The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-04
SAY IDEA IS GOOD
Citizens Heartily Approve Move
ment for aState Song.
WHAT MUSICIANS AND OTHERS SAY
# to What Such II Song
Should Be. ..h.

Citizens generally seem to be heartily
In favor OF T e ourn ais PROPOSE
tion for a state song. They believe that
such song would prove valuable ad-
vert1sement for the state and that 1T
would also have; a tendency to- increase
state patriotism; but they one and all
express the opinion that great care should
be taken in the songs selection,
Says B. A. Rose, secretary of the Min
neapolis Musicians Union: ~
we ought to have state song. 1t
could be used on many different occa-
s1ons and should be simple enough SO
that even people who have no ear for
music could remember it after they had
heard 1t once or twice. Such songs are
seldom written but when they are, their
popularity is not evanescent. Look at
Maryland, My Maryland.' That is not
a musicianly air, but it is popular, and
I suppose it always will be. Minnesota
bands could play the Minnesota state
song in other states, when they are out
side of their own territory. I think mu-
sicians generally favor the plan, and
wish T Journa l success in it's un-
dertaking.'
Charles shibley, musician: II GER
tainly believe Minnesota should have a
state song, and i believe it ought to be
written and composed by a native OF this
state. To be successful it must be sim
pie and patriotic and perhaps trif1e
reminiscent. The song that is success
full now a-days is one which makes peo-
pie say: I've heard something like that
before, but I can't quite place it, You
know most of our tsocalled national airs
are adaptations of old tunes. They say
Yankee Doodle was an old Dutch piece.
1t would be a great honor for man to
write such song. I only wish / could
do it; and I may have try for it before
I am through at that
Should Be Brief and Impressive.
on park music: The idea of Minnesota
state song will be indorsed by every loyal
Minnesotan as matter Of course. But,
more than that, it will appeal with sim
gular earnestness to every man and
woman who is endowed with the faculty
of seeing the greatness and beauty of our
state. Music is soul inspiring, song is
an agency of culture. The singing Of q
state song by the children now in ouI
public schools who will make up the major
portion of our future citizens will inspire
| them with a loftier aim Of ideal citizen
| ship. The kind of state song that
| would favor is a short and expressive one
| in which the words will appeal to reason
and truth and the music to the heart
and soul. I am an admirer of classical
music, but for a song of this character 8
l
| especially fond of music or not, is the
kind. In Europe many folk songs are dedi
Gated not only to the country, but to mer
of distinction. They observe fewer holi
days in honor of their great men than W.
| do. But they sing more patriotic songs IL
memory of their country their heroes ant
statesmen, which to my mind leaves {
more lasting IMPRESSION
| Silas H. Towler,. adjutant general of th
Grand Army of the jRepublic: "Minne
| sofa should have state song, but grea
care should be taken in its selection
Nothing is better devised to incite patriot
ism than a spirited; martial melody; an
/ patriotism for ones state: is second il
i Importance only to- patriotism for one
i country. However, tt is also true tina
I nothing excites more derision than.
trashy air set to mawkish words, when tn
theme calls for something vastly different
/ do not believe that other states hav
songs of any particular merit. At leas
If they have I have never been fortunat
enough to hear them Maryland, M
Maryland was not state song, but
song Of secession" a,
To Make 1t Familiar.
Robert Scott, resident manager, Metro
politan theater: II believe state son
would be a good thing. If one is selecte
and an orchestration provided, I wi
promise to have the Metropolitan orches
| FRO n1au If ovnrv nioft for a waalx an