The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-09-05
National Airs.

"God save tho King was composed BY DR..
JOHN BULL, Professor of Music in Gresham
College, and first sung at . banquet given to
JAMES the First and Prince HENRY, at Ner-
chant Tailor's Hall,in 1906. The music is worry
grand. The celebrated Colonel JAMES INES
used to say that nobody was worthy to write
ths words for it but MILTON.
Hail Columbia was originally called
"Prince Ferdinand's March," it having boon
composed In homer Of that General whom he
commanded the British and Hanoverian
armies during the seven years war.
The old song when Bibo went down to the
regions below" was much in vogue about tho
time of tho last war. FRANCIS S. KEY wrote
the words of the "Star Spanglsd Banner" and
set them to that tuns.
The Marceillaise Hymn, OF, as the French call
j., "march," was written and composed BY
RoUeEr DE LIsLE, young French officer of
family attached to the royal cause. LAMAR
TINE gives a very romantic account of the
origin of the song, and of RoUGET himself.
1t was not written, as its name would
seem to imply, a: Marseiles, but at 6trasbur e,
in an cpposIIe quarter of France. A Iarx.
body Of Marseiliais, who went up to Paris to
assist the Jaecbins, passed through tho coun-
try singing it as thoy went; hence its name.
How they got hold of it, since it had not be-
fore been sung or published, as far as We
know, is mystery. 1t soon became the ma
tional anthem, and is the most widely known
and most famous musical production of which
there is any account. 1t is tho great revolu-
tionary ant hem-the gong that addresses itself
above all others to the heart of the multitude.
Thsre is no country in Europe, except Eng
Land, in which it is allowed to be sunr
1t always has tho effect OF arouSing the crowo
to a tch of frenzy which military force is
often necessary to suppress. There is some
thing inexpressibly wild and animatiag in the
strain. We rccollect to have been present,
some years ago, at an exhibition in which the
exhibitor exposed to view the Northern shore
of the Mediterranean. As each coast appear
ed, band Of music played the national air of
tbs particular country. Nobody seemed to
pay any attention to the m usic, until tho coast
of France came in view and tho band struck
up the Mar seillaise. 1t acted like electricity,
and the house instantly resounded with thun-
dcrs of applause. LANA RrIsEs narrative of
the circumstances attending the composition
of the Marseillaise, and Of the authors per-
sonal history, are exceedingly interesting
His mother ian old royalist) wrote him from
Paris that they were singing an awful bloody
minded song about the streets, and that it vas
said he wrote it. She begged him to contra
dict the charge. He was seon prescribed AZ
an aristocrat, and fed for his life. A. 10 was
passing over the Alps, the muleteer who walked
by his side commenced singing the Marseillaise
Hymn. He asked him who composed the song,
and he replied, a royalist and traitor, named
RoUcEr DE LILLE, adding a strong wish that he
had to deal with him. RouGBr lived until
1880, when, after the Revolution, he was
elected to the Chamber of Deputies.
Tee Yankees want National hymn. True
to their instincts, they offer . sum of money
FOR it. Money is, to them, enthusiasm, pat
riotism, genius, everything. OF course, they
viii never get National anthem. What sub
ject could it treat Of in order to interest the
Yankees? The almighty Dollar" is every
thing with them. If tina. is left cut, there is
nothing to make song about.