boston Symphony. CORRECTION: The supposed mug shot is actually part of Stravinsky’s 1940 visa application for residence in the United…
A Celebration of Two Centuries of a Song — 4PM Live Stream
Two hundred years ago today, the “dawn’s early light” broke over Fort McHenry and illuminated a flag symbolizing resilience and courage. Two hundred years later, the song written by Francis Scott Key in praise of the fort’s defenders still waves over the nation, celebrating the commitment of American citizens to the day-to-day requirements of democracy.Today…
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…
Singing the SSB Video Lesson 5
Click Here for Video Lesson 5 http://youtu.be/rgr0VFtf6Ds Materials Needed Internet access to YouTube Computer with projector (for students to view YouTube videos) Speakers (for students to hear the YouTube videos) Activities – Watch the video lesson linked above. During the video, students will participate in speaking and singing activities for a given excerpt of the…
Singing the SSB Video Lesson 4
Click Here for Video Lesson 4 http://youtu.be/Qm235RHdGi0 Materials Needed Internet access to YouTube Computer with projector (for students to view YouTube videos) Speakers (for students to hear the YouTube videos) Activities – Watch the video lesson linked above. During the video, students will participate in speaking and singing activities for a given excerpt of the…
Singing the SSB Video Lesson 3
Click Here for Video Lesson 3 http://youtu.be/cGDczAsS5tY Materials Needed Internet access to YouTube Computer with projector (for students to view YouTube videos) Speakers (for students to hear the YouTube videos) Activities – Watch the video lesson linked above. During the video, students will participate in speaking and singing activities for a given excerpt of the…
Singing the SSB Video Lesson 2
Click Here for Video Lesson 2 http://youtu.be/DPZ0mVrtGjw Materials Needed Internet access to YouTube Computer with projector (for students to view YouTube videos) Speakers (for students to hear the YouTube videos) Activities – Watch the video lesson linked above. During the video, students will participate in speaking and singing activities for a given excerpt of the…
Singing the SSB Video Lesson 1
Click Here for Video Lesson 1 http://youtu.be/KBtvy9cqOhI Materials Needed Internet access to YouTube Computer with projector (for students to view YouTube videos) Speakers (for students to hear the YouTube videos) Activities – Watch the video lesson linked above. During the video, students will participate in speaking and singing activities for a given excerpt of the…