The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-10-11
FIRST SUNG IN CHARLESTON.
"Glory Hallelujah' Hymn Tune
Here, a War Song in
Boston.

! bOSGuu.
New York Sun.
In an unnamed grave on the Com
mon lies the first professional COM
poser of America, William Billings,
VINO was Boston born and bred.
The glorious "Battle Hymn Of the
Republic" or "Glory Hallelujah, "
had its beginning as war song at
Fort Warren in Boston harbor in
1861. though it was originally a hymn
tune in Charleston, S. C.-quite a
step from the church to tne BATTLE
field. but there was stirring music in
religion then.
These facts. says Musical America,
were DELIGHTFULLY."- presented by Prof.
Louis C. Elson. Of the New England
Conservatory, in an "Old Home
Week" lecture on '|Boston in Amer
! lean Musical History" He filled the
subject with old incidents and sang
snatehes of old songs as illustrations.
The Puritans. he said, looked ask
ance at music, but one Of the more
advanced men, Mr.. Brattle, actually
brought an organ to Boston as early
as 1899. In 1713 he was daring
enough to offer it to the Puritan
Church, though with compunctlons,
for he stipulated that in case Of re-
fusal it should be given to the
church Of England. Thus Kings
Chapel won it's first organ, the P,uri-
tans preferring their bassoon and 'ceI-
10 as les sacriligious.
In such an atmosphere music de-
veloped slowly. It was not until the
late eighteenth century that America
could claim a native professional
composer. William Billings was the
first to make music his vocation as
we'll as avocation, and he was evident
ly not appreciated.
It is recorded that a nelghbor OF
the musician tied two cats together
bv their tails and dangled them
screechine over his gate, writing be-
low "Billings's Music;;" also that
! he was once asked whether he defin-
ed snorting as instrumental or vocal
music.
The first gathering of the Handel
and HAYDN Society on Christmas Eve,
1915, was unique, with ninety male
and ten female voices, accompanied
BY ten orchestral pieces. Music had
progressed so far in the general es-
TEEN that it was taught in the pub
lie schools as early as 1888. In 1881
came the Boston Symphony Orches-
: ira, founded by Major Henry T. Hlg-
ginson.
Boston's part in our national music
is certainly picturesque. Just here 1t
should be emphasized that the Hes
slams did not bring "Yankee Doodle'
,, to America in 1853. It was sung in
the street Of Boston by the British
ers under Braddock as far back as
1855 to deride the New England
troops with the feathers in their caps.
Later, in Revolutionary times, the
British officers raced their horses
across the Common on Sunday morn
ines, and played "Yankee Doodle"
before the Park Street Church to an
nov the colonists within.
rThe Star Spangled Banner" or
iginally drinking song, composed by
Mr.. Arnold. was first known to
America in 1898, when Robert Trent
Paine used the tune for his words to
"Adams and Liberty" The song
was instantly popular, and Mr.. Paine
received $3.50 for the copyright--an
unheard Of sum in those days.
But the song that is distinctly Bos-
toms own is "Glory Hallelujah. "
Prof. Webster's regiment first sang 1t
as war song at Fort Warren, Bos-
ton harbor, in 1861, and it was not
the famous John Brown whom they
mounted. but a humble member OF
their own ranks.
! A thousand strong they sang 1t,
marching across the Common. Boston
went wild over it, and ther New York.
II spread through the campus until
the song that began as hymn tune
in South Carolina sang itself into his
to,.v as one of the famous war songs