In its June 2014 issue, the Smithsonian Magazine is highlighting artistic interpretations of "The Star-Spangled Banner," from visual and graphic art, poetry to music. Included in the collection is Rachel Grimes, who composed this arrangement of our National Anthem, shifting it's bright, major-key melody to a more contemplative, minor key.
Arrangements of The Star-Spangled Banner are common - most every version sung at a sporting event is an arrangement (sometimes to its detriment). Igor Stravinsky arranged our national hymn for a Boston performance, where the police misunderstood a law prohibiting the tampering with The Star-Spangled Banner. Stravinsky, who became a US citizen the following year, withdrew it from the performance (the score and parts were confiscated, but Stravinsky was not arrested).
Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock performance ranks as one of the more memorable.
And you can join this national sing-a-long on June 14th at 4pm.
