The New Student's Reference Work/Star-Spangled Banner, The

Star-Span′gled Banner, The. Words by Francis Scott Key, adapted to the old air Anacreon in Heaven.  This air was the constitutional song of The Anacreontic Society of London, always sung by an official of the society at the supper with which it was customary to close the musical season, near the end of the 18th century. The tune was probably composed by Doctor Samuel Arnold (1740–1802). It became known in America in 1798, being sung at an anniversary meeting of the Massachusetts Charitable Fire-Society, to words by Thomas Paine, who later changed his name to Robert Treat Paine. Subsequently there were settings of other words to this tune, popularly known as Adams and Liberty. Further details regarding the tune and Key’s words may be found in a pamphlet by Stephen Salisbury, Esq., of Worcester, Mass., and in The National Music of America and its Sources by Elson, Boston, 1899. See.