Gene Scheer's 'American Anthem'

Published September 12, 2004 at 12:00 AM EDT

Composer Gene Scheer believes his "American Anthem" is a great patriotic song -- and he tells us why he thinks so as Weekend Edition Sunday begins a monthly series called "What's In a Song."

"American Anthem" premiered at the Smithsonian Institution's unveiling ceremony for the restored "Star-Spangled Banner" flag in 1999. Mezzo soprano Denyce Graves sang it during the ceremony, which was attended by President and Mrs. Clinton. The song has also been performed sung at the past two presidential inaugurations.

Features in the "What's In a Song" series are produced by Taki Telonidis and Hal Cannon of the Western Folklife Center in Elko, Nev.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

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