The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-03-09
STATESONGCRITlCISED
Prairie du Chen Expert Points
Out Ways TO Improve IL.
so WISCONSIN, LAND OF BEAUTY"

so WISCONSIN, LAND OF BEAUTY"
Professor Babcock Says a More General
Use of His ''Test' the Way to Escape
Frauds-Supreme Court Rebukes Peo-
pie Who Would Profit UnduIy at Funer-
aIs-GovernOr Scofeld Would Not Re
fuse Call by the Convention.
Madison, Wis, March 6.
Thy green hills | see, dear Wisconsin;
Tho i'll far distant lands | may roam;
For in visions of beauty that memory
bring me,
[ see the spot that was my childhood
home.
The old house Oh the farm, the spring
that dubbed near,
The budding leaf. the waving field and
signing forests roar,
Come floating down to me,
From out the long ago,
Of Il home | may never see more.
Chorus.
o, Wisconsin. Land Of beauty,
How | love thy waving trees,
And long to hear the thunder Of thy
mighty inland seas,
TO feel thy breeze on my brow,
TO see thy sunsets glow;
Dear Wisconsin, Land Of beauty, >~
All, | love thee so.
An Expert Criticises This Song.
Editor |. ID. Hurlbut of Prairie du
CHEN is looking for Editor MonOhan
of Darlington, the author of the new
state song wisconsin, Land Of
office on the banks of the Mississippi
and conducts Il newspaper and his
hobby is harmony in music. When he
has u vacation. instead of drinking wa
ter at Waukesha or fishing up north,
he goes to indianapolis and studies
harmony.
lie finds much merit in the new
song, but says it is not in accordance
with the underlying principles of har-
mOny and cannot be eternal. AS Il
novel cannot live long unless dealing
with emotions and sentiments of men
that will be recognized in any age
the supreme merit of Shakespeare
so it appears that music, unless scien-
tifically based, cannot long be popular
because it does not awaken an abid-
ing response III the human apprecia-
ton. All the songs that are eternal
accord with these underlying princi-
pies, involving the repetition of the
octave, mOdulations, tonic notes, the
dominant chord etc For instance.
Nearer, My God, to- Thee is scien-
tifically musically correct, with one.
slight exception. Genius may write
songs and uncCnSciOusly obey these
laws though known by their name and
understood only by the skilled student,
just rs people with an ear to music
can sing Il song without knowing the
notes; just as Il poet can write down
inspiring thought without knowing
the laws OF versification, and do a very
good job. though such genius, if
trained, would likely enough do much
better.
Mr.. Hurlbut has transcribed by mus
icaI notation Mr.. MOnohans song and
iotted down some dozen places where
the music varies sometimes very seri-
OuSly from the canOnS he mastered in
indianapolis and are recognized as sci
pntific in the musical world. These
shortcomings are chiefly in the chorus.
which is the part that appeals to peO-
pie generally. who often do not know
the solo at all. As have said. Mr.
Hurlbut will talk the matter over seri-
Ously with Mr.. MOnohan and counsel
with him how the score Of the chorus
may be strengthened. the proper
chords and sequences attained. so
that little Badgers in the coming cen
turtles, iii singing wisconsin, Land of
Beauty" may De not only singing mus
ic0lly, but scientifically correctly 1t
is certainly an inspiring thing for lay
men to read and hear.
MIR. HurIbnts Professional View.
/ asked Mr.. Hurlbut to jot down his
thought about the new song, and he
writes me:
Mr.. MOnohan'S purpose to give our
people Il state song is certainly COM
mendable. 1t is not my purpose in this
article to criticiSe either the poem or
it's melodic setting. These are matters
Of taste in which the authors are GER
tainly entitled to the largest freedom.
If six and twelve measure periods are
better adapted to the express, on of the
thought and sentiment OF the authors.
than the regulation four and eight
measure periods. then the authors have
chosen wisely i'll selecting Il mould in
which to cast their musical thought.
THE harmony of the chorus must
be regarded as subject to rules. and,
as matter of considerable Importance.
especially in song of this character.
1t would certainly be a misfortune to
the music-loving and singing people of
Wisconsin if the chorus harmony of
this song should attain any consdera-
bic degree of popularity. Unless the
harmony intended for popular use be
logically rational and technically cor
rect the musical sense Of the public
is likely to be misled, and the progress
of music hindered. do not believe that
the authors of this song desire to con
tribute to such undesirable result, but
it is apparent that a considerable num-
Der of irregular progreSsions mar the
heaEtY and detract from the pleasure