Star-Spangled Banner
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| Star-Spangled Banner | |
|---|---|
| Name | Star-Spangled Banner |
| Artist | Francis Scott Key |
| Published | 1814 |
| Written | 1814 |
| Composer | John Stafford Smith (melody) |
| Lyricist | Francis Scott Key |
| Genre | Patriotic song |
| Language | English |
Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States of America, with lyrics by Francis Scott Key and music from a tune by John Stafford Smith. The poem was inspired by the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. The song has been performed at major events associated with institutions such as the United States Congress, the White House, Major League Baseball, and the National Football League.
History
Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and amateur poet who had associations with figures like Robert Ross and events such as the Chesapeake–Leopard affair, wrote the lyrics after observing the aftermath of the Fort McHenry bombardment during the War of 1812. Key had been on a truce vessel connected to the USS HMS Euryalus|Euryalus and later reported his experience to contemporaries including John Quincy Adams, James Madison, and participants of the Hartford Convention. The poem was first published in newspapers such as the Baltimore Patriot and circulated among figures like Dolley Madison and members of the Maryland Historical Society. The melody came from a popular English song called "To Anacreon in Heaven", associated with the Anacreontic Society, and a setting by John Stafford Smith that was in circulation among American musicians linked to venues like Christ Church, Philadelphia and gatherings of veterans from the Battle of New Orleans. Performers and arrangers including Thomas Carr, Samuel Arnold, and bands tied to units like the United States Marine Band adapted the tune through the 19th century. Debates involving figures such as Andrew Johnson, Abraham Lincoln, and activists from Abolitionism influenced public reception during periods including the American Civil War and Reconstruction.
Lyrics
The original four-verse poem by Francis Scott Key was titled "Defence of Fort M'Henry" and references people and places like Baltimore, Fort McHenry, and the Calvert family’s heraldry. The first verse, which is the portion most commonly sung today at events honoring the United States of America, includes imagery of a "broad stripe" and "star-spangled banner" over the ramparts observed at dawn following bombardment. The later verses mention captured colors and the resilience of defenders—topics that intersect with historical figures and engagements such as the Chesapeake campaigns and military units like the Maryland Line. Editors and performers from institutions such as the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Archives and Records Administration have preserved manuscripts and printed variants. Poets and critics including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Edgar Allan Poe, and Walt Whitman commented on the poem in relation to American identity during eras shaped by leaders like Thomas Jefferson and activists like Frederick Douglass.
Composition and Music
The melody used is derived from "To Anacreon in Heaven", a convivial song by John Stafford Smith associated with the Anacreontic Society in London, and published in collections alongside works by contemporaries such as William Shield and Sir Henry Rowley Bishop. Early American arrangements involved musicians like Daniel Decatur Emmett and ensembles including the United States Marine Band and the New York Philharmonic, and were disseminated via sheet music publishers in cities such as Philadelphia, New York City, and Baltimore. The musical setting has been adapted by composers and arrangers including John Philip Sousa, Antonín Dvořák (in references and commentary), Leonard Bernstein (in broadcast performances), and modern interpreters connected to venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Performances have ranged from military band marches to orchestral transcriptions influenced by styles heard in venues like Metropolitan Opera and festivals such as the Tanglewood Music Festival.
Adoption as United States National Anthem
The path to formal recognition involved legislative and cultural milestones with actors like President Woodrow Wilson, Congress of the United States, and members of the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, organizations such as the Grand Army of the Republic, the United Confederate Veterans, and civic groups petitioned for official status, while institutions like the United States Naval Academy and the United States Military Academy standardized performance at ceremonies. Notable advocates included Perry Belmont and civic leaders in cities like Baltimore and Washington, D.C.. The formal codification occurred under a congressional resolution signed by President Herbert Hoover in 1931 after debates in committees influenced by figures such as Senator Walter Edge and public ceremonies involving the Miller Band and other ensembles.
Cultural Impact and Performances
The anthem has been performed at events featuring personalities and institutions such as Frank Sinatra, Marian Anderson, Whitney Houston, Jimi Hendrix, Beyoncé Knowles, Lady Gaga, Judy Garland, and athletic organizations like Major League Baseball and the National Football League. Historic renditions occurred at venues including the Super Bowl, World Series, Inauguration of the President of the United States, and memorials at sites such as the National Mall and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Political moments involving presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama have featured the anthem at inaugurations and state ceremonies. Protests and reinterpretations by activists connected to movements like the Civil Rights Movement (involving figures such as Martin Luther King Jr.), and demonstrations by athletes tied to institutions like the National Basketball Association and performers associated with the Recording Academy have spurred debate. International performances by artists from Britain, Canada, and allies such as France and Australia underscore diplomatic and cultural exchange at summits like the United Nations General Assembly.
Legal Status and Copyright
The anthem's lyrics by Francis Scott Key are in the public domain due to their age and the legal frameworks established by statutes and practices overseen by entities such as the United States Copyright Office and judicial interpretations in federal courts including decisions referencing the Copyright Act of 1909 and the Copyright Act of 1976. Arrangements and recordings by artists and ensembles such as the United States Marine Band, Getty Images Music-style licensors, and commercial labels invoke modern copyrights and performance rights managed by organizations like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Venues and broadcasters regulated by bodies such as the Federal Communications Commission typically comply with licensing when using copyrighted arrangements. Legal disputes occasionally involve record labels like Columbia Records and performing rights organizations representing creators at institutions including the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.