To Anacreon in Heaven

To Anacreon in Heaven, also known as the Anacreontic Song, was the official song of the Anacreontic Society. The Anacreontic society was a gentlemen's club of amateur musicians in London during the 18th century. It was written by John Stafford Smith, a British Mason of Inverness Lodge #4 in London. At one point, the song was used by an Irish Masonic Orphans' Home as their song. Later, it became a popular English drinking song, and was called To Anacreon in Heaven. It is about a Greek poet named Anacreon.

The song is not sung very much anymore. However, the music was used by Francis Scott Key for The Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States.

To Anacreon In Heaven Media

• The Anacreontic Song (1780), by John Stafford Smith

• AnacreonLouvre

• Stafford Smith.png

  Portrait of John Stafford Smith, around 1820

• Smith O Remember.png

  Beginning of the Canon "O Remember" by John Stafford Smith. It "gain'd a Prize Medal" from the London Catch Club in 1773.

• Vocal Enchantress.png

  First page of the song as published in The Vocal Enchantress (1783)

• Anacreontic Vocal.png

  First known publication of the lyrics of "The Anacreontic Song", from The Vocal magazine, 1778. The reference to "Rowley's" was removed in later versions.

• Star Spangled Banner (Carr) (1814) (detail).png

  Detail from the first sheet music publication of "The Star-Spangled Banner" (Thomas Carr, 1814). Note the F-sharp in the melody.