Conceived as a fanfare to precede the presentation of The Star-Spangled Banner, this work can be presented in three different ways: (1) as a concert selection, (2) as a narrated work describing the events leading to Francis Scott Key’s creation of The Star-Spangled Banner, and (3) using the final third of the work as an animated fanfare to open a concert program. The music is, at times, both poignant and thrilling - filled with exciting contrasts and imbued with a sense of 'I am proud to be an American.'