Francis Scott Key wrote the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" 145 years
ago today, and the music has been the subject of controversy ever since;
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SHOULD WE CHANGE
Francis Scott Key wrote
only the anthem's words.
OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM?
by Alfred Balk
Former president Harry S. Truman often makes
news with his outspoken comments. During a
televised conversation last year, for example, Mr.
Truman was asked his opinion of "The Missouri
Waltz," a song which virtually has become 'his
theme.
Mr. Truman snapped, "It's as bad as 'the Star
Spangled Banner' as far as music is concerned!"
Mr. Truman, who takes his patriotism seriously,
obviously meant no disrespect to the anthem jis a
symbol. He was speaking only of its musical quali
ties and in this, despite the reverence Ameri
cans feel for their national anthem, many who
have struggled to sing it must agree. As it now
stands, it is hard to cope with vocally.
For several years, musicians and singers have
realized this and suggested some challenging, even
controversial, improvements.
For example, Deems Taylor, noted music his
torian and commentator, says, "The fundamental
qualification for a good national anthem is that
it can be sung by everybody. 'The Star-Spangled
Banner', cannot be sung by everybody!"
Or take the view of Lucy Monroe, who has led
the anthem publicly some 6,000 times and is prob
ably more familiar with it than any other singer.
"The people want to sing 'our song' well," says
Miss Monroe, "but rather than try to make the
high notes, some of them don't sing at all. This
is a sad situation." Yet here is a song that should
belong to all Americans, one which should in
spire patriotism as we sing it with our country
men. But are we able to sing it? --
Congress, considered this problem last year In
House - subcommittee . hearings on whether a '
"standard version" of "The Star-Spangled Ban
ner" should be adopted. (We don't have an official
score and verse now). ' -
But the hearings were inconclusive. Many ex
pressed concern about the quality of our anthem,
but there was equal concern that any hasty al
terations would be regretted later. '- -
As most : schoolboys know, Francis Scott Key
wrote the words during the War of 1812 in fact,
he wrote them 145 years ago today, on Sept. 13,
1814. A Washington attorney and amateur versi
fier, he was so moved while, watching the British
bombardment of Fort McHenry that at dawn,
when the American flag still flew defiantly, he be
gan penning his immortal stanzas.
Key did not write the music. In fact, he ap
parently didn't realize his poem would ever be
sung. But the words fit an old air, "To Anacreon
in Heaven." There were many versions of the tune
then, including a drinking song, and a Baltimore
music store published "The Star-Spangled Banner"
to this music in 1814.
: The song, though popular in Baltimore, did not
appear in school song books until 1850. Soldiers
picked it up during the wars of the 19th century,
and by World War I it had become a favorite.
The war made us conscious that we lacked a
national anthem, so a bill was introduced to make
the song our official hymn. But petitions also
poured in on behalf of ."America the .Beautiful,"
"Hail Columbia," and even "Yankee Doodle."
Six times "The Star-Spangled Banner" v was
nominated. Finally, on March 3, 1931, Congress
declared that the "song known traditionally" as
"The Star-Spangled Banner" was officially our
anthem.
Why hasn't this closed the matter?
What puzzles the experts is should we mod
ify the anthem for "singability," or should an
official version be adopted which adheres closely
to what is considered the "original?" Or should
we seeK a new arnnem: r
A number of songs have been mentioned which
seem to express the spirit of our nation as well
as and in some cases better than the revered
words of Key.
Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" for in
stance, has stirred whole audiences to tears. .
Congress already has voted him a gold medal for
writing it. "America the' Beautiful" has some of
the most majestic descriptive phrases ever writ
ten about our country. Composer Morton Gould,
among others,, has said he believes it now is
"more pertinent" than "The Star-Spangled Banner."
"The Stars and Stripes Forever," John Philip
Sousa's grandiloquent march, as yet has no words
which match its music in dignity and power. But
it could be the basis of a tremendously moving
national song. "America" has touched many per
sons deeply, including Deems Taylor, who con
siders it a candidate for a national anthem.
Many, however, find it inconceivable that any
thing but "The Star-Spangled Banner" could be
our anthem. Bing Crosby, while conceding its "dif
ficulties" says,"I genuinely deplore the abandon
ment of things traditional to our. American her
itage. Let's keep 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' "
A compromise may De lo ievei mi a icw ui
anthem's notes which we have trouble sing
ing. Paul Taubman, a leading New York TV musi
cal director, has endeavored to do this. At the
request of the National Music Council, a Cohgres
sionally chartered organization of 45 leading musi
cal groups, Taubman has made an arrangement
of "The Star-Spangled Banner" which put its
within everybody's vocal range without destroy
ing the song's basic character.
In musical terms, Taubman has lowered each
note a minor third for the phrases, "And the
rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,"
and also the final "O'er the land of the free."
"is the only completely satisfactory solution, and
I respectfully urge that it be adopted so that all
of us, young and old, in every. walk of life, may
stand proudly and sing every note of The Star
Spangled Banner.' " , .
. From time to time, as more pressing matters
are disposed of, the House subcommittee will
meet again to discuss an official version. It will
consider any viewpoint put forth with respect
and restraint.
. This includes yours, for our national anthem
above all belongs to every American!
Cover:
Photographer Afal Bulloch, spent many.
pleasant hours with Mr. and Mrs. Dean
Martin to get today's cover photo and
other "at home" shots to illustrate the
fascinating series, "This . Is My Dino,"
which begins on page 8.
Weelcly
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September 13, 1959
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