Constitution Day 2014 At Independence Mall In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania On September 17, 2014

On September 17, 2014, The Liberty Hall Foundation hosted Constitution Day.  The event included readings, an acknowledgement of the 200th Anniversary of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and a concert performance by Madison Rising.  The Rock Band features a Navy Veteran named Dave Bray on vocals.  They put on a fine set of original songs and Patriotic covers.

The band in action with Independence Hall in the background:


Here I am with a pocket Constitution:

Video Footage And Photographs From The 200th Anniversary Of The Star-Spangled Banner

I have been worn out all week.  I finally got around to finishing the video and cropping the photographs ...

The 200th Anniversary Of The Star-Spangled Banner In Baltimore, Maryland

Ladies and Gentlemen: I have just returned from what was perhaps the most historically significant event of our time - "The Star-Spangled Banner" 200th Anniversary Commemorative Concert.  It was beyond incredible being in the actual city on the actual day of the Bicentennial and it was one of the most extraordinary episodes of my life.

I am way too tired to post a proper entry so I will do that tomorrow.  For tonight, I decided to make a collage with some of the pictures from today.  It will act as a preview for tomorrow's post.



The top three pictures are from Old Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, the host of the Commemorative Bicentennial Concert and the parish whose organist, Thomas Carr, published the first printing of the poem.  I am standing with David Hildebrand, the man who organized, and performed in the event.  The bottom two pictures are from Fort McHenry, the place where the 15-Star, 15-Stripe Flag survived the bombardment by the British thus giving Francis Scott Key the inspiration to pen the poem.  Once again, all of the pictures were taken today, September 14, 2014 ... the exact day that the poem was written two centuries prior.

Thomas Chalmers And Chorus With The Star-Spangled Banner 1914 Blue Amberol Cylinder Record

It is September 13, 2014, and I am bringing you another recording session involving "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the eve of the poem's 200th Anniversary. I am getting all of you ready for tomorrow's Bicentennial Concert with a 1914 version of the song by Thomas Chalmers, Elizabeth Spencer And Chorus on a Thomas Edison Blue Amberol Cylinder Record (catalog number 2652) that was released one year later. It is being played on an Edison Amberola Phonograph Model VI-B or BVI that was sold in 1913 and 1914. 2014 marks the 100th Anniversary of this recording and the 200th Anniversary of the writing of the poem. I hope to see all of you in Baltimore tomorrow.


The url for the above video in case it does not embed properly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bqTdUfPJ38






Link of interest:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=@attr%201=1016%20&query=2652&num=1&start=2&sortBy=&sortOrder=ia

John McCormack With The Star-Spangled Banner Victor Record 1917

It is September 12, 2014, and the countdown to the 200th Anniversary of "The Star-Spangled Banner" continues. As I had mentioned yesterday, David Hildebrand and others will be putting on a very special commemorative concert in honor of the Bicentennial. Tonight, I have for you another version of "The Star-Spangled Banner". This time, Irish tenor John McCormack. This 78 rpm record was pressed on the Victor label (catalog number 64664). It was recorded in Camden, New Jersey on March 29, 1917 and made it to number one on the singles chart in May of that year. I am going to play this record two times - the first time it will be played with a fiber needle, specifically made of bamboo, and the second time it will be played with a steel needle, specifically the soft version. I will be playing the record on the 1920s Brunswick Panatrope Exponential Type 106 Gramophone/Phonograph that you see in this incredible photograph.

I uploaded my complete video on youtube, and it got hit with a bogus copyright claim so I deleted it. I then uploaded it to photobucket. Unfortunately, I had to severely decrease the size so it would be below photobucket's maximum limit, and that decrease affects the quality to a large extent. Plus photobucket only allows ten minutes ... my original video was ten minutes and five seconds. Here is the video ...

*Video removed due to the outdated flash technology.*

I hope to see many of you at the Bicentennial concert in Baltimore, Maryland this Sunday, September 14. That is the exact day that the song was written in 1814.

Photographs ...

      

Here is the nonsense with the copyright:
 
Links of interest:
http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/700004613/B-19534-The_star_spangled_banner
http://tsort.info/music/yr1917.htm

Frank C. Stanley With The Star-Spangled Banner On The Columbia Records Label Circa 1904

The War Of 1812 Bicentennial continues, and, as a matter of fact, in this blog entry, I am promoting an extremely significant Bicentennial event that will be taking place in Baltimore, Maryland this Sunday for this September 14 will be the 200th Anniversary of "The Star-Spangled Banner".  David Hildebrand and others will be putting on a commemorative concert in honor of the occasion on the specific day that the poem was written ... 200 years later.  As many of you know, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem after witnessing the skirmish at Fort McHenry.  The poem was originally titled "Defense Of Fort McHenry" or "Defense Of Fort M'Henry".

In this video, I have Frank C. Stanley with one of his many versions of "The Star-Spangled Banner".  This example is from circa 1904 ... over 100 years old.  This cylinder record (catalog number 1243) is on the Columbia records label and will be played on a Thomas Edison Standard Phonograph: Model B from 1905 or 1906.  The cylinder sounds alright.  It needs a cleaning.


Url for the above video in case it does not embed properly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW3VshW6RO4

Photographs ...
   

You really need to be at the performance this Sunday!! This is an event that cannot be missed!!  I am very much looking forward to it!

Links with information about the concert:
http://www.1812music.org/performancschedule.htm
http://www.starspangled200.com/star-spangled-spectacular/detailed-schedule/singing-key-concert-celebrating-star-spangled-banner

Grand Army Of The Republic Graveside Rose Petal Ceremony Reenactment For James S. Stratton

I traveled to Mullica Hill, New Jersey once again.  Since it was too dark to make a decent video last time, I went back to the grave of Lieutenant James S. Stratton.  I briefly reenacted a nineteenth century sprinkling of rose petals on the grave of Lieutenant Stratton.


 

The 150th Anniversary Of The Death Of Lieutenant James S. Stratton In The Second Battle Of Ream's Station

My Friends: Today is August 25, 2014.  The American Civil War Sesquicentennial continues rather somberly for, on this day, 150 years ago, Union Army Lieutenant James S. Stratton was killed in The Second Battle Of Ream's Station in Virginia.  James Stratton was born on December 11, 1843 and fell on August 25, 1864.  He was a mere one score or 20 years of age.  I traveled to Mullica Hill, New Jersey to visit his grave and pay tribute.  The rose is part of the nineteenth century Grand Army Of The Republic tradition of sprinkling rose petals on the graves of the fallen.

Caterpillar On The Move July 19, 2014

I saw a bunch of caterpillars walking around today so I thought to film one.  I have not seen this many caterpillars in my area since the 1980s.  I am not sure why there is such a huge increase in the number of them this year.  Note: The creature in this video was not harmed ... he/she just went along his/her merry way after I stopped recording.

Fourth Of July Patrol By The New York Military Band 1914 Blue Amberol Cylinder Record

Today, I have for you a very, very special and apropos record.  It is July 4, 2014, and this Edison cylinder record is titled "Fourth Of July Patrol".  It was recorded by The New York Military Band and was released for July 1914 distribution so we can take this occasion to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the release of this record as well.  I read that it was ready by June 25, 1914 so retailers could get a head start on the summer season.  It sold for 50 cents ($0.50) in the United States and 65 cents ($0.65) in Canada.

The catalog number is 2325 and this particular track was a reissue of the Edison 4-minute wax Amberol released in the year 1912 (catalog number 1040).  The cylinder is being played on a Thomas Edison BVI, or VI-B, Amberola Phonograph (sold in 1913 and 1914).

The song "Fourth Of July Patrol" is a medley featuring "Yankee Doodle" (1775), "Tenting On The Old Camp Ground" (1863), "Hail, Columbia" (1789), "Dixie" (1859) and, once again, "Yankee Doodle" (1775).

Links of interest: http://archive.org/stream/edisonphonograph12moor/edisonphonograph12moor_djvu.txt &amp and http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=@attr%201=1016%20&query=Patrol&num=1&start=12&sortBy=&sortOrder=ia

Enjoy!!


Here is the url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2pQ-eljiTU

Photographs ...