Many of us experienced The Witches Ball once again. 2014 marked my fifth or sixth year attending. I noticed the town decorating more for the event compared to previous years. That allowed me to take more photographs. First, here is a virtual tour of the event:
Tonight, I have for you The Peerless Quartette (also known as Peerless Quartet, Columbia Quartet and Columbia Male Quartet) with a song called "How Could I Know" (catalog number: A1343 and matrix number: 38851). It was recorded on May 16 in the year 1913 for the Columbia Record company. I videotaped two versions: the first is with a soft tone steel needle, and the second is with a loud tone steel needle. You will clearly note the difference between the two. The machine used to spin the record is a Brunswick Panatrope Exponential Type 106 Gramophone/Phonograph. It was made in the late 1920s.
A rifleman shooting out of the window at The Cliveden Estate (the Battle itself took place on this exact spot, and the damage that you see on the building happened during the Conflict) ...
Here I am with a Flag that the Philadelphia Continental Chapter of the Sons Of The American Revolution (Link: http://passar.org/PCC) handed out. These Flags were on the graves of Revolutionary War Soldiers and were removed when they were replaced with new Flags. I certainly recognize the significance of owning this Flag given where it was initially standing. Also in this photograph is a tree that was standing during the Battle Of Germantown in the 1700s! Massive history in this photograph:
Here is a very old ballad called "Annie Laurie" by Corinne Morgan and an accompanying Orchestra. The song was recorded in Camden, New Jersey on December 9, 1908 and was released the following October in 1909. The song was believed to have been written at least in part by Scottish Military Veteran William Douglas in honor of the real life Annie Laurie. A number of people had a hand in its composition over the centuries. Very beautiful and very emotional.
The record is being played on a 1920s Brunswick Panatrope Exponential Type 106 Gramophone/Phonograph.
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:
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.
