Star Spangled Banner key

Chuck_Clark · Post by **Chuck_Clark** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:20 pm

Can anyone tell me the "normal" key of the Star Spangled Banner? I know it's considered to be unsingable by most folks and would have thought it hard to play, but in G, anyway, the melody is really rather simple.

DCrom · Post by **DCrom** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:42 pm

Don't know the "normal" key - but it plays well in D, also (start off on first-octave A).

Am I the only one who finds it amusing that the US national anthem is set to the tune of an English drinking song? ("To Anacreon in Heaven")

emmline · Post by **emmline** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 7:04 pm

Who's Anacreon?

DCrom · Post by **DCrom** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 7:15 pm

emmline wrote:Who's Anacreon?

A Greek Lyric poet. Why the Anacreontic Society chose him, in particular, I don't know, though his subject matter (and classic pedigree) probably helped.
http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/anacron2.html

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 7:37 pm

The answer to your question, dear friend, is ...

Francis Scott Key.

Best wishes,
Jerry

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 7:48 pm

I looked it up in about 4 or 5 hymnals, just now, and it's about evenly split between Bb and Ab.

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 8:25 pm

The Key poem was put to the music of "Anacreon in Heaven" was a British drinking song that was about debauchery. Imagining that most of these men were singing it, it seems unlikely that it was sung in the same key that it is currently played in the US.

I believe that the change was to show off the instruments used at the time that the song became the US anthem.

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 8:30 pm

Sorry, I forgot to say I think that the key was G.

BoneQuint · Post by **BoneQuint** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:00 pm

Chuck_Clark wrote:Can anyone tell me the "normal" key of the Star Spangled Banner? I know it's considered to be unsingable by most folks and would have thought it hard to play, but in G, anyway, the melody is really rather simple.

<a href="http://viewfromthemeadow.com/">viewfromthemeadow.com</a> wrote:Garrison Keillor, the talented [sic] National Public Radio writer, entertainer, singer and song writer is promoting the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. He is spending this critical election year leading his audiences in the singing of The Star Spangled Banner. In the key of G --- what Keillor refers to as the "people's key." Now, there's a movement I can support.

dlovrien · Post by **dlovrien** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 7:47 am

The most traditional arrangement of the Star-Spangled Banner is the standard military band arrangement, harmonized by Walter Damrosch and arranged by John Philip Sousa. It is in Ab.

David
The John Philip Sousa Home Page
http://www.dws.org/sousa

Daniel_Bingamon · Post by **Daniel_Bingamon** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 7:36 pm

Last I remember, most versions of the song start with the first note being 'G'. I dont' know what the key is though.

happyturkeyman · Post by **happyturkeyman** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:37 am

Walden wrote:I looked it up in about 4 or 5 hymnals, just now, and it's about evenly split between Bb and Ab.

Most band arrangements (I have seen a lot) are indeed Ab or Bb, but I believe that Ab is the generally adopted key and that Bb is simply there for the beginner-level bands.

Chiff and Fipple Forums

Star Spangled Banner key

Star Spangled Banner key

Anacreon in Heaven

Re: Star Spangled Banner key