Musical Pairings: Music, Nationalism, and Patriotism

Our 2024-25 lecture series, Musical Pairings, highlights the intersection of music with art forms, culture, food, and drink. Carl Yaffe will launch the series with this lecture on Music, Nationalism, and Patriotism.

Many Americans are familiar with the fact that our national anthem’s melody was originally a British drinking song. However, you might be surprised to learn that several sets of lyrics were written for that tune—one by Francis Scott Key himself—before it became “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Among these early versions was a song that eventually became our first presidential campaign anthem.

Additionally, the melody of another popular American patriotic song was borrowed from a comedic duet in a French operetta. This presentation will delve into the fascinating history of American patriotic and nationalistic songs, including how they have been used in political campaigns. We’ll also touch on notable examples of patriotic music from other countries, providing a broader context to the evolution of these stirring melodies.