The president of the Society, always an amateur “operatic” singer in the classical tradition, performed “The Anacreontic Song,” after dinner to invoke the Greek poet Anacreon and inspire the evening’s music making. On occasion the singing could linger into the wee hours of the next day, and young members might even greet the sunrise on their way home. This origin answers one important question about the anthem: Why is “The Star-Spangled Banner” so hard to sing? Because its tune was never intended for group singing, but for a trained solo voice–a singer who would have no difficulty with its expanded range.
Certainly there was alcohol involved during dinner and during the vocal hours, but–originally at least–the tune upon which Key based his lyric celebrating the heroism of the Americans who defended Fort McHenry in September 1814 against all odds was not sung by a group of drunken revelers. Meetings consisted of a classical orchestral concert performed by freelance professional musicians, followed by a dinner, followed by group singing (think GLEE, but with only men singing and without the dance routines).
London’s Anacreontic Society was an amateur musicians club for members of considerable means and social capital. While its members were no teetotalers, their song is a far cry from a boisterous pub ditty. Yes-the lyric of “To Anacreon in Heaven,” upon which Francis Scott Key’s lyric was written, clearly contains a toast in its final stanza and indeed the song was sung at each meeting of London’s 18th-century Anacreontic Society. It’s not unusual to read online that the United States national anthem was a drinking song and, like many myths, this tale has a core of truth surrounded by misinformation. Stoudt’s American Pale Ale features American Flag Imagery
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