[Dixielandjazz] Our National Anthem

Fri, 25 Oct 2002 01:20:45 EDT

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In a message dated 10/24/02 4:29:31 PM Central Daylight Time, 
jazzboard@hotmail.com writes:

> Steve Barbone wrote:
> 
> >I think "America The Beautiful" should be our National Anthem. Or,
> >failing that, we should hold a national competition among Americans to
> >write an original score for Key's words . . .
> 
> Ah me . . . for what it's worth the National Anthem is what it is and any 
> attempt to change it at this point would only tick off large percentages of 
> 
> the population and whatever would be selected as a replacement melody would 
> 
> not be accepted by everyone who submitted a suggestion.
> 
> Established themes (such as the anthem) take on a life of their own and 
> will 
> elicit an emotional reaction from most Americans regardless of the musical 
> "worthiness" of the melody. Otherwise we wouldn't get so ticked off when 
> somebody takes excessive liberties with it.
> 
> Same thing with "Amazing Grace" -- just because it can be sung to the tune 
> of the Gilligan's Island theme doesn't mean that it should be done!
> 
> Respectfully submitted,
> 
> Bill "Love That Anthem" Gunter
> jazzboard@hotmail.com

   I think that for the most part our "Star Spangled Banner" has been used 
instrumentally and only sung by classical type singers, that is until the 
recent spate of desecrations by Soul-county-pop singers.

   Usually recordings by top level military bands or orchestras are used.

   Let' s leave it this way.  Nobody is going to change the National Anthem 
and really, it is a thrilling piece when heard performed by a good military 
band for a solemn occasion.  Right after Sept. 11 the Grenadier Guards Band 
played it at the Changing of the Guard ceremony in front of Buckingham 
Palace. This was shown around the world and it was indeed truly moving to 
hear and see that on television. Most everyone in the world can identify this 
piece and knew what that signified.

   America the Beautiful and God Bless America are great songs but they are 
not our National Anthem.

   Jim Beebe

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<HTML>In a message dated 10/24/02 4:29:31 PM Central Daylight Time, jazzboard@hotmail.com writes: 
 
 
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Steve Barbone wrote: 
 
&gt;I think "America The Beautiful" should be our National Anthem. Or, 
&gt;failing that, we should hold a national competition among Americans to 
&gt;write an original score for Key's words . . . 
 
Ah me . . . for what it's worth the National Anthem is what it is and any 
attempt to change it at this point would only tick off large percentages of 
the population and whatever would be selected as a replacement melody would 
not be accepted by everyone who submitted a suggestion. 
 
Established themes (such as the anthem) take on a life of their own and will 
elicit an emotional reaction from most Americans regardless of the musical 
"worthiness" of the melody. Otherwise we wouldn't get so ticked off when 
somebody takes excessive liberties with it. 
 
Same thing with "Amazing Grace" -- just because it can be sung to the tune 
of the Gilligan's Island theme doesn't mean that it should be done! 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
Bill "Love That Anthem" Gunter 
jazzboard@hotmail.com</BLOCKQUOTE> 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp; I think that for the most part our "Star Spangled Banner" has been used instrumentally and only sung by classical type singers, that is until the recent spate of desecrations by Soul-county-pop singers. 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp; Usually recordings by top level military bands or orchestras are used. 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp; Let' s leave it this way.&nbsp; Nobody is going to change the National Anthem and really, it is a thrilling piece when heard performed by a good military band for a solemn occasion.&nbsp; Right after Sept. 11 the Grenadier Guards Band played it at the Changing of the Guard ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace. This was shown around the world and it was indeed truly moving to hear and see that on television. Most everyone in the world can identify this piece and knew what that signified. 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp; America the Beautiful and God Bless America are great songs but they are not our National Anthem. 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp; Jim Beebe</HTML>

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