Judith Clurman Choral Series-In 1814 Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) wrote new words for a well-known drinking song by John Stafford Smith (1750-1836) 'To Anacreon in Heaven' to celebrate America's recent victory over the British. In 1931 Congress passeda law proclaiming 'The Star Spangled Banner' to be the national anthem of the United States.This arrangement by Doug Katsaros was first performed at the Macy's 4th July Fireworks Spectacular onNBC television July 4th 2014. The performers were soloist Idina Menzel Judith Clurman's Essential Voices USA and Sherrie Maricle's Dive Jazz Orchestra. The recording of that performance has been added to the permanent archivesat F. McHenry in Balitmore MD.Text (Defence of Fort M'Henry by Francis Scott Key):O! say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?Whose broadstripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming And the rockets' red glare the bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night that our flag was stillthere-O! say does that star-spangled banner yet waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

When 18th century British composer Thomas Arne included his song Rule Britannia! in a masque based on the life of Alfred the Great that was presented at Cliveden the country home of Frederick Prince of Wales he could nothave imagined that more than two hundred seventy years later his ditty would be known throughout the British Isles and beyond. Rule Britannia! is widely used in the Royal Navy and British Army and is featured each year at theLast Night of the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall as a national sing-along.At the time of writing the Dutch actually ‘ruled the waves ’ so this song was more an exhortation than a status report. The lyrics were also astatement of civil liberty. Since Cromwell’s time Britain had had a standing army which could be turned against the native population. A standing navy however existed solely to protect the nation from invaders protectinga free populace.Rule Britannia! has been quoted extensively by other composers among them Beethoven Wagner Strauss and Arthur Sullivan. Thomas Arne also penned a version of God Save The King which came to be the Britishnational anthem.This version is arranged by contemporary composer and friend Eaton Fanning who made changes to the famous semiquaver flourishes.

From the collection Freedom Is In Your Hand this authentic South African freedom song is at home in multicultural concert settings. Great base for vocal improvisation. In Xhosa and English.