Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-13
THE SONGSOFAMERICA
HOW "1ArKrz D9oDIz" AND
OTHER AIRS WE'RE WRITTEN.
The Tender Lyrics "Home, Sweet
Home" and "Suwanee River
Francis Keys Inspiration.

From the Boston Herald.
In one sense national music is any music
which is beloved by nation. Under this
head would come Home, Sweet Home"
and "Suwanee River a more tender lyric
of home and it's memories than Stephen
c. Fosters ''Old Folks at Home" of which
about 5000 copies were sold. 1t was often
under interdict during the civil war be-
cause it made soldiers down hearted. An
other kind Is of 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 friend
ship and loyalty Aud Lang Syne'' is
known the world over. and the "Marsel-
laise,' which began as a marching song
for a corps of the army Of the lower Rhine,
became the universal cry. of liberty in pa
triotic struggles everywhere. The whole
composition came to Rouget de TIsle 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 in America.
"Yankee Doodle"
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 1875 and 1776-"Yankee
Doodle The words were written during
the French and Indian war by Dr. Richard
Shuckburg, a British surgeon, in a 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 consid-
cred our chief national anthem, and has
certain rights to be so considered, as it
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 1t. The tune
was known and immensely popular as
"Washington's March," and played till it
was threadbare.
Words to "Hail, Columbia"
Nine years after 1t was written. Gilbert
Fox, an actor, was to have a benefit. He
was announced to sing a new patriotic
song, and got Joseph Hopkinson 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
audience sang the chorus. This was in 1898,
and 1t 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 peo-
pie 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 at a children's temperance celebra-
ton at the Park Street Church in Boston,
and it has taken such root that MY Coun-
try, IT'S Of Thee" became our national
melody.
"star spangled Banner"
Now, a word about what we call our chief
tune. 1.-THE Star Spangled Banner" The
words were formed here, the music abroad,
and there Is much false history about it. 1t
began as a drinking song, in 1865, of an
English club which met at the Crown and
Anchor Inn on the Strand. Later, In 1902,
it was used as Masonic. tune. and in 1898
Thomas Paine, at Boston, put words to it,
called it adams and Liberty and 1t was
sung everywhere. In the darkest part of
the war Of 1872 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 in a
purely local way at Fort Warren, but 1t be-
came the chief marching song of our army
in the rebellion, and Julia Ward Howe set
to the inspiring tune the great hymn, Mine
eyes have seen the glory of the coming Of
the Lord and thus a song of war
transformed to song of peace.