Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-09-19
FOUR AMERICAN SONGS.
TWO WE'RE WRITTEN IN 5ATTLE
AND TWO DURING PEACE.


writers strnng. Pact About the Music
of America How key Composed
HiS Lyric.
The four great lyrics of our country /
are columbia, the Gem Of the Ocean,
..Hail Columbia" The Star Spangled |
Banner" aud America.
The first named was written by Tim
othy Dwight, ancestor OF Timothy
Dwight. the present president Of Yale
college. He wrote other patriotic AN
thens but columbia" is the only one
by which be became famous. Dwight
was a native of Massachusetts, and
graduate Of Yale.
He studied law, intending TO adopt II
as a profession, but there being a dearth
of chaplains in the Revolutionary army
he became one in Parsons brigade Of the
Connecticut line and served some time
there. II was during this service that
he composed the immortal song "Colum-
bia," which at once attracted general at
tention. aud from the first became IA
nous
Il was composed without much
thought, the times being full Of patriotic
I
il said to have expected no more than
passing fame for his production. 1t was
caught up. however, by the patriots, AMI
soon became known throughout the
struggling colonies After the war
Dwight went back to the pursuits inter
rupted by his entering the army, and
eventually became president Of Yale
college, "a position which he held until
his death in 1917.
The author Of columbia" was u vol
luminous writer, turning out many ex-
tended poems and books, but all seem
to have been forgotten but the great
lyric which he gave to his country dur
5 ing the struggle for freedom. 1t will
, ever remain his monument
SONG mar TOLD.
The words and music Of Hail Column
bia" were composed under the American
7 flag Its author. Joseph Hopkinson, was
native Of Philadelphia and the son OF
signer of the Declaration of Independ
ence. Like the composer Of ''Colnm-
. bia," he was the author Of many other
things in prose and verse, but nothing
has come down TO our day with any
fame but his national song
: Hail Columbia" was written in the
/, summer of 1898, when we were having
complications with France which threat
ened to end in war. Hopkinson had an
,, actor friend named Fox, who was &c
q have benefit at a theater, and 1t wa
= for him that the song was composed
|, The music which accompanied the
z song, and to which II is sung today, was
!, originally the presidents March,
which was written ten years before, OF
the occasion of Washingtons visit Il
New York by German orchestra lead
er named Fyles Hail Columbia
sprang INTO sudden popularity, and it i
said to have ayerted the threatened war
= as 1t melted national pride and rouse,
D the whole country.
!. Joseph Hopkinson lived until 1912, fill
ne ing various important Offices and love
by all for the great song he had given I
] /, his nation. He helped to revise tine col
stitution Of Pennsylvania, was war;
friend Of Joseph BonaIarte's during I'll
ex kings sojuurn in this country, aud q
the time Of his death was holding I'll
office Of United States judge for I'll
eastern district Of his native state.
INSPIRED By BATTLE SMOKE.
OF the many national song writer
none have enjoyed more enduring fam
than the author OF The Star Spanglt
Banner" Ii is perhaps the greatest al
most popular Of all our songs and lyric
Ii was composed amid the roar Of ca
non aud the bursting Of bombs, al
III seems to have sprung without effort fro
AL the mind of its author.
Francis Scott Key. the author, WAS
prisoner in the hands Of the British WHIT
the song was composed. He had gol
down the bay Mt Baltimore. then beii
~ attacked by the British fleet. for the pu
pose of securing the release of a friel
who was held 10y the enemy. Hec
a message from President Madison as
ing for the prisoners release. The Br
or. ish commander agreed 10 the reque
but told Key that lie must be detain
during the attack. Key aud his frien
were therefore held back, and 1t "
while they watched the terrific bombal
ment OF Fort McHenry, now aud ia
p losing sight Of the flag that waved o'
4, its rlmparts. that he wrote The 81
Spangied Banner" This took place
1914.
When he was released Key took
rseR poem back to the city, where it v
speedily printed 10 the music Of an
aert. English song, "Anacreon in Heaye
init MT and in "A short time was being sung
over the country,
nv DIR. Smiths beautiful ode "Ameri
was also adapted to an English air, &
,ns., of "God Save the Queen Strange
~ q relate, this same melody answers for
ifs.-s national song of the German emp
,.,5,,i Great Britain and Ireland, ByaI
q !" Switzerland. Brunswick, Hanover, n
I6N way, Prussia, Saxony, and does serv
ivan in the United States as My Count
It's Of Thee.
America" has no stirring history {
80, rounding It's composition. II was c,
posed in 1882, aud was first sung
iris; children's celebration ut the Park ST.
church, Boston. on the Fourth Of J
ms ~ the same year Samuel Francis SIN
+ .,, 81, lts author. 10 still living He is na
cAia of Massachusetts. where he was Dor
1898. Ills famous missionary by
unrp The Morning Light Is breaking"
ID az written nj the same time and plac
nth' America" DR. Smith has filed N
important stations in the church,
has written yoluninously, his contr
tions embracing nearly every branc