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Gene Scheer's 'American Anthem'

Gene Scheer
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Gene Scheer

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.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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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.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.