New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-14
MUSICAL COMMENT.
THE TRIBUNE'S WAR SONG-ANOTHER
BALLAD OF THE WAR OF 1872
TUNE WITH PATRIOTIC
MEMORIES A STORY
OF BISMARCK.

A TUNE WITH PATRIOTIC
MEMORIES A STORY
OF BISMARCK.
In the musical part Of It's Illustrated supplement
to-day The Tribune reproduces another or the mos'
admired ballads called out by the War OF ISL The
Yankee Tars" was almost much IN the popular
mouth as THE Constitution and Guerriere" over
which II had the advantage Of a more widely
known melody. The tune old one In the
middle OF the last century. and It's origin has mus
far escaped discovery II is referred TO varousy as
Derry Down" The Abbot of Canterbury, y
Cobbler There Was" and Death and the Cobbler
"a Cobber There Was" many be found In Waitss
"Musical Miscellany" for 1929. "Iing John and the
Abbot OF Canterbury" according to DR.. Percy
seems to be an abridged and modornized version
made about the time OF James OF much older
ballad entitled king John and the Bishop of Can
terbury." The story is common also to Germany
whore II IS told in modern verse In the poem en-
tilted Der Abt Sank; Gallen." Or. Percy CON
t.nues: Lastly, about the time OF the civil wars.
when the cry ran against the bishops, some Iuri-
;ens worked up the story into a very dolefnl
ditty to a solemn tune concerning King Henry and
a Bishop. with this singing moral
I-nlearncd men hard matters out can find,
When learned bishops princes eyes 90 Dlnu
Chappell says:
There are numberess songs and ballads TO the
tune under one or other o. II. ranGn wrItten
against the Rump Parliament, In those OF ne tine
Songs etc that have been published since the Re
bellion and sung In The several nugn2nses IN 'hf
shcnstones ballads. ''Thc Gossipng," Is 70 the
tune of King John and the Ahbot Of Canterbury.
in The Asylum for Fugitive Pieces 7Ss there
are several: and the tune is In common use at the
present day.
The melody also much used in the ballad
operas OF the last century. For Americans. how
ever II has special interest. researches just com
pleted having established the fact with reasonable
certainty that when CORVALLIS surrendered at
Yorktown the British troops marched ont Of camp
to its measures. In Gardens Anecdotes Of the
Revolution you may read:
The British appeared In new uniforms distributed
among them few days days oefoTe ana II 9n'y y,f rr
much the effect Of holiday parade. But Their
colors were cased and they prohibited from
playing either French or an American tune.
THE troops shall march ont with colors cased and
drums r P e b pd ne or apc I,n ont with
colors cascd while the tune they chose to follow
ate title Of THE world Turned Upside Down"
We have the assurance of Frank Moore in his
Songs and Ballads 81 the Revolution and the
evidence Of the verse structure that The World
Turned Upside Down sung 10 tho tune Of
Derry Down" Chappen docs not mention the
fact, but this does not necessarily imply that he
was ignorant OF II. The World Turned Upside
Down" called out by the American Revolution
and Mr. Chappcll may have considered It Of too
recent origin to be included in his list. Says Mr.
Moore
Tho ballad entitled Tho World Turned Upside
Down; or The Old Woman Taught Wisdom" WAS
published originally I'm THE Gentleman's Maga-
tune Derry Der DOVE The Anonymous author say
+, Is IAN humble attempt 20 reconcile the parent
and her children. made by n peacemaker 10 Great
Britain and her colonies"
The first stanza Of this song tho whole Of which
may be found in Moore's book. runs a. follows
Goody Bull and her daughter together fcll out.
Both squabhled and wrangled. and made --
But the cause % the quarrel remains 10 he tod,
Then lend both your ears and tale III unfold
In a song entitled when Was Dame Of
Honour" In n ballad oocra. Tho Fashion
able Lady" O73D ind tho line which probably
suggested his title TO the author ~ The World
Turned Upside Down" rs first reads.
Since the worlds tuInd upside down.
And all things changed IN nature.
As II douh, were newly grown
OF ancient modes and former wayr
III teach c you, IS, sirs ,hg ma manner i1
When maid OF honour.
Finally n BIT 81 curious learning for tho literary
antiquary: An old Welsh author says that Derry
Down IS a paraphrase 70: tho Welsh HAT down lr
dor danno." which means Come. let IL hasten 20
the oakcn Grove"-obvousy Driidlral refrain
Musical anecdotes about Prince Bismarck. ought
was not q musical man. and 20 discuss him ia re
lation 20 music one would be- compelled TO pursue
the "lucus a non luocndo' principle However.
story comes to mind which may Dc said 10 illus
trac his conception Of his masters attitude toward
the art Nicmann the great dramatic tenor. told II
20 The Tribune's commentator years ago when tho
conversation CHANGED 70 turn a singer whose
last years spent IN America This Kari
Formes the always formidable and sometimes ter
rifying hasso. The story relates TO Nicmauns frs
meeting with Formes. The latter had been so long
mann's genera don OF artists knew him only
tradition when hc turned UP in Berlin. pre-
scented himself at the famous tenOrs lodgings In
troduccd himself and almost in tho same breath
asked Nlemann 20 secure for him an Invitation. or
command. 10 sing ~ court concert Ncmann
knew nothing about his voice manner. except
what tradition reported and relying on that. pro-
cured for him the desired opportunity TO be heard
by the dlgnitarics Of Berlin you imagine
how ! felt" said Nlemann. relating The anccdote
when Formc, stood up and beowed-he did not
sing he roared and beloved. always off The pitch
a song by Schubert The perspiraton fairly rolled
down my face as I reflected tho possible conse-
ouences Of my rashness in asking that he be in
vited 10 sing; hut 70 my amaZement when he had
finished. the old Emperor led the applause and de-
manded an encore which Formes gave IN the same
awful style OF course was relieved but / could
not understand It. Later in the evening / Nine
Incca sitting costly sofa with Prince Bis
rnnrck To her went and tlmdly put the question
why Forrnes had made great hit. Bismarck
answered: Can't you guess? Look at the size
OF him. Can't you hear Emperor saying:
WHAT a soldier he'd make' Let him sing
aganr"
OUTDOOR RECREATION LEAGUE WORK.