Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-20
NATIONAL AND PATRIOTIC AIRS.
An Extensive Collection Msde by the Leads
Of the Marine Band.

A>ss>s@s
THE RESULT OF YEARS OF CONSTANT AND ANNOY
ING LABOR BIZ JOHN PHILIP soUsA-MANY
CURIOUS YAcTs BROUGHT OUT IN THE RE-
sEARcH-sKErcH OF NE. sousA's cAREKl.
l0NE OF THE MOST remarkable works
lever published under the authority Of
the government is the book Just out by Mr..
John Philip Sousa, conductor of the US. Ma
rine Band, which contains the national and pa
triotic songs of nearly every nation in the
world. The preparation of this book occupied
about two years Of fairly close labor, although
even before work was commenced in earnest
Mr.. Sousa had been gradually gathering ma
terial since 1876. 1t was then that the idea first
suggested itself to him, when bands from for
| eign countries came to Philadelphia at the
centennial exposition. Mr.. Sousa was then
playing in Ofenbach's orchestra and on the
4th OF July Of that year one Of the musical Sc
lections played during the imposing exercises
which marked that occasion was an arrange
ment Of the national airs of several nations
made by Mr.. Sousa at the request Of Simon
Hassler. who was the assistant leader of that
orchestra and called the Congress OF Nations"
This ls still! a standard band piece and is in
GUIDED In the repertoire of the Marine Band.
bboAS AT THE CENTENNIAL
From that time Mr.. Sousa began to gather
the national and patriotic songs of foreign
| countries more fad at first than with any
idea l OF ever putting them to any practical use.
when ne came, in 1850, to Washington and
took charge of the Marine Band and saw how
frequently foreign embassys came here and
were received with official honor. he then real
lied what a delicate compliment it would be to
these foreigners if, when they were being en-
terLalned danA rofo 80 thax,
could listen to the strains of their own national
airs played by the United States government
band.
Then he began work in earnest, but he pros
ecuted his task under the greatest difficulties
and disadvantages until in October, 1889. he
secured from Secretary Tracy an order to COM
Pile for the use Of the Navy Department the
national and patriotic airs of all nations. With
this order he was enabled to obtain the assist
ance OF the State Department., which sent a
circular letter to all American consuls invok-
ing their interest in the matter. From that
time replies TO correspondence came in rapidly
and the work increased in volume and interest.
The receipt and alphabetical arrangement of
these national airs, however, formed but a
small part of Mr.. Sousa's labor. Nearly every
one has foot note giving its history and
something about the people whose musical
ideas it typifes and the gathering of this ma
terial occupied much time and research. Then,
too, many of the airs came to him in merely
q,
care to preserve the original characteristics Of
the melody. In this way he has made things
OF beauty many airs which taken simply would
not fall pleasantly upon the cultivated ear, no
matter how attractive they might be to the
Ponca Indian, the Fiji Islander or the Samoan.
MANY CURIOUS FACTS.
Some curious facts are brought to light by
an examination Of this collection. which in
cludes about $50 airs. Turkey furnishes one
which is full of minor chords Of wild, discord-
ant harmony, which is supposed to be charac-
teristic of a people closed in from contact with
more enlightened and cultured people, and also
another song with stirring theme and broad
full harmony. which indicates that the composer
had had the advantage of u musical education
in Germany. The airs of the Spanish
be expected, while surprise is found
In Esquimo Indian air that
is tender and sweet and would do credit to any
nation. The beauty Of this, however is brought
ont in the harmony by Mr.: Sousa. The air
English God Save the Queen" belongs to no
less than seven different nations, and even the
music of "The Star Spangled Banner" yankee
Doodle and Columbia. the Gem of the
Ocean, has been appropriated from airs sung
in Europe long before the United States was a
nation.
After Mr.. Sousa had commenced his work
officially there were three nations that changed
their national airs account of change Of
government or ruler. Brazil overthrow its
emperor and became republic and the pres
ent national air was the result of a competitive
contest made last June. Portugal adopted
new air when the young King Carlos was pro-
claimed and Nicaragua selected a new one when
she elected s. new president. Some of the airs
from out-of-the- way places were whistlcd or
sung to Mr.. Sousa and he noted them down
and then harmoniZed them afterward
The notes form an interesting and in many
cases a complete history of the airs and incl
dentally furnish much information of the coun-
tries and people which they represent. Aus
trials national hymn was written by HAYDN.
who was prompted to his task by hearing ''God
Save the King sung in England, while in New
Zealand the national anthem was composed in
an effort to secure prize Of ten guineas Of
fered by newspaper. Bohemia's national air
forms a prominent part Of Balfe's overture to
1.-The Bohemian Girl" and Nicaraguas state
hymn was written by q member of the govern
ment band. One singular fact is developed
namely, that the smallest republic in the world.
song. 1t consists of twelve verses, each with
different time.
WHAT MIR. soUsA SAYS.
81 believe" said Mr.. Sousa to STAR re-
porter, that the publication Of this book will
be Of decided benefit to our government from
a diplomatic standpoint. When our vessels go
into foreign port now and the officers enter
tain the dignitaries of other countries
our own bands on board the ships
can greet the visitors with their own
national airs and no attention could
be more delicate than that nor go farther to-
ward establishing a kindly feeling for the
United States have sought info rmation from
every source 1 could hear of, and sometimes
months would elapse before 1 would
receive reply to a letter. FIRE.
quently two or three letters we're necessary
in order to elicit an answer and sOmetimesnone-
came ut all. talked with many of the mem
bers of the Pan-American congress and received
valuable suggestions and aid from them. No
one, however, has an idea OF the immense
amount of labor that collection represents, and
l never could have accomplished it had not
been encouraged and aided by the Navy and
State departments"
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
Mr.. Sousa is native of this city and was
born under the very shadow of the Capitol in
1854. His father was a member of the Marine
Band and the boy was early started in his mu-
steal education. The violin was the instru-
ment that he most liked although he played
an alto and tenor horn in the band
when he was young, in his teens. But
he worked hard to become master of
the violin and, as he told STAR reporter, often
rose at o'clock in the morning and with
simply candle for light practiced until 8,
when it was time to eat his
breakfast and go to school. He
led a theater orchestra in this city when he