2023 | O Say Can You Hear?

In his book O Say Can You Hear? Mark Clague brilliantly weaves together the stories of the song that became our national anthem and the nation it represents. Examining the origins of both text and music, alternate lyrics and translations, and the song’s use in sports, at times of war, and for political protest, he argues that the anthem’s meaning reflects—and is reflected by— the nation’s quest to become a more perfect union. From victory songs to hymns of sacrifice and vehicles for protest, Key’s song is the story of America itself. Each chapter in the book explores a different facet of the anthem’s story. In one, we learn the real history behind the singing of the anthem at sporting events; in another, Clague explores Key’s complicated relationship with slavery and its repercussions today. An entire chapter is devoted to some of the most famous performances of the anthem, from Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock to Roseanne Barr at a baseball game to the iconic Whitney Houston version from the 1991 Super Bowl. At every turn, the book goes beyond the events to explore the song’s resonance and meaning.

Mark Clague is an associate professor of musicology at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance at the University of Michigan where he also serves as director of research and as co-director of its American Music Institute. His interests center on questions of how music forges and shapes social relationships: the art of sound as simultaneously a transcendent emotional expression and an everyday tool for living. He researches all forms of musicmaking in the United States, with recent projects focusing on the United States national anthem (the subject of his OLLI talk); American orchestras as institutions (especially in early Chicago and San Francisco); the Atlanta School of composers; Sacred Harp music and performance; critical editing; and the music of George and Ira Gershwin. Professor Clague received his BA from the University of Michigan and his MA and PhD from the University of Chicago.