New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-09
1t Stands the Test
The Star-Spangled Banner Success,
as Popular Song
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: There is great ado about the ns-
tonal hymn, as it is called, "The Star.
composition.
National anthems arc often written with
extremes OF register, and there may be a
psychological reason for it. The "Marseil.
lsise" is at once difficult and very high. die
Yacht am Rhein" has the same limits Of
register as THE Star-Spsnged Banner The
Austrian National Hymn, which We sing IA
cur churches to the words beginning, "Glo.
rious things Of Thee are spoken" was orig.
nslly written so as to have to be sung 10 G.
The Russian National Hymn goe: as high as
our own. Columbia the Gem Of the Ocean"
goes to sharp. | might cite other nstonsl
tunes as indicating what believe to be los;
sight of by critics and some ultra-classicsl
musicians, viz: that these tunes were psde
principally to be sung in unison, often with
out regard TO classical form lin itself an
undecipherable something, and were made
to run high to meet what is admittedly the
fact that thus there results greater brill
fancy, a stronger appeal to the active emo
tons and an easily understood invitation to
click the heels together and to get on ones
feet and march.
On the other hand, the tune 20 our Amer
lea" is within the range Of all voices, easily
sung and goes to the heart; but it cannot be
marched to with any success, as it mast be
sung too slowly fer that. Unmusicsl minis
tiers who speed through their services try
to hurry the tune along and close i with an
"amen," with the result that u loses its
depth and power. This tune, claimed as il
IS by many natonalities and used a. an in
spring accompaniment TO a patriotic senii-
ment, cannot be displaced, even though pa
triOtic societies have often tried TO bring
about the composition OF a new tune 10 the
words of America" an attempt which has
hitherto resulted in failure from popular
standpoint. One Right as well change the
tune to "Old Nassau which has also been
under condemnation By musicians as unclss-
steal, too high, etc, without in the least cur
failing its hold on Princeton's boys past and
present
"The Star-Spangled Banner" calls for
long range Of voice, the fashion Of the time
when it was composed, and some people have
to quit when 1t goes up on top or down below.
But no one can fail TO catch the inspiration
Of its movement, tie pull that it causes on
the feelings OF those who listen while others
sing, the bubbling feeling that comes 10 Us
when full band takes it up. IL is long u
is true; it may be tiresome 10 stand through
all the verses; but the tune is what is erti-
cised as 10 form, whereas in form IL justihes
itself in just the way any tune that becomes
popular does. II attempts no intricate meas
ures, it is conventional in its simplicity II Is
not easily sung in harmony, but and II Is .
large butt is appealing, il fits the word
and few question its popularity. II stsno'
the test in many ways Of the teehnicalg
critical, but the technical tests arc not oil
popular. Il would be unsafe TO attack ths
"larseiliaisc' because it takes UP MINOR
movement that, technically speaking, brtaS
up the martial tune which precedes and fol'
lows, or "Scots vha haze" or "SL Pairieks
Day in the Mora ." A. p. BACHNAN'
New York Dec. >. 1917.