Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-01

OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM.
Claims of "Jho star spangied Banner
Versus "Amer,ca.V


ft is quite true that the music of 1.-THE
Star Spangled Banner" was taken from
the old English song called "Anacreon in
Heaven" but this Is of no consequence
whatever, says Rafford Pyke in the New
York Commercial Advertiser. The impor-
tant thing to consider is whether ma
tional thing is universally understood and
accepted as being such If 1t Is, then its
origin need not concern anyone. This is
the chief ground for objecting to our use
of the music which we sing to America"
When 1t is played in mixed assembly,
no one Is ever quite sure whether 1t is in
tended for America" or for God Save
the Queen" or for the Prussan national
air, or for the Danish national air, or for
what, since it is used by several countries,
and is therefore, extremely confusing.
On the other hand, when "The Star
Spangled Banner is played anywhere in
the civilized world, no human being ever
takes 1t for anything other than THE
Star Spanglcd Banner" while not one per-
son in Il million has ever heard of Ana
creon in Heaven"
There are just three possible selections
for anyone to consider in determining
what ought to be tho national anthem of
the United States In the first place, there
is Yankee Doodle" which, as traditions
tell us, was picked out by the American
commissioners who signed tho treaty OF
| 1t to be played by the bands which were
| chosen to render the British and Amcri-
can national airs at the celebration of the
| end of the War of 1912.
The music of Yankee Doodle" al
| though English in origin, is in fact char
| actcris,icaily American, for 1t is brisk,
| dashing, rollicking, insplritiug and full of
a devil-may- recklessncss Yet 1t Is.
| in the first place, not quite serious enough
| in it's character; and, in the second place,
there are no words to go with 1t which
anyone would be willing to sing on an oc-
casion of any dignity whatever So think
] that Yankee Doodle" is ruled out.
Hall Columbia" is thoroughly Ameri-
can alike in its music, its words and its
history, yet unfortunately no one knows
the words no one ever sings 1t, and nc
one can over be got to sing It, 1t is, in
deed properly speaking, a march and not
q. song; and it was originally so written
| Therefore, it also is practically unavail-
able.
1.-THE Star Spangled Banner" however
| IL omen to none of the preceding objec'
tions. It's music is martial, dignifled anc
| stirring; its words are wholly admirable
and they embody our American devotion
to the flag which Is to everyone tho sym
| Dol of all that Is dear to us aud of all thai
, we arc proud of in our country, in its his
tory and in its achievements. Moreover
1t Is universally sung and will continue e
he sung. The only objection to 1t is t.
be found i'll its musical range, which |!
rather too great to be readily managed
by the average person, it's lowest note he
ing rather 100 low and its highest not'
rather too high for the compass of an un
trained voice Nevertheless. 1t is the on
} song which our country has produced tina
appeals to every American with equa
: power and that is in every way fitted e
rank with any Of the national anthems
of the earth; and so | think that tn
choice of il which now appears to hav'
been finally made by an instructive popu
lar decision is very judicious. discrim
: mating and permanent selection.