New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12

Mr. Louis c. Elson, music reviewer for ihe BUS
ton Advertiser" newspaper. lecturer on musical
subjects and teacher. has written doom e""'''.
oThe National Music Of America ana Its Sou
which has been published in an extremely hea' w
convenient form by l.. c. Page Co.. or BOSTON
The scope and contents Of the book are no. ca
,ressed with exactness by the title, for only SIX Vi
the twelve chapters of the book are deVo'eo "
what can properly be called the Nauohai 4'us0
of America" The rest is partly resume Vi 'ho ms
,orv OF psalmody New-Englano' OF choi"' CO.
Instrumental music in Boston, with re" reiei
80 70 Neu-York together with chapter on
some OF the best known European polucai SONGS,
sucb ne "Idllibullero" Ca Ira" La Marsehlalse'
la Carmagnole" and God Save the hlns' me
chapter is decidedly the most entertaining Vi ~
dozen II adds nothing TO the knowledge Oh "o'o
who have studied the subject, but II presents '
s,ovar,es and arguments of the investigators In an
agroeab le fashion and will be hailed with oehsn'
by the army Of amateurs who are interes'eu =" w
history OF national songs. but nave not INC ''
inclination. opportunity or ability to examine the
authorities on their own account Inc Aii"' -
growing every day, thanks largely 10 inc Nusoa'
clibs OF the country and also 10 the patr'ouc OF
PLANTATIONS, like the Daughters OF the HeVoiu'ol'
which have revived an interest which must pto,o
beneficial In many directions. In the incoeh's Va ~
Revolutionary War 1t is safe to say tha' there
Is no critic or historian OF music in the couh"'
IN toucb with the public who has not had letters
within the last few days asking for ihio'ri"uoA
about the music which played part IN ''iS. "a
Very recently The Tribune received requests ioi
help almost simultaneously from city IN inc hea.'
of New-England and Tacoma, Wash hns'ne ia'
-. ,astorce last wars files of this journal enabled
the Daughters OF the Revolution in the isr "eS'e"
town not only to learn the stories OF Some vi 'e
songs which fired the American heart curing 'io
quo wars with Great Britain. but also TO sing some
of the songs to the original tunes MI Eisoh oooA
would have been much more valuable had ne oe-
voted the attention and space which he bestowed
on a revamping Of the old tale about the psalm
singing of the Purtans and Pilgrims 10 more oi
the songs of the Revolution and the War OF lslz
than he has treated. Here is field In which there
ts ample opportunity for original work
An instance comes 10 mind. touching which Mr..
rlson himself piques curiosity. We permit him 10
relate one of his anecdotes about Yankee Doooie'
the complicated history Of which he rehearses WIN
commendabls fulness and lucidity:
A. the surrender of Lord CORVALLIS at York,
tow n1 for Decision The Americans had been len
lent in many Of the DETAILS I'll ne he British had
always made II point TO demand at me sn,Sd
Of an enemy, ,har .ne music thus humatng the
Conquered by dragging their mccoy II" tbe neri.
Sh general Lnson at surrender Of Charles
ton And now the American VINO "1 direCted thai
i in1d Cornwalss sword should be received by
General Lincoln daRn ans arms ' should play either
8r,t,sh or a German air. The latter alternatye
was 70 nn october 10 Cornwalliss army. 7.AI In
number with $40 seamen' marcneu, ou' " IA Enp
fnried ama entitled THE World Turned Upside
Down" which they undoubtedly thougnt sp png
11rtata' IN the occasion. The American Dahos ho"
played yankee Doodle.
Nov ubat was the English tune played under
.uch interesting circumstances? Mr. Elson ooes
%, ,,sntrra a hit OF information beyond the words
Quoted. vet he might have known that every
Daughter Of the Revolution. and every son. 100
who should read his book, would ask the Quesoon,
II was in fact repeatedly asked OF THIS 1ourhai
last wear and finally successful effort was maze
-. o,aor tho matter up the result being that the
ola tune set 10 the words OF popular song OF
1872 was presented in The Tribune OF August ~
1898 Mr. Elsons handsome book comes at an OPP
portune time and will be hailed as doom o'
many but II will remain cause for regret tha'
he did not add the stories and music OF dozen
moro NJ the stirring songs Of British wars 10
tbose NJ Yankee Doodle" Hail Columbia, THE
Star spangled Banner" The Constitution ana
Guerriere" Dixie" Maryland My Maryland
ord "John Browns Body" which have received
attention from his hands. To find the exts OIL
snch dozen songs would be easy. but not 30 the
restoration Of the music The Tribune discovered
las, wear: therefore ali the greater need that the
work be done.
Anronos of Yankee Doodle" Mr.. Elson revtve
an old stors which is amusing enough TO be re
membered:
1t was in 1874 that Henry Clay and John oui GU.
Adams met the British Ambassador at Ghent Z
arrange the final points and TO sign the treaty o
Peace between Grcat Britain ana America IN
br1gheT 5aT 0s taken hs place within their walls and
Of the signing Rsy se
Two but what was the American Nations
hymn? II much Pe nd1e sbo ont it, OF course
Was told chief da T no, know T the tune
,nnd Mr. CLAW to hum 1t TO him, that ne migr
note it down Clay tried and failed the sn6 as
Came TO grief Finally, Clay arose to the enc
gency Calling his BODY set tnis gentleman. an
w srnm the lips of that musical darky the hrs
European transcription OF the tune as hn haTmor
;zSd Copied. and the serenade took place as o'
signed.
:, ,s q n,,v To find Mr.. Elson. who. from MIS- ION
occupancy of the critical chair In Boston mus' !
aware OF the futirty of such proceeoins' in'u'e
ing in the search for lkenesses between 'unee' "a"
q greater pty that he should continually speak
the most ancient and respectable hapit OF se''
new words TO old tunes as "plagiarsms' As
the latter case there be no talk OF plagiarism
which term includes the notion OF moral oohQui'
In utilizing a melody that has become public PROF.
erty for public purposes. THE Star Spangieo bar
ner" is not a. plagiarism OF ITO Anscreon In Hca'
en-" but an American song set 10 the melody OF n
old English drinking song: and so 1t used ger
orally TO be announced. In the case Of "Marylan
My Maryland" Mr.. Elson is twice faulty. In Il
first place the melody ought not TO be called thi
of 20 Tannenbaum.' for the reason. which ouSl
10 sufhce Mr.. Elson. that 20 Tannenbaum hi
been consorted with the melody only since 10
The melody is original TO the Latin students son
"Lsuriger Horatius." which belongs to the worl
Moreover 20 Tannenbaum" Ia not a students SOL
.In praise Of friendship and loyalty" but e SEM
mental song which laments hckieness
maids nightingales and brooks. and contrasts
with the fidelity Of the hr tree. which renal
green In winter we'll IN summer. a small M
ter this, perhaps. but a book which 10 mors tn
likely to provide material for many club sss
ought TO be correct In all Its details. as least
Far as II can be made by the industry Of
comniler From the popular point OF view Mr..
o, has produced a useful and a welcome book