Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-11-05
NATIONAL HYMNS.
Inspiring Anthems of the Great
States of Europe
SING THE PRIDE OF COUNTRY,
Patriotic Airs of Austria, Russia,
France. Germany, England and Nor
way-our Own "My Country, IT'S of
Thee," and YANKEE Doodle"

way-our Own "My Country, IT'S of
Thee" and YANKEE Doodle"
The Austrian national anthem is one
of the finest in existence. 1t was COM
posed in 1897 by that great nation
al composer, Haydn, who is chiefly
known to concert goers by his magnif-
cent oratorio 1.-The Creation" in which
occurs the splendid and ford chorus,
The Heavens Are Telling The an
them was based upon an old national
song. but Haydn made it a thing Of
beauty. 1t is the only national an
them composed by Il musician Of the
foremost rank.
But the song which is sung in cities
by civilians is not always, or, indeed,
generally. the n sung by the soldiers
who nave to bear the brunt of battle
and siege and march. The battle song
of the Austrian soldier is "Prinz Eugen
| der edle Ritter" which tells how the
noble cavalier. Prince Eugene of Sa-
voy. laid siege to and captured Bel
| grade from the Turks in lit. 1t ought
to be a good song for the purpose, for
it was actually written in the trenches
before Belgrade.
Probably the most stately national
anthem is the Russian. Its very title,
God the All Terrible" seems to strike
a heroic strain. Sung by a great
mass Of peasant soldiers with simple
fervor its effect is grand in the ex-
IRENE. Played upon the great organ
in the cathedral at Moscow it sounds
like Il prayer. Not only are the words
very poetical. but the tune is forceful
and haunting.
or course the greatest of all war
songs pure and simple is unquestion-
ably The Marseillaise." What mem
cries it has clinging to it's fervidly pa
triotic words. 1t was the song Of the
French revolution and did more to
bring down the dynasty of the Bour-
bons than half a dozen army corps.
1t was called by the name which still!
is universally applied to it, because
the men-and women-of Marseilles,
the port of the Mediterranean. march
ed all the way to Paris, singing it as
they vent. Its first fruits were reap
ed a few days after their arrival.
when the hated Bastille fell to its
strains. 1t is now the national an
them Of republican France.
In Germany no patriotic song has
been sung with such fervor as the IA
nous battle hymn of the Germans,
Die Wacht am Rhein" C'The Watch
on the Rhine'). 1t was written in
1910. but remained practically IN,
known until the outbreak Of the wal
with France, when it was sung by ev-
cry soldier and every man, woman
and child throughout the German EN-,
pire. The Watch on the Rhine" was
to Germany at that time what THE
MarSeillaiSe' was to France-a soul
stirring composition which made mel
eager to take up arms and fight fol
the cause which they thought was
right.
England's national anthem is Il Geor,
gian product and originally opened
with the words. God bless great
George. our king" 1t has been hon,
ored by Beethoven with sever varia,
tons for the piano, and it is intro.
duced into his Battle Symphony
On the whole, perhaps, the tune to
which is sung God Save the King
has probably the largest circulation OF
any tune in the world. Then there is
Rule. Britannia" which was compos,
ed by DR.. Arne, the English musician
who wrote several operas. Rule
Britannia was included in the
"MasQue of Alfred" a musical farce
produced in 174O.
Just as the Austrian national anthem
is the only one set to music by a great
composer. so the Norwegian anthem is
the only one whose words were writ,
ten by a real poet. This was Bjorn-
stjerne Bjornson. On one occasion he
was asked when he got the greatest
pleasure out of his fame rs Il national
! poet. He replied: 1T was when a
delegation from the Right came to
my house in Christiania and smashed
all my windows. Because when they
had done all the damage they could
and were starting home again they felt
they ought to sing something. So they
began to sing. Yes, We Love This
Land OF Ours They could do nothing
else. They were obliged to sing the
song of the mar whom they had at.
tackled"
%Singularly enough, the country which
has the best variety Of patriotic an
thems is the country which has had
less warfare than any other, the Unit
ed States of America. Her songs are
fine.
The real national anthem of America
is My Country. Ills of Thee" and it is
sung to the same tune as God Save
the King" But perhaps the real. genu-
inc. rock bottom anthem Of America.
after all. is the famous Yankee
Doodle" which has the great advan-
tage Of being a real marching song.
which not only helps to keep the mems
spirits from tagging, but also helps to
keep them in step. A band playing