MGA Faculty Q&A With Music Prof Dr. Rebecca Lanning: About That Rendition Of The Star-Spangled Banner

Author: Sheron Smith
Posted: Tuesday, July 16, 2024 12:00 AM
Categories: Faculty/Staff | School of Arts and Letters | Pressroom

Macon, GA

Dr. Rebecca Lanning

Country music star Ingrid Andress’s recent rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner at Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby has sparked widespread debate. Her unique interpretation of the national anthem raised questions about the complexity and challenges of performing this iconic piece. We asked Dr. Rebecca Lanning, MGA music professor, for some perspective.

What are your general thoughts on Ingrid Andress's controversial rendition of the national anthem?

I don't publicly criticize singers.  We don't know what condition she was in as she approached the mic. There were challenges there, and likely more was happening than we realize. 

What specific musical elements of "The Star-Spangled Banner" make it particularly challenging to perform?

OK, now for some musical "insider baseball." The Star-Spangled Banner is an unbelievably difficult song. First, consider the overall range. For contrast, Ms. Andress' very popular song (41,261,788 YouTube views) entitled "More Hearts than Mine" is written with a range of a sixth, so, "do-re-me-fa-sol-la."  That's it. The Star-Spangled Banner? It has a range of an octave and a 5th, so, "do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do-re-me-fa-sol". It also spans two "passaggi," or the linkages between vocal registers. Navigating a passaggio is difficult, requiring coordination of very small muscles via flexible breath pressure. To seamlessly navigate them takes quite a bit of training.

Next, let's think about the length of the phrases. Does it ever bother you when people (most of them!) sing, "Oh, say, does that star-spangled (BREATHE) banner yet wave?" This breath separates the adjective from the noun and honestly, it drives me crazy. But most singers do this because the phrases in this song are extremely long!  The singer can breathe or faint. Most choose the breath. Finally, the highest note (“land of the FREE”)  is on an e-vowel, which is also not easy. And typically that high note on "free" lands right in the middle of the upper passaggio. Why do you think most singers flip off of it so soon, even to go higher? Just because it sounds good?  Nope. They do this to escape the passaggio! Most singers flee the passaggio by going up in pitch, but another option is to go down, as Ms. Andress did.

Each singer who has not yet learned to navigate the passaggio must make a choice: (1) avoid the upper passaggio by starting the song so low that the pitch on "Oh SAY" is basically a growl, or (2) sing it a little higher so you don't croak on the bottom, but face the dangers on the top. Pick the lesser of two evils. 

How do public and media expectations affect the way singers approach the anthem when performing at large public events? 

Have you ever given a speech at a wedding, or in your class? That makes most people a little nervous. Now, how about walking, alone, into the middle of an enormous field, with millions of people watching you, and trying to grab that one perfect starting pitch (carefully navigating croak acceptance or avoidance, as discussed above), while singing into a mic that distorts your sound, and all while looking great?  And you know that everyone is comparing you to Whitney Houston?! Anyone who has the chutzpah to do that deserves our support, even Rosanne Barr. Nervousness creates shallow breathing, which produces less oxygen in the blood, which creates nervousness, which creates shallow breathing …

What advice would you give to singers preparing to perform the national anthem at a public event? 

Be prepared! Nothing beats preparation. Also, this is a lesson I try to drive home with all my students: you must separate your identity from your art. You are a beautiful person with a family who loves you. You are about to walk to a microphone and perform a task. The relative success of the task at that moment does not define you. You are the same lovely person whether it's a triumph or you wish you had a do-over. The task is not you. The task is something you complete. Ms. Andress is still the same lovely person, regardless of your opinion of how well she completed her task. 

(Postscript: Andress later addressed her performance through her social media accounts.)

Dr. Rebecca Lanning, professor of music, is entering her 32^nd year of teaching at MGA. She is an active performer and conductor, and has sung with symphonies across the southeast. She is the recipient of the MGA Outstanding Teaching and Outstanding Service awards.