Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-01-06
NEW PUBLICATION
OF THE LIBRARY
OF CONGRESS

This report, consisting Of 1874
pages OF text and 23 Illustrative
facsimiles of rare early versions and
manuscripts, presents the results of
an invetigatlon made by the Division
Of Music of the Library of Congress
into the origin and development of
four of our national and patriotic
songs. Practically all the existing
literature has been subjected to crit
icaI examination with a view to Sc
curing as far as possible, a correct
version Of both text and music, the
necessity for such having long been
apparent, and especially urged upon
President Roosevelt, at whose sug-
gestion this investigation was insti-
tuted.
In almost every case some inter-
esting questions were encountered,
the only exception being the Rev.
Samuel +. Smiths America" But
even here the date OF the first time
IL was sung in public has been
brought into question: whether it
was on July 4th, 1882, at the Park
street church, Boston, or on pre-
vious occasion at the Bowdoin
street church In the same city.
The Rev. Mr. Smith wrote so
many autograph copies of his hymn
with such unvarying uniformity Of
text as to give no opportunity for
difference of opinion. The origin Of
the music is not touched upon in
this report, since II has been so ably
discussed by European investigators.
A clue to the literature OF the sub
ject is Afforded by the photography
IL is pointed out, however, that
II Is hardly fair to conaider the mu-
sic as borrowed, for while the air
properly belongs to the English ma
tiOnal anthem, II was none the less
heritage of the English colonies in
America, and that II was so consid-
cred is clearly shown by the great
number of songs written to suit the
music during and Immediately after
the Revolution
The circumstances attending the
writing of ''rhe Star-Spangled Ban
ner" have never been the subject of
any controversy, since the narrative
rests on information furnished by
Key himself. Two interesting ques-
tions have, however, arisen; how
came the words to be welded to the
air ITO Anacreon In Heaven; and
where was the song first sung in
public. Both of these are discussed
at considerable length in the report
with abundant citation of original |
sources illustrated by facsimile re- |
productions of manuscripts and rare |
early imprints.
Not only the text of "The Star |
Spangled Banner" but its music is |
sung and played with noticeable diff
ferences. In one case as many as
fourteen variations In the text were !
noted. A comparison OF song books !
new and old shows that the melody |
has undergone the usual process OF |
polishing and modification such as
takes place, either for better or !
worse, with all folk, traditional, and |
patriotic songs. How desirable Il is |
for musical and other reasons that |
at least the melody OF national |
song should have some stability and |
uniformity Is clearly shown by the !
great number of variations noted In /
the report, First n comparison ~ |
made between the melody as Il ap- |
pears In the Vocal Enchantress, /
17SS, the earliest version in the Ii !
brary OF Congress- and the version
used for Paine's adams and Liber- |
~" in the American Musical Miscel-
lRny. 17sS, and with the version In
the Baltimore Musical Miscellany,
1904, facsimile reproductions OF
each OF these early versions being
provided. Then twelve recent song
books, published between 1909 and
1903, seleoter at random. are COM
pared with John Philip Sousa's ma
tional, Patriotic and Typical Airs of
all Lands" 1890, compiled "by au.
thority' for use IN the United States
Navy. The result is not less SUR
prising than interesting and clearly
indicates the need of some uniform
ity and stability
Hail Columbia" was written IN
1898 at the time OF the trouble with
France, Il made n strong appeal to
the patriotism of the country and,
containing no illusions 10 either
France or England, became very
popular with all parties and soon
developed into a full-nedged natioal
song II possesses one point OF dis
tinction over both THE Star-Span-
gled Banner and America" In that
both words and music We're pro-
duced In the United States. The au-
thor. Joseph Hopkinson. described
the circumstances which led To the
composition OF his poem In letter
written August "a, 1910, TO the Rev.
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