Pre-Concert+Activities

"**The Star-Spangled Banner**" is the [|national anthem] of the [|United States of America]. The lyrics come from "Defense of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by [|Francis Scott Key]. Key wrote the poem after witnessing the attack of [|Fort McHenry] by the [|British Royal Navy] in [|Chesapeake Bay] during the [|War of 1812]. The poem was set to the tune of a popular British [|drinking song], written by [|John Stafford Smith] , called “To Anacreon in Heaven”.

Story of Star Spangled Banner

** Activity/Discussion for "The Star Spangled Banner": **

 * The Star Spangled Banner is performed before thousands of ball games, public events and NASCAR races. When it was sung for the 2011 Super Bowl by Christina Aguilera millions of people didn't like it. Christina Aguilera National AnthemWatch the video of her performance and consider these questions:
 * Why is The Star Spangled Banner so important to so many Americans that Christina Aguilera's performance made them angry?
 * What sort of people do you think were most angry about her performance?
 * Why were people angry?
 * What would it be like to sing a song that everyone knows in front of millions of people? Scary? Exciting?

=**Activity for "Fanfare for the Founding Father" and "Riders in the Rough" from "Reflections of Mt. Rushmore":**= - The composer of this piece is from Dubuque. Michael Gilbertson grew up here and graduated from Hempstead High School. You can find out more about Michael Gilbertson at his website: Michael Gilbertson. The pieces Michael has written have been played all over the world. - Michael's parents live in Dubuque. They like to go to as many of Michael's events as they can. Go to THIS page of Michael's website:Michael's Events to see all of the places where his pieces will be performed during the 2010-2011 season. Use mapquest to follow the route Michael's parents would have to take if they went to all of the performances. How many miles would they have to travel? Syracuse University is the location of the first concert. Start at Syracuse University on Mapquest and follow Michael's 2010-2011 concert season to compute the total mileage his parents would have to go if they heard all of the performances. Email your answer to the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra education coordinator at: j_klinkhammer@hotmail.com

=Activity for "Fanfare for the Common Man" by Aaron Copland:= - First, listen to this orchestral version of the "Fanfare for the Common Man" by Aaron Copland Fanfare for a Common Man - After you have heard the orchestra version of Copland's fanfare, take six minutes to watch this video of a Rock version of the same fanfare. Rock Fanfare - Compare and contrast the two fanfares. What is similar in both? Which one was written first?