O Say Can You Hear?

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
Grand Rapids, MI

Join the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation in welcoming University of Michigan musicology and American Culture professor Mark Clague to recount the history of “The Star Spangled Banner” and how its meaning has evolved.

About Mark Clague:

Mark Clague, Ph.D., serves as Associate Professor of Musicology, Arts Leadership, and American Culture at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. He is also the Associate Dean of Collaborations and Partnerships. His book “O Say Can You Hear: A Cultural Biography of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was published by W.W. Norton. Mark’s research focuses on the social power of music in American life. His publications include the recording Poets & Patriots: A Tuneful History of The Star-Spangled Banner, which surveys historic versions and political parodies of the U.S. national anthem. This work also appears in the Star Spangled Songbook, a collection of sheet music. His anthem research work has sparked collaborations with the Smithsonian Museum of American History, Los Angeles Grammy Museum, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, and in recital with baritone Thomas Hampson at the Library of Congress. His ongoing research is featured at starspangledmusic.org and he posts to Twitter as @usmusicscholar.