Star Spangled Banner - Original Version, 1814

[Claude Bauer]

Today is National Anthem Day, so here's the original version of the Star Spangled Banner as it would have sounded in 1814. How would this go over today?

It wasn't officially the National Anthem until 1931, despite its popularity throughout our history, including during the Civil War. See "The Civil War's National Hymn Committee couldn't decide on a national anthem"

The Civil War's National Hymn Committee couldn't decide on a National Anthem | Music & Songs of the 1860's

At the beginning of the Civil War, a group called the National Hymn Committee with 13 members was formed in New York for the purpose of finding a new song suitable for a national anthem. These men comprised politicians, lawyers, business leaders, and scholars living in New York City. To the...

civilwartalk.com

The earliest surviving sheet music of "The Star-Spangled Banner, from 1814:

This is a version from 1832 played by the US Military Band at West Point:

12K views · 151 reactions | In honor of the anniversary of the adoption of the The Star-Spangled Banner as our national anthem here is the 1832 version and what it would have sounded like in a young America. This instrumental version comes from our

In honor of the anniversary of the adoption of the The Star-Spangled Banner as our national anthem here is the 1832 version and what it would have sounded like in a young America. This instrumental...

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Here it is sung 104 years ago in 1915 by Margaret Woodrow Wilson, daughter of Woodrow Wilson:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/5/50/20080813081539%21MargaretWoodrowWilson-TheStarSpangledBanner.ogg

 

[Claude Bauer]

Today is National Anthem Day, so here's the original version of the Star Spangled Banner as it would have sounded in 1814. How would this go over today?

It wasn't officially the National Anthem until 1931, despite its popularity throughout our history, including during the Civil War. See "The Civil War's National Hymn Committee couldn't decide on a national anthem"

The Civil War's National Hymn Committee couldn't decide on a National Anthem | Music & Songs of the 1860's

At the beginning of the Civil War, a group called the National Hymn Committee with 13 members was formed in New York for the purpose of finding a new song suitable for a national anthem. These men comprised politicians, lawyers, business leaders, and scholars living in New York City. To the...

civilwartalk.com

The earliest surviving sheet music of "The Star-Spangled Banner, from 1814:

View attachment 349485

This is a version from 1832 played by the US Military Band at West Point:

12K views · 151 reactions | In honor of the anniversary of the adoption of the The Star-Spangled Banner as our national anthem here is the 1832 version and what it would have sounded like in a young America. This instrumental version comes from our

In honor of the anniversary of the adoption of the The Star-Spangled Banner as our national anthem here is the 1832 version and what it would have sounded like in a young America. This instrumental...

www.facebook.com

Here it is sung 104 years ago in 1915 by Margaret Woodrow Wilson, daughter of Woodrow Wilson:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/5/50/20080813081539%21MargaretWoodrowWilson-TheStarSpangledBanner.ogg

This is the Civil War version of the Star Spangled Banner favored by the Federal City Brass Band, a modern day group that performs period music:

4.6K views · 109 reactions | This is the version of the Star-Spangled Banner I like to perform with The Federal City Brass Band | Jari Villanueva

This is the version of the Star-Spangled Banner I like to perform with The Federal City Brass Band

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[captaindrew]

This is the Civil War version of the Star Spangled Banner favored by the Federal City Brass Band, a modern day group that performs period music:

4.6K views · 109 reactions | This is the version of the Star-Spangled Banner I like to perform with The Federal City Brass Band | Jari Villanueva

This is the version of the Star-Spangled Banner I like to perform with The Federal City Brass Band

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Love this version, the Federal City Brass sound amazing!

 

[ami]

This is so very cool! it sounds very "Charles Dickens'y"

 

[John Winn]

Both those versions have more swing to them than the current one. I particularly like the brass band arrangement.

Either way, it'd still be hard to sing.

 

[JOHN42768]

So wonderful to hear it not butchered like is so often the case in today's world. For some reason nobody wants to sing it without their own weird version.Thanks

 

[Claude Bauer]

So wonderful to hear it not butchered like is so often the case in today's world. For some reason nobody wants to sing it without their own weird version.Thanks

Someone sick of hearing all those weird versions at sports games came out with the hilarious "Star Spangled Banner Sporting Event Version" below, which includes instructions to the performer like, "time is not really an issue here," and "Milk it!"

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Today is National Anthem Day, so here's the original version of the Star Spangled Banner as it would have sounded in 1814. How would this go over today?

Great post !

But I doubt the original tune would go over too well in 2020.

Americans have a thirty-second attention span.

We might sing the first verse, wait for the military jet "fly over" . . . and then make a dash to get another beer before the Sports event starts.

Sad but true.

 

[Cavalier]

And it all happened right here in "Mobtown". There's an appropriate nickname!

John

 

[Mrs. V]

Someone sick of hearing all those weird versions at sports games came out with the hilarious "Star Spangled Banner Sporting Event Version" below, which includes instructions to the performer like, "time is not really an issue here," and "Milk it!"

View attachment 350635

I saw this! I cracked my choir up when I shared it. And yes, it is hard to sing, because you have to have range. That and it started life as a song sung by drunken tenors!!

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing this awesome article on "The Star Spangled Anthem". Especially the 1814 version never heard that one before! Have enjoyed reading this awesome article.

 

[Mrs. V]

You know the best version I've ever heard of this? When the PA system cut out at a ball game, and the crowd just continued singing. It was glorious to hear the multitude render this piece.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

it started life as a song sung by drunken tenors!!

I wasn't going to mention that, but it did begin as a bawdy English tavern "drinking song".

I'm laughing at the irony on so many levels.

 

[Cavalier]

Having enjoyed the camaraderie and fellowship of more than a few good saloons in my time, I think, for the National Anthem to have originated in one, is rather cool.

John

 

[John Winn]

I wasn't going to mention that, but it did begin as a bawdy English tavern "drinking song".

I'm laughing at the irony on so many levels.

Yeah, and Custer's tune, too. Best to pick something catchy that people know, even if by another name. It's the folk process at work.

 

[Cavalier]

It would seem that Custer had good taste in music.

John