Olympics | Star-spangled outrage continues to build | Seattle Times Newspaper Blog
Yes, they cut-off the National Anthem... BUT what is worse is that the
"arrangement" of our National Anthem is AWFUL. First, it is played by an
orchestra and should be performed instead by a BAND like the US Marine Band
in Washington DC.
Second, the arrangement is "tricked up" and is filled
with harmonic suspensions which smply don't fit. It frankly creates a
very "feminine" kind of impression, almost "impressionistic" in the French
musical composer's tradition. It sounds AWFUL! And, it is way too slow!
I have a doctoral degree in music and conduct a university band... I know
what I'm talking about -- get me the US Marine Band or US Army Band in
Washington and burn the recording that they have in Beijing!!!
A couple of months back I recall hearing on NPR's "Composers Datebook" that Igor Stravinsky was fined for his alternate arrangement of the National Anthem. There is some law on the books, at least in DC. Well, I guess we can't fine the Chinese for butchering the anthem.Â
If I'm going to get all nationalistic (yeah, rah, USA!), at least let me hear my anthem unadulterated! (For the record, Stravinsky's arrangement is genius... just against the law.)
More on the various laws governing the anthem.
Composer's Datebook on Stravinsky's Anthem
