<P> In an attempt to take Baltimore, the British attacked Fort McHenry, which protected the harbor . Bombs were soon bursting in air, rockets were glaring, and all in all it was a moment of great historical interest . During the bombardment, a young lawyer named Francis Off Key (sic) wrote "The Star - Spangled Banner", and when, by the dawn's early light, the British heard it sung, they fled in terror . </P> <P> Professional and amateur singers have been known to forget the words, which is one reason the song is sometimes pre-recorded and lip - synced . Other times the issue is avoided by having the performer (s) play the anthem instrumentally instead of singing it . The pre-recording of the anthem has become standard practice at some ballparks, such as Boston's Fenway Park, according to the SABR publication The Fenway Project . </P> <P> "The Star - Spangled Banner" is traditionally played at the beginning of public sports events and orchestral concerts in the United States, as well as other public gatherings . The National Hockey League and Major League Soccer both require venues in both the U.S. and Canada to perform both the Canadian and U.S. national anthems at games that involve teams from both countries (with the "away" anthem being performed first). It is also usual for both U.S. and Canadian anthems (done in the same way as the NHL and MLS) to be played at Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association games involving the Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Raptors (respectively), the only Canadian teams in those two major U.S. sports leagues, and in All Star Games on the MLB, NBA, and NHL . The Buffalo Sabres of the NHL, which play in a city on the Canada--US border and have a substantial Canadian fan base, play both anthems before all home games regardless of where the visiting team is based . </P> <P> Two especially unusual performances of the song took place in the immediate aftermath of the United States September 11 attacks . On September 12, 2001, the Queen broke with tradition and allowed the Band of the Coldstream Guards to perform the anthem at Buckingham Palace, London, at the ceremonial Changing of the Guard, as a gesture of support for Britain's ally . The following day at a St. Paul's Cathedral memorial service, the Queen joined in the singing of the anthem, an unprecedented occurrence . </P>

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