I recently visited the Brentwood K-6 Lower School (Los Angeles) to share the story of “The Star-Spangled Banner” as well as one of Francis Scott Key’s poems titled “To My Steed.” Before I spoke, however, there were a few announcements and to my delight two students came up to talk about their own Banners—flags they…
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NEW "Historical" SATB Banner Arrangement—Guest Post: Ross W. Duffin of Quire Cleveland
FREE SCORE! Click Image to download or go to our free scores page “Historical” SATB Arrangement of “The Star-Spangled Banner” Arranged 2012 by Ross W. Duffin Note: credit “Arranged by Ross W. Duffin” and please email microloguspress@gmail.com with performance information. In researching a program of historical American choral music for Quire Cleveland, I decided to…
Poets & Patriots Live! Now on Youtube
Our Poets & Patriots Live! recording release recital is now archived and available on our starspangledmusic Youtube channel. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEHDlXUvHWwIM0i9ZQSnCGWbFH5PgzS9l] This lecture recital offers an artistic journey through the history of the United States national anthem from its roots in an English club song through a brand-new arrangement by Boston-based composer Michael Gandolfi. Each song is…
Happy Presidents' Day—Poets & Patriots Live at 8pm EST
UPDATE: the entire Poets & Patriots Live recital is now available on Youtube — click here! To celebrate “George Washington’s Birthday” (aka. Presidents’ Day), the University of Michigan’s American Music Institute with the Star Spangled Music Foundation presents Poets & Patriots Live! a lecture recital at U-Michigan’s North Campus “Stamps Auditorium” (1226 Murfin Ave. /…
Francis Scott Key & George Washington's Birthday (aka. Presidents Day?)
NOTE: In celebration of George Washington’s Birthday, the Star Spangled Music Foundation will present Poets & Patriots in recital at Stamps Auditorium on the University of Michigan’s north campus at 8:00 p.m. Click here for more information. The wandering apostrophe in the name of Presidents’ Day / President’s Day / Presidents Day has a logical…
Poets & Patriots Recital—Live Stream & CD Release on Feb. 17
Join us on Monday, February 17 at 8:00 p.m. to celebrate the release of our landmark recording project—Poets & Patriots: A Tuneful History of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The recital will be streamed live via uStream (click here) and anyone near the University of Michigan’s campus can see the show live at Stamps Auditorium on Michigan’s…
An Inspiring Anthem from Resounding Joy
SSMF Executive Director Susan Key recently had the opportunity to speak with Rebecca Vaudreuil, a student in Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and national military liaison to the music therapy organization Resounding Joy, about a very special rendition of the Banner… http://youtu.be/e3UEagpfeUM?t=1m29s On August 10, 2013, Rebecca and United States Marine Corps Sgt, Retired, Benjamin Tourtelot,…
Year 200 Guest Post—On Teaching “The Star-Spangled Banner” in American Studies and Music Courses by Will Fulton
For Music in the U.S.: A Cultural Perspective, an interdisciplinary course that is cross-listed in American Studies and Music, I scheduled the opening unit on “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In beginning the course with the “Banner,” my aim was to examine changing performance practices of the anthem, and to explore ways that different performances of this…
A Banner Year Is Here!
2014 begins the eight and a half month run up to the 200th birthday of the U.S national anthem—”The Star Spangled Banner”! The Star Spangled Music Foundation and its partners have developed an exciting year of exhibits, performances, publications and educational initiatives. Many of our events will be webcast and available to viewers across the…
Year 199 Guest Post—Sheryl Kaskowitz on "Songs as History"
What can we learn from a song? This is a question I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, as the 75th anniversary of the radio premiere of “God Bless America” (click here) was approaching. I’ve noticed press about a few other diamond anniversaries that put the song’s debut in historical context, recapturing significant moments from…