tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10680113.post372421177703463472..comments2024-03-23T11:40:13.092-05:00Comments on Musical Assumptions: Inaugural FanfareElaine Finehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14248422399226824168noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10680113.post-80927105017853866102013-01-22T16:18:53.946-06:002013-01-22T16:18:53.946-06:00My (vague) recollection is that performing "T...My (vague) recollection is that performing "The Star Spangled Banner" in 4 harkens back to Whitney Huston's rendition in 1991, which was well-received (and also lip-synced). It's an interesting question as to why it's done (especially during such an auspicious occasion), but my guess is it's partly a nod to a kind of "standard" set by that performance (i.e. the pop version of the Anthem). Is it just me, or does it take a special kind of arrogance to do that at the inauguration? And I don't mean Beyonce or Clarkson, rather, the people behind it.<br /><br />Then again, it was a celebration...<br /><br />But I've always felt that music such as the Anthem should be about the event/context/meaning than it should ever be about the performer; a case where the musician should be in complete service to the music. The overly-embellished "virtuoso" performances of the Anthem always leave me wanting, to say the least.Seanhttp://contrapuntalism.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10680113.post-65987033111981820482013-01-21T18:45:29.837-06:002013-01-21T18:45:29.837-06:00That 4/4 arrangement they made for Beyonce was als...That 4/4 arrangement they made for Beyonce was also in E major--a very unusual key for B-flat instruments (who are not usually asked to play music with 5 sharps). <br /><br />Call me a purist, but I much prefer both songs in 3/4. Maybe the (unnamed and unacknowledged) arranger thought that adding an extra beat might give a little "oomph" of gravitas to the event, in the absence of an original piece for the occasion.Elaine Finehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14248422399226824168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10680113.post-38093755037997822562013-01-21T16:54:13.398-06:002013-01-21T16:54:13.398-06:00It was nice that an attempt was even made in 2009....It was nice that an attempt was even made in 2009.<br /><br />Maybe a bit of a tangent, but did anyone else notice that "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and "The Star Spangled Banner", both songs in simple 3/4 time, were stretched by the arranger to be in 4/4? Can Kelly and Beyonce not express themselves in three? Or, is it that the American People can't handle it?Michaelhttp://www.michaelkaulkin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10680113.post-55319579776440713882013-01-21T15:01:20.305-06:002013-01-21T15:01:20.305-06:00From your lips to POTUS's ears... :)From your lips to POTUS's ears... :)Seanhttp://contrapuntalism.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com