Both events will be in the library’s Jefferson Building. The library will hold a free panel discussion, “Poets and Patriotism: The 200th Birthday of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ ” at 12:30 p.m., followed by the concert, which features the famous lyric baritone Thomas Hampson. On Thursday, the Library of Congress will host a special concert marking the 200th anniversary of the anthem.

But the melody he had in mind was the venerable tune that went back to the previous century. Key was detained on a British ship and, moved by the drama of the moment, wrote the famous lyrics. In September 1814, during the War of 1812, Key, a 35-year-old Georgetown lawyer, headed to Baltimore to negotiate the release of a friend who had been seized by the British. The practice of tune recycling - or parody, as it was called - was extensive in those days.Īnd few were aware that the author of the music to what would become the American anthem was a renowned British musicologist, antiquarian and church organist. The saga of the melody, which was critical to its early success, is less so.Ī pop hit of its day, the melody had been recycled so many times, although with different words, that scholars think people on the streets already knew it. “Maybe what Clyburn is doing is pushing our country to have yet another inconvenient conversation about a subject matter that is just so hard for us to grapple with,” said Williams, who composed and directed a voting rights anthem, 'I Have A Right To Vote,' released last summer.Audio: Forebears of the Star-Spangled Banner Williams said that although he appreciates what 'The Star-Spangled Banner' symbolizes, he recognizes flaws in the song, including verses that reflect entrenched racism that has plagued the nation. Hymns are more religious songs of praise. 'The Star-Spangled Banner' was officially adopted as the national anthem in 1931. Anthems are often patriotic songs. Since 1973, six bills have been introduced in Congress to designate songs, including “God Bless America,” and “America the Beautiful” as a national hymn, but none of them passed into law, according to the U.S.

“I hope I can survive and see it passed.” “Ever since I've been in the Congress, I've been trying to come up with enough nerve to introduce a national hymn,” Clyburn said this month during a Journal-isms Roundtable, a private discussion for journalists of color.

Lyrics of the star spangled banner song