Francis Scott Key wrote a song to a melody of his own choosing

1. Francis Scott Key wrote a song to a melody of his own choosing Not a poem that someone else matched to a tune PowerPoint file freefor educational use. By Mark Clague, Ph.D.

2. The Anacreontic Song, 1775/1776 • To Anacreon in Heav’n, where he sat in full Glee, • A few Sons of Harmony sent a Petition, • That He their Inspirer and Patron would be; • When this Answer arriv’d from the Jolly Old Grecian “Voice, Fiddle, and Flute, “No longer be mute, • “I’ll lend you my Name and inspire you to boot, • “And, besides, I’ll instruct you like me, to intwine • “The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine. Click here to listen to the original song

3. The Anacreontic Song, 1775/1776 • To Anacreon in Heav’n, where he sat in full Glee, • A few Sons of Harmony sent a Petition, • That He their Inspirer and Patron would be; • When this Answer arriv’d from the Jolly Old Grecian • “Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,“No longer be mute, • “I’ll lend you my Name and inspire you to boot, • “And, besides, I’ll instruct you like me, to intwine • “The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.

4. “The Star-Spangled Banner,” 1814 • O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light, • What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming, • Whose broad stripes & bright stars through the perilous fight, • O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming? • And the Rockets’ red glare, the Bombs bursting in air, • Gave proof through the night that our Flag was still there; • O! say, does that star-spangled Banner yet wave, • O’er the Land of the free, and the home of the brave? Click here to hear the original 1814 version of Key’s song.

5. Star Spangled Music Day12 September 2014 Have your class or school celebrate the 200th anniversary of “The Star-Spangled Banner”

6. For Information & Teaching Materialsvisit starspangledmusic.org Poets & Patriots Recording Project