The Star-Spangled Banner (arr. Leopold Godowsky)

Pittsburgh Farewell Recital, Levy Hall, June 19, 2017
Godowsky's virtuoso concert arrangement of the National Anthem opened the concert. This piece started as the ending of 'Requiem (1914-1918)' a threnody for the dead of World War I. The short Requiem is from a collection called Triakontameron, thirty pieces in triple meter. Originally only a setting of the final verse ('O say does that star-spangled...'), he later set the entire anthem.

[@alancorley6455]

I love that audience stood

[@Xfranman]

A magnificent rendition of an incredible anthem to a breathtaking ensign. 🇺🇲

[@timothyj1966]

this guy plays with passion!

[@ncarterette]

thanks

[@captainwafflez3630]

Excellent phrasing and technical competency!

[@michaelgambino1357]

By the end of it I can't tell if this guy loves or hates America.

[@Alisha_Woo]

Loves.

[@RickPatNB]

Depends whether he is a libtard or conservative.

[@maplebench173]

To Anacreon in Heaven is a song composed by John Stafford Smith for the Anacreontic Society, a club of amateur musicians in London in the 18th century. The song praises Anacreon, a Greek poet who celebrated love and wine. The tune was later used by Francis Scott Key to write the Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics of the song are attributed to Ralph Tomlinson.

[@MikeN275]

Oh, what happenstance. I saw you perform in Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown. It's nice to hear you on a less...challenging instrument. Lol! And with a fine and rarely played Godowsky arrangement at that.

[@ncarterette]

thanks yes beautiful venue but the piano needs a li'l work! ha ha!

[@岡泰-m2u]

アメリカの国歌めっちゃ好き👍️感動しました。

[@mahendrasmith7589]

アメリカの国歌がただ綺麗なんですけど、全く尊厳がありません。しかし、日本に関しては、日本の国歌が日本国の美しさを代表してます。かく音符が全部の日本人の誇りをたっぷり入っております。

[@aks8823]

Great performance of the Godowsky version!

[@delightedbyu1]

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

[@victorricafort3232]

I get teary eyed whenever i hear patriotic songs. I love this country, it gave me the opportunity to taste liberty, the constitution, the american resolve etc. But, Rome got ruined not beaten by an outside enemy but inside. The looters, destroying statues, ###############

[@henrygeorge1802]

There is nothing more patriotic than the destruction of confederate statues. Robert E. Lee's vandalized statue with Harriert Tubmans image projected onto it was a work of art. Try being more concerned about the state violence that led to the protests rather than the response it invoked.

[@bartoszbasiura7119]

@@henrygeorge1802 lol

[@brianmorris4702]

@@henrygeorge1802 get lost commie the past no matter how ugly cannot be forgotten unless you doomed to repeat it.

[@SissyFlower5]

@@brianmorris4702 lol because the Germans still have statues of nazis everywhere....

[@edwardrichtofen1252]

@@henrygeorge1802 Nothing is patriotic, never was... never will be.

[@arthurdubois9978]

Much -refer the simpler, less ornate and heartfelt Rachmaninov arrangement

[@cyruscheng4791]

this arrangement is so contemplative it brings tears to my eyes; American greatness is only possible through God's blessings but still, it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to become what it is today. Seeing how the leftist ideals (which are wrong) tearing it apart just hurts me to the core. Surely we are entering the new Dark ages should America, God forbid, falls #godblessyou #godblessamerica

[@jameswilson807]

America fell decades ago. What exists is an ugly husk that cannot exist without international terrorism to fuel bloated industries and impede upon the freedom's of others to prop up gluttonous and hateful capitalist politicians. There's nothing American about it, it's a mockery of American ideals

[@papagen00]

Ahh yes, the song with unsingable words.

[@davorsaric8041]

Kitch.

[@steftrando]

It should be in Bb major. This sounds strange

[@kyleglennon5336]

Please you play it then