| Whether played by a marching band, an | | | | have been greatly moved by the R&B |
| orchestra, or a rock group, there are | | | | version by Ray Charles, a truly |
| patriotic tunes that everyone in America | | | | wonderful blending of emotion with what |
| finds familiar, exciting and uplifting. | | | | musicians call "the groove.""Rally |
| But how much do you know about how these | | | | 'Round the Flag," George F. Root, 1862. |
| songs were created? And what do you know | | | | Written for the Union army and its |
| about the people who wrote them?There | | | | supporters during the Civil War, the |
| are some surprising facts behind all of | | | | song was hugely popular in the North. |
| this glorious music.So, fire up the | | | | This didn't prevent Confederate troops |
| barbecue grill, look up at the | | | | from writing their own lyrics and |
| fireworks, and strike up the band as we | | | | singing the song throughout the |
| reveal the secrets behind the most | | | | South."When Johnny Comes Marching Home," |
| influential nationalistic musical | | | | Louis Lambert, c. 1863. |
| moments of all time."Star Spangled | | | | Lambert was a pseudonym for Union Army |
| Banner," Francis Scott Key, 1814. | | | | Bandmaster Patrick S. Gilmore. His |
| Schoolchildren in America all learn how | | | | lyrics, set to an old Irish folk song, |
| Key watched the British bombardment of | | | | were popular through the whole |
| Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and | | | | Reconstruction Era (1865-1896). It |
| so admired the courage of the | | | | appears in an extended instrumental |
| beleaguered American forces that he | | | | version on the soundtrack of Stanley |
| wrote four stanzas of "The Star Spangled | | | | Kubrick's film "Dr. Strangelove.""Battle |
| Banner" (only the first is usually | | | | Hymn of the Republic," Julia W. Howe, |
| performed). Key based the melody on an | | | | 1861. |
| English drinking song called "To | | | | Howe is another lyricist who succeeded |
| Anacreon in Heaven." The song has only | | | | by utilizing a pre-existing piece of |
| been the national anthem since 1931, and | | | | music, in this case a camp meeting tune |
| there was a strong movement to replace | | | | of the 19th century (which also became |
| it with one of the other songs on this | | | | "John Brown's Body"). The profound power |
| list."America (My Country 'Tis of | | | | of the words combined with the |
| Thee)," Samuel F. Smith, 1832. | | | | compelling melody cannot be denied, and |
| The music was composed in the 1700s, | | | | it was sung at the funerals of Winston |
| sometimes attributed to Henry Cary. | | | | Churchill, Robert Kennedy, and Ronald |
| First popular in Great Britain as "God | | | | Reagan."Overture: 1812," Petr Ilyich |
| Save the King (Queen)," the song became | | | | Tchaikovsky, 1880. |
| bi-continental in 1832. Modern audiences | | | | |