Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-15
DONE In PHILADELPHIA

OF tne lUUtn anniversary Oh lile VI NS' >"
immortal song. let us glance a moment at Phila-
delphias share In popularzing that anthem.
Whenever a song achieves enormous popu-
larty there usually appears on the untroubled
waters a controversy that is carried over from
one generation to another. So It has been
with Keys song, which, like Hopknsons Hail,
Columbia!" did not originally bear the title by
which It is now known TO countless millions
The controversy in this instance, however,
does not reflect upon Francis Scott Key but
RACES around the identity OF the composer of
the music. Like many another controversy OF
similar character, this one has been settled
good many times to the satisfaction OF some
of the disputants; nevertheless, there seems
to be "A good deal needed to entirely clear the
atmosphere. Philadephan, too, has engaged
in this entertaining occupation, but 1t is not
about him that want to chat today.
It was in the pages of a Philadelphia maga-
zine, the Analectc, which in its time was the
foremost monthly in this country, and not sur
passed by any in London that Keys poem
first received a printed form that might be
called permanent. At that time, also, It still
unnamed
Key wrote his poem, as is very we'll known
while he was on n British ship that was en-
gagged in the bombardment OF Fort McHenry
in September, 1914. II is descriptive of his
thoughts and feelings, aroused as they were
to Il high pitch of patriotism and when lie
returned to Baltimore after the unsuccessful
bombardment he gave the manuscript to
friend, who soon had Il put in type in one of
the Baltimore newspaper offices.
1t was entitled "The Defense Of Fort Nc
Henry" but even this rather weak title for
so lusty song could not destroy its influence.
1t was by all odds the best poem produced
during the War Of 1919, and. usual Key
did not know that he doing the best thing
of It's kind ever penned. Genius nearly always
fails to recognize itself Some one has to place
the wreath of fame on their brow before they
understand.
The poem was printed in nearly every news
paper of the time as soon as 1t came to the
editors hand. But when the editor of the
Analectic at that time Washington Irving,
saw the poem in the newspapers. he did the
best he could to bestow the wreath.
He placed It at the head OF the poetry in the
November number Of the Anaectic, 1914, and
introduced it with description Of the circum
stances under which it was written At the
same time he wrote that it far too valu-
able a piece OF verse to permit to be lost.
Thus 1t about that the first literary
recognition of the star-spangled Banner came
from Philadelphia magazine
But there is another chapter to this.
The first man to sing the Star-Spangled Ban
ner also was a Philadelphia, and his descend
ants have aroused great deal of controversy
because OF slight remark he made about
the circumstances of this first public singing
of the immortal song.
To be exact there not one who sang the
song first, but two, the brothers, Charles and
Ferdinand Durang. These young men, who
We're the sons of performer in the old Chest
nut street Theatre, also were connected with
the theatrical profession. Charles Durang was
a dancing master here for years and wrote a
history OF the Philadelphia theatres. Both of
the Durangs enlisted in the Harrisburg Blues
when there was call for volunteers to repel
the British, who were going strong in the
neighborhood of the Chesapeake They were
in camp near Baltimore and stationed at Felrs
Point
They were in Baltimore soon after the at
tack the fort and there We're handed Il copy
of the poem. Now, here is where the con-
troversy begins
According to Charles Durang's version of this
event, he read over the song and said to his
brother This would make good national
song" And thereupon he began to search for
f lI'It vi MUSIC AIltll WouN nt lne words. lie
said that he went through his trunk and pulled
forth II weIl-known song, then very popular.
entitled, TO Anucreon in Heaven" and de-
cIded that it was just the thing.
or course, the words did ft They fitted to
a nic"ty because evidently Key had the meter
of the drinking song in his head at the time
he wrote, 1t was not the first time the same
music had been used to the words of an Amer
lean patriotic song There was adams and
Liberty" written by Robert Treat Paine u
years previously, and at this time widely known
1t Is probable that Key knew it better than he
did the original "To Anacreon in Heaven" /
which was an English song sung by the Anac
reoniic Society, which he thought was the air |
to which his song should he sung
Yet, on the strength of that remark about
finding piece of music to 1T, some ATTEMPTS |
have been made to belittle Durangs version of
how the song was first sung in public.
1t is we'll to remember that those who would
deny Durang the honor he claims for bi,nsaI,
and brother have not attempted to desIppat.
any other place or circumstance under which
the song first received its public presentation
In his valuable treatise on our so-caued ma
tional songs Mr.. Sonneck. OF the Iibrar, -
Congress, gives a list Of more than 10 hooks
articles and other material that refer 10 ~.
history OF that one song, Mr.. Sonneck's bo,l,
was printed five years ago, and believe re
would now be compelled to even double rba
length Of his list,
As 10 the real authorship of the music, the
result Of the various controversies thus far has
been 10 even further obscure the point.
The Rev, DF, H. T, Henry. president Of trs
Catholic High School for Boys, and DR. Graz,
tan Flood have been engaged in one ~ M.
most elaborate controversies about the ori.I,