Our National Anthem

Melissa Tajchman
Mrs. Furgouson
Communications 9
April 6, 2008
Our National Anthem

The “Star Spangled Banner has been our national anthem since 1931 a lengthy 77 years. Francis Scoot Key, a Baltimore lawyer, in the war of 1812 was sent on a mission to the British fleet anchored off Fort McHenry. On September 13, 1814 the British attacked Fort McHenry. On board of one of the British ships Key watched the attack all night, and when dawn finally rolled over the hazy horizon and Key noticed the American flag still flying over the fort he was so moved he wrote a poem later used officially on March 3, 1931 as our National Anthem . The poem was put to an English tune written by John Safford Smith named “To Anacreon in Heaven,” and so became our National Anthem. (encyclopedia) Now “America the beautiful” written by Katharine Lee Bates, an English professor at Wellesley College has a less complicated but not so less sweeter story. On a trip taken in 1893 to Colorado Springs Bates incorporated all the beautiful scenes she saw that inspired her into her song. Put the Hymn tune composes in 1882 by Samuel A. Ward “America the Beautiful” has become and favorite of Americans. Furthermore, “America the Beautiful” remains recognizable to Americans is a far easier song to sing and is just as meaningful and accurate to the American persona and . With that, the songs legal status should be promoted to be equal to or in place of the National Anthem. (Wikipedia.org)
On many important and unimportant occasions the words to the National Anthem have been butchered. Despite it being one of the most demanding songs to sing because of it’s musical difficulties and its’ importance many Americans want to sing it. For example over 60 people reportedly waited over three hours in cold January weather in Kansas City to audition to perform it before Royals’ baseball games. (swaves.com) “America the Beautiful” has just as much to be desired. The words, melody and the song itself is well known among American people. Coming from personal experience in my 5th grade concert we had an all American songs theme and “America the Beautiful” was one of the favorites of that concert and was also the closing song because of it’s importance.
The “Star Spangled banner” in music theory is preferably more difficult then that of “America the Beautiful.” Our national anthem, “Star Spangled Banner“, from the lowest point of the song to the highest is an octave and a half range. Where as “America the Beautiful” has a much smaller range making it easier for people who aren’t famous or are with out singing lessons. Also the key change from it’s original comparatively easy G-major to the tougher A-flat and B-flat causes trouble for Americans who don’t’ have near enough music theory to do well with it. For example Christina Luna, by her being a Connecticut-based singer and actress gives a liable opinion on why the our national anthem is so hard to sing. Lunna says “It’s really not that hard to sing, provided that you start it out in a low key, find the right tempo and rhythm, and stay within your vocal range…..I have a high voice which makes it easy for me to sing.” With “America The beautiful” you don’t need worry about having someone as talented and Christina to sing it so that it isn’t mangled beyond all recognition like so many other infamous occasions. (swaves.com)
By definition an anthem in relation to a psalm or hymn is a song sung responsively and with meaning. Accordingly our National Anthem should reflect our nation the way it is today. I already went into basic detail on the history of the Star Spangled Banner. In 1812 the emotions of our anthem suited the happenings of that time period. As of 2008 we are the midst of a war and the emotions of our anthem again suit the happenings of today. In comparison, in 1812 being proud of the nation wasn’t as easy as it should be today. “America the Beautiful” shows America what we have to be thankful for. In the words of Katharine Lee Bates “O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!” With that being said these two songs should have an equal legal status and importance.
In conclusion our national anthem is something that is held with high regard and for what ever the reasons be, weather they are the reasons I have presented or any other reasons America wants “America the Beautiful” to legally be as important as “The Star Spangled Banner.” Therefore America can decide if the appreciative “America the Beautiful” will be equal to or in place of our National Anthem “The Star Spangled Banner.”