On the “Harmony” page of the Introduction chapter, scroll down until you see “Listen to the example” box for Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Union and the second example,“The Star-Spangled Banner,” performed by South City Voices. Click and listen to the Gottschalk & the South City Voices examples.
Questions: Do you prefer the Gottschalk version of the SSB, or the South City Voices version of the SSB? Why or why not? The last audio example is a version of the SSB that Stravinsky, a composer arranged. Can you hear the slight change of harmony that Stravinsky uses in his version of the SSB? (You may not clearly hear this – it’s a very slight difference to what we are used to hearing.) Now listen to Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock version of the SSB on Youtube. Do you feel that either Stravinsky or Hendrix’s versions of the SSB are offensive? Why or why not? Why do you think people may have been offended at the time either of these versions were performed?
Answers: Personally, I prefer the Gottschalk/Union version over the South City Voices/ Star Spangled Banner. To me, the South City Voices was just a lot slower and more monotone of a SSB than what I’m use to. I’m use to hearing all the percussion instruments and a nice fast tempo, this piece just lacked that for me. The Gottschalk/Union is my favorite of the two, because this piece kept me more engaged than the other one, and it sounds more like the other SSB’s I have heard. (I do not know where the Stravinsky version is in the book, so I googled it?) Yes, I can hear the slight change of harmony that Stravinsky uses in his version of the SSB. Lastly, Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock version of the SSB is not my favorite. It’s very, loud & obnoxious in a way. I wouldn’t consider this version offensive, because some people may like it, just not me. People were probably offended by this version of the SSB, because it was something they just weren’t use to hearing, they’re more comfortable with the more soothing & slower tempo versions.
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