The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-08
BANNER OF BEAUTY AND GLORY
The Author a the Song Tells What a
National Hymn Should he.

=
National Hymn Should BE.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WINCHESTER, Ind, Feb. DIR. W. o.
Pierce. OF this city. is the author OF The
Banner of Beauty and Glory the national
hymn adopted by the Sons of Veterans.
1t has been placed on the programme for
the observance of Union Soldiers day. DR..
Pierce was requested to give the history
of this piece of music and readily consented
to do so. The history OF that music, said
he, borders somewhat on the romantic. its
origin being mainly due to Murat Halstead.
Mr.. Halstead and myself were boys togeth-
er. on the historic Paddy's run. of Ham,
ilton county, Ohio. and his influence al
ways followed me. The eccentric editor
took occasion, not unfrequently, to air him
self on the defects of our national hymns.
In one of these moods he wrote substan-
TALLY as follows: We fear the Nation is
wretchedly poor in national songs. Hail
Columbia is too hail Columbiaish, and is
set to an old foreign tune which is good
for neither singing, marching, dancing nor
fighting; 1.-THE Star-spangled Banner is
strained fancy of personal feeling over a
single local incident and is also set TO an
to martial music as the other, and its chief
part is the Jingle of star-spangled banner.
Both this and Hail Columbia have be-
eagleism. Yankee Doodle is an old tune
set to words by Major Andre. ridiculing
General Wayne My Country lis of
Thee may be good enough poetry, but II
King" He closed with the Characters
tic Field-Marshar remark: There have
been about a hundred fools who have tried
a hVmn have
signally failed adding that he or she
who could compose one with martial,
the Rhine would deserve a greater price
than the American women paid Wagner for
his American Centennial Grand March.
Reading this L resolved to be placed on the
list he described, with the risk of like fail
ure."
Can you account for the national lack
in this kind of music?' was asked
Certainly" came the answer; lit was
simply impossible for any one to produce
truly great national hymn prior to the
paratively without history. If a nation
must live a thousand years before having
the historic data sufficient for the produc-
ton of great epic. surely one hundred
years is little time enough for funding the
material worthy a great national anthem.
Halstead's fools were trying the impos-
What are the elements requisite for
such production?
be suggestive ely historic; majestic in it's
sweep, broad in its scope, and religious
no poem can be great without the religious
element; 1t is to be far removed from the
war song, and. of course. patriotic; the
music and words should originate from the
same mind. You can't put new wine In old
bottles, nor dress up an American, as such,
must be sui generis-our very American
selves in music as in in our speech and
dress. The hymn, in structural arrange
ment, even to the very fiber, must be ca
pable of dramatic effect. embodying as well
the permanent element TO make it enduring.
/ would not discount the war songs; they
are here, and to stay: they are necessary
to the veteran for sandwiching the pleas
ing stories of the camp fire; they stir his
blood anew; but for great occasions, when
appeals are to be made TO patriotism. di-
vorced from experiences of war, audiences
tions which have the swing Of Conquest
in every note and admit of dramatic uses
by large and well-trained choruses. The
catchy element is eliminated. the elevated
and majestic are dominant. 1t is no long
er essence. but power; to put it POLITICALLY:
The angels now sing. 1t may be added
sic be engrafted on the consciousness OF
the Nation. These are only in part the tests
of great national hymn. no matter TO
1T Is understood the >. o. V. national
hymn Is an Indiana product?' was sug,
gested There are such claims for it." said ali,
Indiana division OF Sons of Veterans was
the first to recognize its merits and recon-
campment of the organization: an Indiana
quartet brought it into prominence at the
several national encampments, where, on
different occasions. they rendered 1t with
distinguished success: and was first pub
lshed in libretto form by an Indianapolis
publishing house. 1t Is thus Hoosier bred
and born; Indiana is its Nazareth
rs the music. as written, your conception
of a national hymn
"Yes. in the sense / was driven to such
conception. Truly national hymns are
made, not born, as Emperor Wilhelm has
found out to his chagrin. Such are not the
product of an occasion, nor the inspiration
French Marseillaise. the greatest produc-
tion Of the kind extant. Quarrying is TO be
done: to write such is one of the most diff
CLEAN in every line; the esthetic should pre-
dominate; the rhythm. poetry and melody
must perfectly conioin both words and
music are to carry the sweep of the eagles
wing; each stanZa in structural arrange
ment must be complete within itself. and
the versification finished. To historically
divided nation, as Is ours, the work is pc
culiarly difficult The bloody chasm' Is
to be bridged. and yet by historical meas
urement: the hymn must be written for the
whole nation. regardless of bitter memories:
metaphorically, the olive branch is to wave
from the oaks riddled by the artillery of
treason. Forgiveness and reconciliation
should chasten with tenderness the humili-
alton of our brothers defeat The history
one. These phases will be found embodied
in the hymn in question.
What is your analysis of the national
hymn
why a reporter is able for that 1t may
be done briefly. First, every stanza stands
complete in itself. The poem opens by ref
erence to the Song OF the Angels at the
birth of creation I'm contrast with that of
the patriot who would sing of the love of
country in the presence of his flag. The
second thought is of the jubilee. biblical
again, with a subtle reference TO American
slavery. The next stanZa proclaims its
wrath TO treason and like joy to the patriot;
the fourth. in order speaks OF peace. the
Bible word for atonement, applying IL to
the North and South. and giving recogni-
ton of the Lost Cause by mention OF it's
heroic flag. Next comes salute by the
American colors TO the flags of other ma
tions. proclaiming the universality of
patriotism. The sixth stanza is a prayer
for the perpetuity of the national emblem
the hymn closing with direct reference
to the second tremendous fact of all his
tory. the birth of the worlds Redeemer. as
celebrated by the angels with their peace
and good will-the song of Freedom i'm its
largest historic and prophetic sense. There
YOU have it" he added, "a multum i'm parvo
for the L Pluribus Unum of our great Re
public