The melody to which Francis Scott Key intended his poem to be sung was the popular English tune known as "To Anacreon in Heaven." Written about 1775 by John Stafford Smith, the tune was originally the "constitutional song" of the Anacreontic Society, a gentlemen's music club in London named after the 6th-century B.C.E. Greek poet Anacreon. It became extremely popular in America, where it was used to accompany a number of verses, including the patriotic song called "Adams and Liberty," before 1814. Key himself used the tune for his 1805 poem "When the Warrior Returns from the Battle Afar."  Hear "The Anacreontic Song" The Anacreontic Society met every two weeks in London between 1766 and 1792. The meetings opened with a concert of instrumental music by the members. After supper "The Anacreontic Song" was performed as a solo. This was followed by renditions of light-hearted vocal music.  Hear the Star-Spangled Banner This nineteenth-century version of the Star-Spangled Banner was performed on original instruments from the National Museum of American History's collection. The music, arranged by G.W.E. Friederich, is played as it would have been heard in 1854.  Military Function The first official step toward making "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem was taken in 1889 when the Secretary of the Navy ordered it played at morning flag-raising ceremonies. By 1917 both the Army and the Navy considered the tune to be the national anthem for ceremonial purposes.  National Anthem In 1931, due largely to the efforts of Mrs. Reuben Ross Holloway, president of the Maryland State Society, United States Daughters of 1812, and Congressman J. Charles Linthicum of Baltimore, Congress made "The Star-Spangled Banner" the official national anthem of the United States.  Back to top Courtesy Library of Congress Anacreon, a Greek poet who lived 563-478 B.C.E., was noted for his songs in praise of love and wine.