CANCELED – Musical Pairings: Music, Nationalism, and Patriotism

This event has been canceled.

Our 2024-25 lecture series, Musical Pairings, highlights the intersection of music with art forms, culture, food, and drink. Carl Yaffe presents this lecture on Music, Nationalism, and Patriotism.

Many Americans are familiar with the legend that our national anthem’s melody was originally a British drinking song. However, you might be surprised to learn that several sets of lyrics were written for that tune—one by Francis Scott Key himself—before it became “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Among these early versions was a song that eventually became our first presidential campaign anthem.

Additionally, the melody of another popular American patriotic song was borrowed from a comedic duet in a French operetta. This presentation will delve into the fascinating history of American patriotic and nationalistic songs. We’ll also touch on notable examples of patriotic music from other countries, providing a broader context to the evolution of these stirring melodies.

The program will feature current and previous versions of these well-known patriotic songs performed by a member of our voice faculty. Program to include:

Program to include:
America
The Star-Spangled Banner
America the Beautiful
Marines’ Hymn
Maryland, My Maryland
God Bless America