The Washington times., 1914-09-20
By ]. R. HILDEBRAND.

Those folk who hesitate to sing
America" as q patriotic air. and
who have pinned their faith to The
StaI-Spangled Banner as a song of
American origin. have a disappoint-
rnent in store for them.
Though it long has been believed
that the music to The Star-SpaR>
gied Banner originated across the
seas. some attributed it to England
and other writers TO Ireland, whence
Yankee Doodle" Game In a recent
publication of the Library of Con-
Eress what is considered authorita-
tive proof of the authorship of the
music is set forth. This volume was
prepared after several years re-
search by O. G. T. Sonneck. head of
the music division at the library.
cause of the celebration this month
of the centennial of the week in
which Francis Scott Key penned his
immortal lines, and thereby made the
music. whatever its derivation, our
present national anthem.
Mr.. Sonneck has found conclusive
evidence that the music was not
written by DIR. Samuel Arnold. TO
whom it usually is accredited.
Neither was it born in Ireland, as
those who have insisted on its like
ness to O'Carolan's Bumper. Squire
Jones, have sought to establish.
Sung by Sprightly Group.
II truth must be told. the air to
The Star-Spangled Banner origin
ally was set to a drinking song and
until Francis Scott Key, figuratively
speaking, rescued II from the gutter,
the melody was always in evidence
on convivial occasions. and was sure
70 be sung at Bacchanalian festivi-
ties.
In the early sos of the eighteenth
century society existed III London
known as the "Anacreontic." In
the language of one chronicler il
was made up of chiefly the
sprightly class of citizens At first
this gay group met at the London
coffee house. but later members
moved their headquarters to the
Crown and Anchor, in the Strand.
Among this convivial band the
song, TO Anacreon. in Heaven" was
first sung. 1t became popular in
England and found its way to
America Its music was essentially
the same as that TO which the
words of our national anthem now
are sung Francis Scott Key. it is
must have have known the words,
and thus unconsciously. perhaps.
must have adopted its rather pc
cUliar meter for his lines on the
morning when he saw Fort Nc
Henry's flag waving across the
waters Of the Chesapeake.
Verses to Anacreon.
The verses Of the original Ana
creon. which aptly express the spirit
of the convivial bard of ancient
Greece are six in number. The first
and last are characteristic:
To Anacreon. in Heaven. where he
sal in full glee.
few sons Of harmony sent a petit
ton.
That their inspiration and patron
would be;
When this answer arrived from the
jolly old Grecian-
Voice. fiddle and flute,
No longer be mute:
I'll lend We my name. and inspire
ye to boot:
And. besides. I'll instruct We, like
me. to intwine
The myrtle OF Venus with Bacchus
wine
Ye sons Of Anacreon. then. Join
Preserve unanimity, friendship.
and love
'Tis yours 70 support what's so hap
PLY plan'd:
You've the sanction Of gods, and
the fat OF JoVe.
While thus We agree.
our toast let it he
8 MAY our club flourish happy.
united. and free,
And long may the sons OF Aana-
creon entwine.
The myrtle of Venus with BacChus
II now is clearly ests blished that
John stafford Smith was the author
of the music to which these words
we're sung The earliest known dated
appearance of the text of the song
was IN the Vocal MaCaz.ne. IN In
How Francis Scott Key happened
10 choose this melody for his part =
otIc verse has Teen the subject Of
much conjecture. But a new and
strange light has been shed upon
this problem by eNidenC" " "nich
seems 10 indicate that KEY. who
wrote the words Of A future ma
tsnal anthem. Q;d not know enough
about music to recognize one tune
from the other.
Could Not Garry Air
One investigator writes. Il doubt
whether Key knew enough about
music TO carry an air in his mind.
Inclined as he was 70 rhEthmical eX-
pression Of his fsncies, he had an
ignorance Of TnuslCa composition
that would be utterly Inc once,va bic
81 II were not. by a most remart,abl bic
Illustration Of the law OF heredity
made plain in the case OF some Of
his descendants.
This fact, in Mr.. Sonnecks opinion.