The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-29
john tones TUNE FOR
AMERICA IS POPULAR
Composer Finds New Air of Ma
tional Hymn Used in
Minnesota.
New York Herald Special Service.

New York Herald Special Service.
New York, April 28.-Recent discus:
sions at Washington Of the alleged need
for new music for "America "a new
national air. in other words lend inter
est to an effort to ascertain what degree
of popularity has been attained by the
tune composed for the words OF - Amer
lea" by Arthur E. tombstone, to whom
the society Of the Cincinnati Of Rhode
Island awarded a gold medal in q COM
petition of more than five hundred COM
posers nearly three years ago.
At the annual celebration Of the So
ciety on July 4, 1901, 9 committee was
appointed to try to find suitable tune
of American origin for the words Of
America,' the we'll known lines, MY
country, tits of thee, sweet land Of
liberty,' being dear to the hearts Of
all Americans. It was thought some
what inappropriate that the members Dc,
of the society, whose ancestors, the
continental officers Of the revolution,
spent eight years in driving monarchy
from America, should now sing "My
country, tits Of thee," to the tune Of
HGod Save the King,' tune which is
now a national a r in several European
countries, especially associated with
ROYALTY and lnonarchial ideas, and in
that regard alleged to be quite insult
able for the people Of free republic.
517 Compositions.
A music committee, comprising Dud-
lev Buck, Samuel P. Warren, Horatio
Parker, professor Of music at Yale uni
versity; G. Edward Stubs and Albert
Gallitin, considered SIT compositions,
some of the best composers sending in
contributions. The committee awarded
the gold medal to- Arthur Edward
tombstone, the formal presentation TAX
ing place and the new tune being sung
celebration on July 4, 1903, at the old
state house, in Providence.
The society, in adapting this tune for
it's own Fourth Of July and other pa,
triotio celebrations, placed no restric:
| tions on it's composer as to its general
| use, and expressly disclaimed any de-
sire to monopolize the air. It was &C,
| cordingly offered to the people Of the
United States, hoping it might grow in
played and sung. -.
! Some Use Tune.
| Regarding the growth Of his compost
ton in general popularity, Mr.. John
stone said yesterday:
| "With regard to the actual progress
the tune has made thruout the country
you or any other citizen. It is onl,
Incidentally and accidentally 1 hea
from time to time that certain public
or private schools use this tune.
t'For instance, I happened> to hea1
| from a Boston friend who has Recently
| became a resident Of Seattle, Wash.
| that one Of the first bits Of music sh'
heard in Seattle was this tune, sung b,
one of the school children.
"Judging from the letters I have re
ceived, I think the tune is less known
in the great centers than in the far
away parts of the country. Florida
Montana and Minnesota have sent m
more kindly and appreciative letter
than New York or Massachusetts,. .
know in an indefinite way. that schools
| patriotic societies and Masonic an,
other lodges have used the tune, an,
still use it. I must say I have no evi
dence of waning interest, but rathe
the contrary M NJ