Patriotic Music: Surprising Secrets About Those Flag-Waving Sounds


Try Emusic FREE for 14 days, keep the 25 Free songs even if you decide not to continue.

Whether played by a marching band, an orchestra, or a rock group, there are patriotic tunes that everyone in America finds familiar, exciting and uplifting. But how much do you know about how these songs were created? And what do you know about the people who wrote them?

There are some surprising facts behind all of this glorious music.

So, fire up the barbecue grill, look up at the fireworks, and strike up the band as we reveal the secrets behind the most influential nationalistic musical moments of all time.

"Star Spangled Banner," Francis Scott Key, 1814.
Schoolchildren in America all learn how Key watched the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and so admired the courage of the beleaguered American forces that he wrote four stanzas of "The Star Spangled Banner" (only the first is usually performed). Key based the melody on an English drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven." The song has only been the national anthem since 1931, and there was a strong movement to replace it with one of the other songs on this list.

"America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)," Samuel F. Smith, 1832.
The music was composed in the 1700s, sometimes attributed to Henry Cary. First popular in Great Britain as "God Save the King (Queen)," the song became bi-continental in 1832. Modern audiences have been greatly moved by the R&B version by Ray Charles, a truly wonderful blending of emotion with what musicians call "the groove."

"Rally 'Round the Flag," George F. Root, 1862.
Written for the Union army and its supporters during the Civil War, the song was hugely popular in the North. This didn't prevent Confederate troops from writing their own lyrics and singing the song throughout the South.

"When Johnny Comes Marching Home," Louis Lambert, c. 1863.
Lambert was a pseudonym for Union Army Bandmaster Patrick S. Gilmore. His lyrics, set to an old Irish folk song, were popular through the whole Reconstruction Era (1865-1896). It appears in an extended instrumental version on the soundtrack of Stanley Kubrick's film "Dr. Strangelove."

"Battle Hymn of the Republic," Julia W. Howe, 1861.
Howe is another lyricist who succeeded by utilizing a pre-existing piece of music, in this case a camp meeting tune of the 19th century (which also became "John Brown's Body"). The profound power of the words combined with the compelling melody cannot be denied, and it was sung at the funerals of Winston Churchill, Robert Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan.

"Overture: 1812," Petr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, 1880.
Patriotic music doesn't always revolve around the July 4th celebration, or even refer to the USA. Tchaikovsky got Russian hearts a-pounding with his "1812 Overture in E Flat Major Op. 49," written to celebrate the 70th anniversary of his country's victory battle during the Napoleonic Wars.

"Semper Fidelis," John Philip Sousa, 1889.
Popular ever since it was first performed, the effective and spirited tune takes its name from the U.S. Marine Corps motto meaning "always faithful" and is dedicated to the Marines.

"America the Beautiful," Katharine Lee Bates, 1895, 1904, 1913.
Originally a poem that Bates twice revised after its first publication in 1885, "America the Beautiful" was sung to several different melodies. The song associated with it today is "Materna," composed by Samuel A. Ward in 1882, but it was also often performed to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne."

"Stars and Stripes Forever," John Philip Sousa, 1896.
Composed on Christmas Day, "The Stars and Stripes Forever" has become the country's official march (US Code, Title 36 Chapter 10). Sousa wrote lyrics to the song, but they are little known today (sample: "Let martial note in triumph float / And liberty extend its mighty hand / A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers, / The banner of the Western land.)"

"Yankee Doodle Boy," George M. Cohan, 1904.
"You're A Grand Old Flag," George M. Cohan, 1906.
"Over There," George M. Cohan, 1917.
Known as "the man who owned Broadway," Cohan was a superstar before the term was coined. While his film biography is called "Yankee Doodle Dandy," the title of his first big tribute to America is actually "The Yankee Doodle Boy." Cohan excited U.S. audiences again in 1906 with "You're a Grand Old Flag," although the original line was "You're a Grand Old Rag." It was America's entrance into World War I in 1917 that inspired Cohan to write "Over There," for which he received a congressional medal.

"God Bless America," Irving Berlin, 1938.
The prolific Berlin (900+ songs despite being unable to read music) originally wrote this song right after the first World War, but did not complete it until just before World War II. Kate Smith first performed it during her radio show on Armistice Day, 1938. An immediate sensation, the song was often suggested to replace the "Star Spangled Banner" as the national anthem.

"Star Spangled Banner," Jimi Hendrix, 1969.
The legendary guitarist took the stage near dawn on the final day of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. The 13th song in his hour-long set was an incendiary rendition of the venerable tune. In a performance that was somehow savage and grand at the same time, Hendrix wrestled new levels of emotion from the song and generations have never heard it quite the same way again.

"Apocalypse Now," Francis Ford Coppola, 1979.
The music in question is "Ride of the Valkyries," from Richard Wagner's opera, "Die Walkure" (1854-56). The composition fit perfectly into director Coppola's nightmarish vision of the Vietnam War. The sequence, featuring a helicopter attack at dawn, never fails to raise the emotions of viewers.

Scott G owns G-Man Music & Radical Radio (http://www.gmanmusic.com) where he makes radio commercials for Verizon Wireless, Goodrich, Micron, National Steel, the Auto Club, and many others. He is also recording artist The G-Man, with 4 albums on iTunes and Delvian Records.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/immedia@pacbell.net
/detail?.dir=8e52&.dnm=dd51.jpg&.src=ph


MORE RESOURCES:

Kitsap libraries offer free music downloads
North Kitsap Herald
Kitsap Regional Library has joined Library Ideas' network of public library websites that offer free access to songs from Sony Music's catalog. The service, called Freegal, allows KRL to increase the size and diversity of its collection by offering ...



Shazam Revolutionizes the Super Bowl with More than One Million Giveaways from ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Use Shazam while watching the Super Bowl to win cars, get free music downloads, receive gift cards, donate to charity and enter sweepstakes for other giveaways! NEW YORK, Feb 02, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Shazam(R), the world's leading media discovery ...

and more »


Sony Music Rewards Timely Taxpayers With Free Music Downloads
PSFK
By Alice Chan on January 12, 2012 Buenos Aires' tax collection bureau (ARBA) and Sony Music Argentina have partnered up to reward punctual taxpayers with free music downloads. The initiative – ArbaTracks aims to encourage prompt tax filings and ...



Kellie Pickler Helps Launch Road to the Ram Jam Series
Great American Country (blog)
The Road to the Ram Jam series will bring country fans closer to their favorite artists with exclusive video content, the opportunity to win prizes, free music downloads and the chance to enter to win trips for two to the Ram Jam concert.
Kellie Pickler Joins Road To Ram Jam For The USOLook To The Stars

all 4 news articles »


Free song downloads at library, 3 a week
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Music lovers who are also library card holders now have access to free music downloads through the Allen County Public Library. The service – called freegal – was launched this month, said Stacey Pearson, who heads the Art, Music and Media department ...



Syrian women, backbone of the revolution
FRANCE 24
And Argentine tax payers rewarded with free music downloads. By Electron Libre The women of Deraa, where the Syrian uprising began back in March, took to the streets on Saturday, calling for the release of their husbands, brothers or sons currently ...

and more »


Product Placement News

Guvera Entertainment Launches 'My Soundtrack' Facebook App
All Access Music Group
My Soundtrack looks to drive brand-to-consumer engagement with music, allowing FACEBOOK followers and fans to enjoy and share music, stream without limits, and earn free music downloads. "It is without question that music communicates with our hearts ...
Guvera Entertainment Launches My Soundtrack(TM) Facebook AppMarketWatch (press release)

all 10 news articles »


Free MP3 Downloads of the Best Dubstep, Best Techno, and Best House Music on ...
MarketWatch (press release)
18, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- www.pumpyouup.com announces the release of their New Year's music collection of free music downloads. The New Year's theme is techno flavored with a touch of dub. The collection includes a variety of dubstep, trance, ...

and more »


Malawi music free downloads web launched
Nyasa Times
By Kimpho Loka, Nyasa Times Malawian musicians now have a new platform to promote their music further, thanks to the coming of One Malawi Music, a free-music downloads website. A brainchild of Timve Media Group (TMG), the website allows registered ...

and more »


Ram Truck Brand Presents 'Road to the Ram® Jam' All-Star Country Music Series ...
Sacramento Bee
It will help bring country music fans closer to some of their favorite artists with exclusive video content, the opportunity to win prizes including collectible posters and vinyl records through country radio stations nationwide, free music downloads, ...

and more »

Google News

Free Music Download Sites (Home Page) |   Free MP3 Downloads  |   RSS Feed  |   Artists  |   Music Resources  |   Music Downloads