Submitted by the Music Committee of First Parish on the Common
On Sunday, September 14, at 1:00pm, the Music Committee of First Parish in Bedford UU, will present A Bicentenary Salute to The Star Spangled Banner at the church at 75 The Great Road in Bedford, MA. Indeed, September 14, 1814 was the date the anthem’s lyrics were composed by Francis Scott Key.
This stirring program has been arranged by First Parish Music Director Bradford Conner. The Bedford Minutemen will be in attendance with fife and drum. Eric Mazonson will play “a real barn burner” set of virtuoso variations of “The Star Spangled Banner” for organ, by American composer Dudley Buck. Vocalists Cynthia Mork and Benjamin Sears, accompanied by Brad Conner, will present songs that competed in popularity with the national anthem, such as “Hail Columbia” and “Yankee Doodle.” There will be lots of opportunities to sing along on favorites such as “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “America the Beautiful,” “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” as well as “This Land is Your Land,” led by Buffie Groves, singing and playing guitar.
Francis Scott Key’s lyrics were written during the War of 1812 after he witnessed the overnight bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore. The melody, originally titled “The Anacreontic Song,” was composed around 1776 for a gentlemen’s amateur music club in London. A new arrangement of the song with Key’s lyrics was soon published as “The Star Spangled Banner.” It was officially declared the national anthem in 1931.
All across the country many events are planned to honor this special anniversary. Join the celebration! This is a great concert for all the family, about 70 minutes long, with a free-will offering whose proceeds will go to the Bedford VA Hospital. The church is accessible at the Elm street entrance. Visit www.uubedford.org for further information.
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