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The Star Spangled Banner. |
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Tie melody of this song is that of an English drinking song, entitled "To Anacreon in Heaven1' and written for a jovial club called "The Anacreontics" which met at the "Crown and Anchor " in the Strand, London. It was composed between 1770 and 1775. The tune was probably written by Dr. Samuel Arnold (1739-1802). The melody was very popular in England in the 18th century. The editor has in his possession a copy of the old drinking-song published in the 18th century and also a masonic song to the same tune, dated 1802. The tune was very well known in America long before Key used it for his famous words. It was used at a banquet of the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Association, in Boston, Juno 1st, 1798, with words by Robert Treat Paine, (then knownas"Tom" Paine) in praise of the President and entitled "Adams and Liberty". This version became famous throughout the country. It was subsequently altered into "Jefferson and Liberty" in a Philadelphia version. On the 25th of March, 1813, it was sung in Boston with new words in honor of the Russian victories over Napoleon, and it was probably in this guise that Key remembered itwhen writing his famous verses. The story that the melody was selected for the words by an actor named Durang (although printed in several histories) may emphatically be denied; the tune was chosen by Francis Scott Key himself and was named in the earliest printed version in the "Baltimore American", and in the broadside that was distributed through the city. Key had been detained with the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay during the night of the bombardment of Fort McHcnry. One can imagine the anxiety with which he gazed towards Baltimore on the morning after the battle. When he saw the American flag still floating over the fort, he was inspired to write the first verse of the song. He was allowed to depart that morning. On his way to Baltimore he composed the remaining vers�es. Immediately on his arrival in the city the verses were printed by the "Baltimore American". |
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