The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08
BIRTH OF NATIONAL AIR.
How yankee Doodle" and "JOhn
Browns Body" Were Written.

How "Yankee Doodle" md John
Browns Body" Were Written.
Boston Herald
In one sense national music is any music
which is beloved by a nation. Under this
head would come Home. Sweet Home"
and "Suwanee River" a more tender lyric
of home and OF its memories than stephen
c. Fosters "Old Folks at Home" Of which
about 10000 copies were sold. II was often
under interdict during the civil war because
it made soldiers down-hearted. Another
kind is OF a patriotic nature.
Often a national song is at first Of local
fame and interest, and by merit becomes
national. and may even be spread the world
over. Thus as the voice Of friendship and
loyalty Aud Lang Syne" is known the
world over, and the ''Narseillsise.' which
began as marching song for corps Of the
army of the Lower Rhine. became the uni
versal cry of liberty in patriotic struggles
everywhere. The whole composition came
10 Rouget de lIsle in one night. 1892.
Two French songs sung during the reign
of terror were in some degree induced by
American events. and these form a pre-
liminary TO our American music. In revo-
lutionary times and previously there was
but little music I'm America
During the revolution there was no Amer
lean composer of note. No American tune
during the revolution took root as the one
which began and ended the war, and eX-
listed in England in l775 or 1ll6-"Nankee
Doodle" The words were written during
the French and Indian war by DR.. Richard
Shuckburg, British surgeon, in sort OF
parody way on seeing some of the New
England troops marching into Albany, and
set TO an old English dancing tune.
In Europe Hail, Columbia" is consd-
cred our chief national anthem. and has
certain rights TO be so considered, as IL
was composed on American soil. only they
put the cart before the horse, and the tune
was composed and played nine years be-
fore the words were fitted TO il. The tune
was known and immensely popular as
"Washington's March, and played till IL
was threadbare.
Fox, an actor, was TO have benefit. He
was announced TO sing new patriotic
song, and got Joseph Hophnson TO write
words for him TO the tune Of Washing
tons March" A new patriotic tune meant
everything in those times. The theater was
crowded. Fox sang the song, and had TO
sing it over eight times, and then the au-
dience sang the chorus. This was IN las;
and IL was called THE New Federal Song. -
The oldest Of our national tunes is the
English national anthem, God save the
King" and even during the revolution
people sang the tune with patriotic words.
Several songs were sung TO the tune with
varying success, and in 1892 the melody
was given in good earnest by the Rev. ; f..
Smith at a childrens temperance celebra-
ton at the Park-Street Church, in Boston,
and it has taken such root that MY COun-
try. 'Tis Of Thee became our national
melody.
Now, a word about what we call our chief
tune. THE Star-spangled Banner" The
words were formed here, the music abroad,
and there is much false history about it.
II began as a drinking song, in l165 OF an
English club which met a the Crown and
Anchor Inn, on the Strand. Later, in 1902,
IL was used a Masonic tune, and in l79S
Thomas Paine, at Boston put words to II,
called il Adams and Liberty" and IL was
sung everywhere. In the darkest part OF
the war of 1912 Francis Scott Key. watch
ing the British lombard Fort McHenry.
wrote, in a moment Of inspiration, this ma
tional song, THE Star-spangled Banner"
John Browns Body was first sung i'm
a purely local way at Fort Warren, but it
became the chief marching song OF our
army in the rebellion, and Julia Ward
Howe set TO the inspiring tune the grea
| hymn, Mine eyes have seen the glory OF
| the coming of the Lord" and thus was a
| song of war transformed TO a song OF
! peace.