The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-23

this purpose. ~ the words are adapted 20
some pre-eNistent tune. for then the tune.
not being expressly composed 20 reflect.
10 Intensity, the meaning OF the words.
Is bound 90 be unworthy or unsuitable.
Adapted" things are rendered" in
poorly conducted church services and
''interpolated" IN cheap theatrical per-
iorrnances; but a national anthem should
be wholly original
This brings VS. TO the "Star-Spangied
TANNER" Besides the fact that its words
were adapted to a tune taken from an
OLD English opera mot very appropriate
origin. eh0. the "S,nr-Spanglea Banner'
Is unsingaele In any key in which YOU
may choose 10 play II. because It's range
exceeds tina, OF tho average voice Most
persons are unable 70 reach the top note
casually on the firth lnel. and those who
nre blessed With high voices are inaudinla
az the lowest note, Il fiat No ttulf pop
ular song should have a g-ees,r rnree
than an octave, a national air least of all
Composers OF real national anthems
have well observed this rule. as any one
who reads music can verify for himself
As 10 Hail, Columbia" Il f. musically
wholly unworthy. The best the most
rousing thing we have In this line IL
Yankee Doodle" It's legend makes q
dear 70 us: Il Is simple and can be finely
harmonized, sad 60 say. Il lacks dignity.
'lpiSev" belongs In the same category.
and so does the rather more staid will
hclmus van Nassaue." the song OF the
Dutch royal family, the house OF Orange.
Without being hynoeritieal. one cannot
help noticing the weakness Of the star
Spanelcd Banner In It's initial line. IL
may not be fair TO disconnect one limo
from the rest. and then criticise 81. yet a
patriotic air. 20 my mind, should have
noble. firm. direct meaning from the very
start For instance. look az the
FRENCH:
Allors. enfants de In patrie etc
Forward, children OF the fatherland.
Crhe French have no word for ''home."
ana we have none for "patrie," except
GERMAN.
Fs hraust Elm Ruff VIE Donnerhali, etc
There calls voice like thunderclnp.
GERMAN:
Deutschland, Deutschland ueber Allies.
Germany, Germany above all.
DUTCH:
Wien Ne'erlnndsch bloed door d'adercn
Whose veins are filled with Netheriand
blood
AUSTRIAN,
Colt, crhai,e FRANC den Kaiser etc
God. preserve Francis. the Kaiser
And the British everybody knows Here
are strong initial lines. FUN OF direct
meaning IL IL this directness which IL
absent from line commencing with tho
rather fat exciamation: oh sayr' True,
the proper meaning Is not far away. ana
We an knew Il beforehand. hut II Is never
theiess too long coming. In patriotic
afr the very first words should be- self
sufficient. suitable to be the title az tho
whole.
The tune OF n patriotic air ought 10 DO
In march tempo as are nearly all except
| the British ana that ~ strictly a hymn
ttn IA tn mo Mt
| them should he marching song a la ooh.
| Listen 10 the Band" with fainting fits
/ thrown In gratis by tho actress. but that
J Il should have the rhythm OF a grand
| march. with the left foot always coming
| down on the accented notes. Ono can
! Dance TO triple measure. but not march.
Pray Just try 20 march To tho tune of
I tho r-siponwled Banner" aud watch
| the result. You lose all sense OF rhythm.
and soon become unable 10 tell hay.foot
from straw-foot. Certain nations possess
| national dances, but our characteristics
| do~hot lie In that line N~itber IL a
strictly hymn tune suitable for our ratri-
! otto air. because we not quite In
tense and unanimous enough In that d.
rection. Furthermore such an air should
have the strongest possible rhythm, and
that f. found IN march style only. Last
~. the verses of the 'star-spa nried han
ner." are too long TO make Il possible for
them 90 be easily and enthusiastically
snug.
While this sons ~ our national one,
! every citizen. whether unsteady inclined
or not should make II his business 20
learn the words rs heart, and not DO too
haShfnl to sing II aloud when occasion
demands and that happens every time
II IA played or sung anywherer~hut we
may nevertheless expect ltr place 10 DO
taken by another song, sooner or later.
Many American composers hay. attempts
1 mat m
getting than no one person can make
song national. nor nnmaks H. Kings
| have tried II and failed, The French gov
eminent ,ndeavored 70 make the soldiers
chorus from "Paust take the place 81
the ssMaraelllaiae and feli down IN the
| attempt HEAL thoroughbred. patriotic
| airs are neither adapted nor written ~
! order. They are usually composed IN rur-
I ring tineg when great events move the
/ heart 81 the nation. By some gerlsnN under
/ the Influence az hailewed patfta'isIn-~and
no Advertising. no army and navy regula-
| ,iops can make them national When tho
/ song 4. ready and the nation In ready
1 for IL. /, viii be adopted M the national
| child. spontaneously. by the people. soms
dav Ne shall have what we now lscks
| a raaf. Thoroughbred national anfhems
| born ana brought up IN the United
| states both sa to music and words tn
| viii be ax fSusing as tho AarsesilAisn.-
| as aevout a. the Colt Erhaite, 49, mary
! ,tal a. The Fwacht am Nhein." and hettAr
| ,han any Daniel rore, Ia the New fors
| Sun.