The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-02-08
Our National Airs.

"
in these stirring times Of ours. about our
good old national music, that we have tho's
it would be interesting to our readers to
refresh their recolleclions Of The history Of
some Of those familiar airs.
And first, few words about time-hon
ored and association honored "Yankee
Doodle" Much learned research has been
expended on the origin Of this tune. and
various are The opinions that have been
expressed upon this point. One authority
has it that the air was composed by q
British doctor, one Shackburgh. as long
ago as the time of the old French war in
Canada. Others say that the air is as old
as Cromwel's time, and that It NAV be
fonnd in the " Musical Antiquities of Eng
land" Certainly it was well known in
New England before the American Revo-
luton. and there were words to it about
Lydia Fisher" and Lucy Lockit -
And the red coats who occupied Boston
in 1775 and 1856, made verses in ridcule
Of the people their presence insulted, adap-
ted to the time for example:
'Yalkee Doodle came to town,
For to buy freock;
We will tar AID feather him,
And so we will John Hancock"
When the brigade under Lord Percy.
on the morning of the 18th of April, 1775,
marched out Of Bos' on on their way 10
Concord and Lexington, the drum and fife
played, derisively, this very air. On the
rather rapid return of what there was left
nf tham tho, t1ll -
mad 10 dance to it. And from this time
our Yankee Doodle" was accepted as
reminiscence of the first battle of the Rev
oution. 1t was played on every battle
field IN the great strife of American liberty
from Bunker Hill TO Yorktown, and tie
Pedee, S. G. 1t was heard amidst the
hurling oc the ,eaden storm of infantry and
artillery on the plain of ChaImette, on the
banks Of the Chippewa, and beneath the
snowy sielras Of Mexico; and the pulses
Of every true American heart. Of Whatever
State or section, have leaped into accord
ant harmony with it for generations past.
and will do SO for generations yet to
come.
"Hail Columbia" has also most in
teresting history.
This, the most popular Of all the nation
al songs Of America, was written by Judge
Joseph Hopkinson, one Of the signers Of
the Declaration of Independence It was
written in the summer Of 1893, when a
war with France was thought to be inevi>
table: Congress then being in session at
Philadelphia. The theatle was then open
there, and young actor, a schooimate
of llopknson, being about to take a BEN
eft, asked the Judge TO compose for him
some words to the tune of " Presidents
March," which was then the popular air.
This was on Saturday; on the Monday
night following the song was ready, was
sung with great success, and at once took
its place as a national air Of America As
the Judge, writing of this song, in 1870,
said of it, lit was truly American and
nothing else ; and the patriotic feeling ev>
cry American heart responded to it."
We should add here that the tune it.
self" Presidents March was compos>
ed in 1889, on General Washincton's first
visit TO theatre in the city of New York
We consider, now, that we have made out
pretty fair pedigree for "llail Columbia" !"
and one of which no one born on Ameri-
can soil has any reason to be ashamed.
The origin of the 8 Star SpangIed Ban
ner." as a national song. is les ancient, but
hardly less richly fraught with patriotic
associations than the others we have been
treating Of rs history is familiar to our
readers.
The air is old English, and has been
known tine out of mind, under the name
of "Anacreon in Heaven" To this tune
Robert Treat Paine wrote one of his best
odes, during the lifetime Of Washington.
l. was called adams and Liberty" and
was written for some patriotic festival din
ner. Just as the company were taking
their places at table, friend of the
writer, to whom he had shown his verses.
told Paine he had forgotten to name
Washington in them. Whereupon the
ready poet called for pen and ink, and i'm ,
promptu threw off the best stauza in his
song 1t was this:
"Should tho tempest Of war ever shadow our
land,
It's bolts can ne 'er rend Freedoms temple asun.
der;
For, unmoved at its portal shall Washington
stand,
And repel with his breast the assaults Of the
thunder.
His sword from the sleep
OF its scabbard shall leap,
And conduct, with its point, every fash to the
deep;
And ne'er shall the sons Of Columbia
be slaves,
While the earth bears plant, or the
sea rolls its wavesl'
And it was 10 this same air that, in
1914, Francis Scott Key, Of Baltimore,
then young man, and afterwards an emf
nent lawyer, composed that well known
lyric, 1.-The Star Banner" 1t so happen
ed that Kew, under flag Of truce, went
on board British Fr;ga;e, which was one
OF the feet that was then beIeagueriug
Baltimore. During his stay on boaTd the
| friga,e, it was decided to commence the
BON mbardment n Fort McHenry. md the
Young Baltirlorean was compelled 20 be a
witness of th4 deadly attack upon the &c.
/ fences Of his native city and his home
The Fort responded gallantly, and the en-
gagement between it and the fleet lasted
/ fhrouphout the nipht By