Charles Zimmermann, composer of “Anchors Aweigh”, passed away on this day in 1916. “Anchors Aweigh” is the fight song of the United States Naval Academy and march song of the United States Navy. Zimmermann composed “Anchors Aweigh”, his most famous song, in 1906 when he was a Lieutenant in the United States Navy. The lyrics were written by Alfred Hart Miles, a midshipman. The march was intended from the beginning to serve as a rousing tune for football games. The song was first played during the Army–Navy football game on December 1, 1906, at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [P.S. I’m from Philadelphia – yay!] Navy won the game 10–0! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchors_Aweigh)
The word ‘aweigh’ is now only used in this little phrase. An anchor that is aweigh is one that has just begun to put weight onto the rope or chain by which it is being hauled up. Sailors were fond of adding ‘a’ to words to make new ones, for example, ‘astern’, ‘aboard’, ashore’, ‘afloat’, ‘adrift’, ‘aground’, etc. (https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/anchors-aweigh.html)
I’d like to dedicate this song to my friend and senior Naval officer, S.L., and thank him for his service.
Bosendorfer piano sound – For this recording I’m playing a Yamaha Clavinova – which has the same keyboard action as a traditional acoustic piano, but there are no strings. Pressing a key activates (in this case) a sound which was sampled from a Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand piano. Try listening to it with a good set of headphones! It sounds better than any piano I’ve ever owned!!
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