The New York herald., 1879-12-26
THE NEW ANTHEM.
Its Enthusiastic Reception at the
Academy of Music.
A BRILLIANT AUDIENCE.
Three Thousand Voices Join
in the Chorus.

pie pouring into the Academy OF Music py nun
dreds all anxious to seats ana 10 ENJOY tne
FIRST performance of Mr.. p. s. Gilmores national an
them "Columbia." 1t required but little time to MI
every available position from the auditorium to the
gallery. When the curtain arose 1t was upon mass
of that surely have indicated the intense
interest that has been created through the HERALD
in the work of the composer AS the ladies' ana
gentlemen passed the officials who received the
tickets they were supplied with printed copy OF
the words and melody. and were thus enabled to
follow every movement in the program me-
It was evident from the outset that the
audience were in thorough sympathy with
the occasion, and prepared to receive in q
good natured way whatever might be presented. for
nobody knew whether the affair would be success
or failure. After trifing delay some sixty-hve
or seventy instrumentalists filed in from the side
doors of the stage and took their places Most OF
them had not the music they were required to
perform. Among the artists who had thus voun-
teered were Levy, the famous sooist on the cornet
and a of other gentlemen who are well known
in musical circles. This fact Of itself indicates not
only the strength of the sympathy that
Mr.. Gilmore and other member Of his profession.
but shows the warmth of interest they feel in his
composition and his endeavor to give it the largest
publicity. Their appearance upon the stage in large
numbers was therefore regarded by the audience as
an earnest tribute to the work Of the composer In
. minute or two after they seated the curtain
rose and revealed chorus OF about four hun
dred ladies and gentlemen who represent our
several Metropolitan choral societies. They
were arranged with picturesque effect, the
sopranos in front, the altos behind. the tenors
slightly in the and the bassos high up on the
back OF the stage. 1t like the base Of pyramid
of vocal possibilities. Whom the curtain fairly
up and the applause that greeted the ensemble ceased
Mr.. Algernon Sydney Sullivan, who had been
leeted to deliver the address explanatory Of the
poem and the OCCASION advanced tothe front Of the
stage and spoke as follows:-
MR.. sULLIvAN's ADDRESS
LADIES AND GKNrLEMEN-Deep and intelligent love
of country passion that must ever create poetry
and music, and offering to the patriotism OF tho
country of o national song founded history Is by
no means an insignificant fact
Your sympathy with such an offering, your desire
to witness and unite in it, attest crediable appre-
citation by you of the worth of such high ana honor
BILE endeavor. 1t is in its poetry that nation dis
closes its highest aims and enthusiasm. Thence
you learn what the nation thinks OF law. OF tree
DOM OF excellence in character OF the true standard
of greatness, and Of God. Ii it be degraded by low
and material Influences. nation never will sing
lofty spiritual songs. Let then keep in mind that
the service OF this Christmas aftcrnoon-which is
not to introduce an elegant ODE with forid brill
fancy. or classic lyric but in simple phrase and
measure to embody the sentiment OF the American
patriotism in peoples song-will be tested by
the inquiry ''With what images does 1t I'LL the mind,
and what feelings does it stimulate p
When we speak of 'sOng founded on history"
we recall great truth. The poet is, in fact, the
true historian He alone sees truth beneath its VEIL
History. ordinarily so termed describes the vesture
but the vivlfed agent beyond, and the soul that
and colors discernible only by the aid
of the MUSES.. The heart, just all men carry it
about with them. over the whole eartl and through
all time warmed by passions, moved by SYM
pathes-the necessities of its nature. and alive to
all truths that general and not local and Incl
dental-fashes out its own knowledge, feelings,
suferings and designs; and that CLEAN Is poetry
that comprehends the history OF man. 1t shows
what he is in all the varying circumstances wherein
he lives; it shows what he is doing to change the
circumstances. such poetry Is mirror which not
only reflects faithful image, but which itself takes
on beauties from the imagao in its bosom, and be-
slows its refulgence as new enrichment upon the
fable; you look into 1t, and all that ever glanced
upon 1t looks out upon you.
With it there is such thing as a never returning
past. To it all events discernible in each event;
nothing is isolated, nothing is transtory. The laws
Of birth of all that is fine in human nature are
known to the poet He can describe it: he can sum-
mon it. and make its embryo wings futter in the
bosom Of his fellow man.
OF course sentiment so elevated and akin to piety
rs patriotism has made poetry its handmade. Pa
triotc melodies at times. have the power OF o sane
tuary song Their effect is illustrated IN the history
OF every nation, ancient and modern.
Who can read the famous Sodium of Callistratus
and not be transported to the Panathenean festival.
when the myrtle wreathed sword killed the tyrant
and gave equal laws to Athens?
Methnks can hear her people, at all their festive
meetings, chant to their beloved Harmodious in the
Islands Of the Blest, immortal with
Achilles. aeet OF foot, and Diomed.
Mr.. Sullivan then spoke of the more prominent
patriotic songs of modern nations, OF their origin
and the effect they have had upon The growth and
power Of the peoples adopting them. and proceed
ing. said:-
COLUMBIA" INTERPRETED.
To-day 1t is our good fortune to christen at one
font both the words and the music in which. It is
preston. As / understand. the vision which in
forms this new song of columbia in History" 1t
turns my sight three centuries back. 1t is
Upon the deck OF little vessel sailing seas
where Europeans had never before ventured, hear
the mariners sing. ''salve Regina" the vesper
hymn to the Virgin. hear Columbus addressing
them, and pointing out the goodness of God
IN leading them across tranquil oceans and guiding
them to promised land. The next morning, see
that Admiral landing one of the islands of the
new continent upon his knees thanking God, with
tears OF JOY ending his voyage. as he had recorded
the beginning in his journal, "In nomine ID. N. Jesu
Christi. The banners carried ashore were emblaz-
hrst fact In an American history. whether written
IN poetry or in prose. The island which the rising
sun revealed to view was oversplendorcd with
brighter gory-the living light OF the Cross
In the spirit Of this song look century later.
see another small vessel. in northern latitude, at
midwinter, approach the icy shore OF the
tinent. 1t is the May1ower, and from her decks
Few pilgrim iminigrants land. They plant for pos
teri.y state the ena OF wLich was the rule
good, the glory Of which to DO freedom.
Before landing they formed body polite
onward again by this historic song,
century and half we are brought into the majestic
presence Of Washington, amid the which
marked the achievement of American Independence.
Again. with nearly century's flight, the vision Is
all o'ercast with the night OF "a rowning Provi-
dence only that the day shall arise to SEQ
civil war ended and mans slavery extinguisbed.
Borne on further by the tide of this song review,
which OF the millions of loving hearts that shall
chant this song of columbia will fail ito guard her
peace ana libertyT
And more than that who will remain unimpressed
by the spirit which springs out of this song, that
mum to man shall Ger be just.
Why shall 1t not inspire all with q new devo-
ton to advocate the rights of the feeble and plead
for the su1erings of the poerY
For myself. believe that the duty. the strength
and the glory OF our country viii found In that
path. feel it, and mean 1t, that that duty in ono
immediate practical shape, Is for the whole people
with mighty energy TO for the education of the
lately emancipated slaves, fellow citizens with
1t now only remains for to recognize the pro-
priety with which the Columbia" song concludes
In ascripton of praise TO Him, "the King of Glory