Editor’s note: This commentary is by Ron Pulcer of Rutland Town, who is a software developer, skier, guitar player and occasional blogger at SkiTheMiddleVT.wordpress.com.
We often celebrate our nation’s Independence Day with family, friends, food, flags and fireworks. As a musician, I also think of our national anthem. Thus far this summer, we haven’t heard the Star-Spangled Banner at major league baseball games, due to the pandemic.
As an instrumental guitarist, I worked out an arrangement of the Star-Spangled Banner. I would like to share my guitar notation for our national anthem (single note melody and fingerstyle arrangement).
Two years ago, while attending a fundraising dinner for the Rutland NAACP chapter, I learned that the hymn, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,“ is considered by African-Americans to be the “Black National Anthem.” James Weldon Johnson wrote the poem during the early years of the Jim Crow era. His brother, John Rosamond Johnson, later wrote the music. I would also like to share my guitar notation for the Johnson brothers’ hymn (single note and fingerstyle).
This year was the 120th anniversary of the first performance of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” which celebrated Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12, 1900.
Since the long, slow-motion murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis by a police officer, the doors to protest have been flung wide open. Is it really a surprise that our fellow Black citizens claimed their own “Black National Anthem” back in 1919?
Recently, questions about public statues and monuments are reemerging. Some people are not even waiting for debate or legislators and are already tearing down and vandalizing statues.
As for our national anthem, which should represent all of us musically, I propose we have a more orderly and civil discussion. Could we actually find a way to better unite ourselves in these so-called United States, at least musically?
Both anthems are connected to our nation’s history. One is from the War of 1812 era. The other arose after the Civil War.
Both our Constitution, with its amendment process, and the Emancipation Proclamation, could be viewed as being forward-looking. In contrast, from today’s perspective, the Star-Spangled Banner looks more backwards than forwards.
Francis Scott Key wrote his poem in 1814, while witnessing the American flag still waving over Fort McHenry, after bombardment by the British Navy. The lyrics refer to a specific battle that was not directly related to our nation’s founding. The War of 1812 with Britain and allies, including Canada, was about international trade, maritime rights and territory.
Today, we sing our national anthem at football games. We don’t celebrate the War of 1812 with a holiday. In contrast, in Queenston, Ontario, Canadians do celebrate that era and the Battle of Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812. Queenston has a provincial park and monument dedicated to Major General Sir Isaac Brock. In 2012, Canadians celebrated that war’s 200th anniversary.
Today, Britain and Canada are allies and strong economic partners with the United States. Why are we singing a national anthem about a battle in a war with countries that are now our allies?
The Star-Spangled Banner melody was a popular English tune titled, “To Anacreon in Heaven.” The tune was used as a drinking song in London. The tune was written circa 1775 by John Stafford Smith. Why are we singing a melody written by a British composer?
Both anthems co-exist, but one is the official national anthem, and the other is claimed by Black Americans. Neither of these two anthems include Native Americans or the other waves of immigrants from distant lands.
Do we have to limit ourselves to just one anthem, or two? Could we sing and celebrate a variety of patriotic songs, hymns and inspiring songs that tell a fuller American story? As America goes forward and improves on the promise of our Declaration of Independence, we can add to a new American Songbook, with new anthems from current and future generations?
Could we unleash creativity and collaboration, not only musically, while gaining a better understanding of our shared history? Could we do this while also finding ways to avoid blaming and shaming our current citizens for the sins of generations before?
Music keeps evolving and changing, as does our nation.
The U.S. Census occurs every 10 years. Each decade we could have a friendly competition to write new patriotic songs, yearning for freedom and equality for every American. We could also record new cover versions of previously written songs. We can retain history while making room for new songs and voices.
We have TV shows like “America’s Got Talent.” How about “America’s Got Anthems”?
Google periodically changes the graphic on its search homepage. Could we occasionally sing new and different songs at the start of basketball games? While going forward, Francis Scott Key and James Weldon Johnson can still be with us musically, along with new composers, musicians and singers. “United” doesn’t have to just mean one song. We can share one common American Anthem songbook, with a new volume added every decade.
P.S. I was compelled to write this essay after recently hearing the song, “Uncivil War,” sung by Shemekia Copeland.
