Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-10-30
BIRTH OF NATIONAL AIRS
Writing of yankee DoodIen -.
John Browns Bodv.u ~"


In one sense national music is 49,.
music which is beloved by a n,tior
Under this head would come "uor,-
Sweet Home" and "Suwanee Rivo-.,
n more tender lyric of home and .,
its memories than Stephen C. ~.
ter's "Old Folks Mt Home" of Whit
about 100000 copies were sold would
be hard to find. 1t was often under
interdict during the civil war becauso
1t made soldiers down-hearted. An
other kind is of patriotic nature
Often n national song is at first q,
local fame and Interest, and Nv merl,
becomes national, and may even ho
spread the world over. Thus, as tho
voice of friendship and loyalty, AMID
Lang Syne" is known the world over
and the "Marselllaise." which began
as n marching song for corps Of
the army of the Lower Rhine, became
the universal cry OF liberty In patr.
otic struggles everywhere. The whola
composition came to Rouget de rIsls
In one night. 1892.
Two French songs sung during the
reign of terror We're in some degree
Induced by American events, and these
form preliminary to our American
music. In revolutionary times and pre-.
vlously there was but little music in
America.
During the revolution there was no
American composer of note. No Amer.
lean tune during the revolution took
root as the one which began and end.
ed the war. and existed In England in
1TT5 or 17TG-"Yankee Doodle" The
words We're written during the French
and Indian war by Dr. Richard Shuck.
burg. British surgeon, in sort Of
parody way on seeing some Of the
New England troops marching into
Albany. and set to an English dancing
tune.
In Europe Hail. Columbia" is con.
sidered our chief national anthem, and
has certain rights to be so considered,
as 1t was composed on American soil,
only they put the cart before the horse,
and the tune was composed and played
nine years before the words were ht.
ted to It. The tune was known and
immensely popular as "WashlngtOn's
March," and played till it was thread.
bare.
Nine years after 1t was written GIL.
bert Fox, nm actor, was to have ben.
eft. He was announced to sing new
patriotic song. and got Joseph Hop
kins to write words for him to the
tune OF "Washington's 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 audience sang the chorus. This
was in 1T9S, and 1t was called the
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 1882 the melody was given in
good earnest by the Rev. s. f. smith
mt n children's temperance celebration
Mt the Park Street Church In Boston,
and 1t has taken such root that Ny
Country. 'Tis of Thee" became our
national melody.
Now word about what We call our
chief tune. "The Star-Spangled Ban
ner." The words were formed mere
the music abroad. and there Is mucn
false history about 1t. 1t began as d
drinking song in 1865. Of an Ensisa
club which met ut the Crown anu
Anchor Inn. OH the Strand. Later ID
1902. 1t was used as a Masonic lune'
and In 1893 Thomas Paine, at Boston,
put words to it, called 1t "AdalnS anu
Liberty" and It was sung everywnele
In the darkest part Of the war OF loi-
Francis Scott Key. watching the BTU
ish lombard Fort McIIenry, wrote u
moment of inspiration. this hauona'
song. "The Star-Spangled Banner
John Browns Body" was nr''
sung in purely local way al fol'
Warren, but 1t became the cher maIvH'
ing song of our army III u.
rebellion. and Julia Ward Howe se'
to the inspiring tune the great hylnu,
Mine Eyes Have Seen the Gior! "
the Coming of the Lord and thuS was
song of war transformed to Sous
OF peace Boston Herald.