New-York tribune., 1906-12-15
SONGS AND THEIR HAKERS
Origin and History Of Popular
american Melodies.

FAMOUS AMERICAN SONGS, BY Gustave
k3bbe With frontispiece in photogravure; ten
nous songs. l2mo. pp. xviii. 16s. Thomas Y.
Crowell & Co.
It has long been a standing reproach TO Aueri-
cans that few of are familiar with the
words Of our most popular songs that probably
not in hundred is able to sing one Of
them through. When one is started and we are
requested otherwise moved TO join in. we
begin bravely with the first few lines only TO end
UP with loudly carolled ra-la-la" or a mum
bled repetition of the few words we are lucky
enough to recall. Yet, ignorant as We are of the
phraseology, We retain a vivid idea OF the senti-
ment, and it is easy to pick out the half dozen
or dozen songs that have firmly twined them
Ives around hearts even If they are not
deeply rooted in our memories This Mr. Kobb6
has done IN the attractive volume before US, tell
ing US many interesting facts in regard to then
authors and composers. the conditions or in
spiration under which they We're written and the
causes which conspred 10 make them appeal to
the national consciousness. The book is well
come because, If we are little cognizant of the
words OF the songs. know still less about
their origin, and much Of the little that we sup
posed we knew we now find TO be erroneous.
Home Sweet Home" "Old Folks at Home"
Dixie" Ben Bolt and The Star spangled
Banner" are each treated in separate chapters,
Yankee Doodle" Hail Columbia" and Amer
lea" form the subject matter of another, and
final chapter is devoted 10 Some War Songs"
amoux which are included John Brown"
Marching Through Georgia" and Maryland"
1t is "a curious fact that while the composers
and writer's Of songs that are sung for season
and are then forgotten arrive at their pub
Iisher's place of business in a hanson and drive
away in an automobile not one Of the authors
of the songs which form the subject of Mr..
Kobbe's volume reaped any pecuniary benefit
from their marvellous popularity. John Howard
Payne received his royalties from his play,
"CIari the Maid OF Milan" in which Home
Sweet Home" was introduced musical num-
ber but no fortune came TO him from wide cir
culation Of the song itself. Daniel Decatur
Emmett got only $500 for the copyright Of
Dixie" and had lived five years in his native
town, 10 which he had returned in his old age
before his neighbors learned from a passing
stranger that old Dan" was the author of the
famous melody. DR.. Thomas Dunn English
never received a penny for Ben Bolt" which
achieved its popularity in a garbed version.
written down from memory for the composer
who even borrowed the air from a German
source Stephen Collins Foster sold the copy
right OF "Old Folks at Home" to Christy the
well known Negro minstrel for 800, with per
mission to the purchaser TO print his name "a
authOr ana composer on lLle IISl e4llioA. Inc
song helped to make Christys fortune, while
Foster died in Bellevue Hospital and narrowly
escaped being buried d pauper.
The music OF Home, Sweet Home" is sup
posed to be a Sicilian air adapted by Henry
Rowley Bishop, but AIr. Kobbe is inclined 10
believe that it original with him There is.
in fact story 10 the effect that when Bishop
was completing his collection, Melodies of
Various Nations" the publishers asked him TO
he composed the melody himself "No popular
Scilian air resembling it can be traced" writes
Mr.. Kobbe. and when Donizetti wanted a typ
ical English air for his Anna Bolena' he Sc
lected Home. Sweet Home Il hardly is cred
ibe" he adds that Italian composer would
not have recognized popular song Of his own
country" How the Swanee River came 10 be
in1mortalized in song is thus related:
One day, IN 1851. Foster entered his brother Nor
risou's Office in Pttsburg. Morrison" ne said
I've got a new song, ana want the name OF
His brother suggested Yazoo. That would not do
Then Peedee. Foster would not have Morrison
then took down an atlas from MS shelf and opened
IN on mis- desk at the map OF the United States
Tosether the two brothers looked il. All Iast
MORRISON s finger stopped a little river Florida
edIy Now listen" He hastily scrubbed i9 q
wnTd on a piece of paper he had in his hand and
So, ,inon de Swanee Ribber." Can the line ~
snaedned as Way down upon the YaZoo Ribber''9
or aoes an eccentric' the otHer comic effeGne one
Iwbereas "Swanee" has the flowing nelodlous
sound that Foster was seeking. The song has
IL result that most people who IL disap-
pointed 'Tis the river OF song, and best viewed
through the delicate mist OF music