MYTH #1: Francis Scott Key was held prisoner aboard a British ship during the bombardment of BaltimoreCORRECTION: Key was aboard his own American truce ship during the battleKey and fellow lawyer John S. Skinner, the U.S. Agent for Prisoners of War, sailed from Baltimore on September 5, 1814 on an American truce ship and headed…
Month: June 2014
Star Spangled Myths: Correcting the Anthem Story
Celebrate Flag Day with SSMF & the Smithsonian Museum of American History with your own #RaiseItUp performance of the Banner! In honor of the U.S. Flag Day holiday on June 14, 2014 and celebrating our partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History, Star Spangled Music Foundation board member Mark Clague will be presenting…
Social Media Intern Needed
The Star-Spangled Music Foundation seeks an unpaid intern to work and learn alongside volunteer media professionals and help develop our social media presence. This opportunity could be accomplished by someone living in or near Ann Arbor, Michigan but could also be done remotely. We are looking for someone willing to undergo an initial training and…
Dudley Buck's Festival Overture on the American National Air
In 1879, one of America’s leading American composers—Dudley Buck (a name often neglected today)—wrote a Festival Overture to celebrate Independence Day. The seven-minute piece for full orchestra (with optional chorus) was based on the melody of “The Star-Spangled Banner” or what the composer called the “American National Air.” Both the national music festival and Key’s…