New-York tribune., 1919-01-26
By III. f. Krehbiel

Sir: have just returned from a con-
cert given by the. New York Symphony
Orchestra, in which our National An
them was given no place 1t is about
month since | attended one of these
concerts and then a thrilling rendition
was given of "The Star-Spangled Ban
ner.' | was ready to rise this after
noon. in expectation that it would be
played at the beginning of the per
formance, when-to my overwhelming
surprise and isappointment-the first
movement Of the symphony began.
could not listen to the music for
thinking OF what our soldiers must
think Of such an omission. To say
nothing of the lack of patriotism ap-
parent in not keeping up this custom,
the callousness and coldness of so
soon ceasing to pay this mark of devo-
tion to our country seems to me APP
palling
why" l kept saying to myself,
"Why should they ever again omit this
reverent tribute? Do they really be-
lieve that peace is here, that all our
men are safe at home? What of the
156 whom we know have died fighting
in Russia In the last few weeks? ? What
of the Army of Occupation in Ger
many On inQuiring, | found that at
meeting Of the directors recently it
was decided to abandon the playing of
"The Star-Spangled Banner" as "some
of the subscribers objected to it." |
was further informed that most of the
theatres have followed suit. | can't
say from sonal knowledge, as the
only one | have attended for some time
did play it. The opera, | was told, was
considering the same move. | earnest
ly hope that this is not true, nor that
it is the case with the theatres.
Can it be that we are already forget
ting the ideals for which we have suf-
fered in this last terrible year and a
half? B. C. F.
New York, January 12, 1919.
We make no doubt that there are
many persons in New York who share
the feelings and opinions expressed in
the letter Of our correspondent We
are quite as certain that there are
also many who think that the playing
of "The Star Spangled Banner" has be-
come so perfunctory a function in our
places of amusement that it is more
lOuV4tQ III tlS DitdCu IIdu luG OD-
servance." This conviction has grown
from recognition Of the fact that
while q few months ago audiences were
quite generally in the habit of raising
their voices in song when the air was
played they are now quite as willing
TO leave the expression of patriotic
emotion to the band, evidently feeling
that they do their share when they
stand during the performance. This
was not so at the beginning of the
season. The words of the first stanza
Of "The Star-Spangled Banner" have
occasionally been sung with superb
effect at Aeolian and Carnegie halls
and even at the Metropolitan Opera
House. Mr.. Damrosch used to invite
his audiences to sing by turning to
them and stimulating them with his
time heating, and the response was
cutie general and obviously sincere
We doubt whether it would have been
so general or generous without the
artificial urge.
There are no doubt several reasons
10 the writer of the letter For one
thing, no expression of the kind is
likely to be lasting unless it be spon-
taneous, and spontaneity has never
been characteristic Of the song. We
have heard multitudes break out as
# by sudden inspiration in the words
q the Doxo iogy and the tune Of "The
Old Nundredth,' when made conscious
OF cause for popular Thanksgiving.
The attitude of the masses toward the
words and melody Of "The Star
Spangled Banner is in very different
case, and quite naturally Whether or
not we have reflected on it, the fact is
that "The StarSpangled Banner" has
been forced upon US as a national
musical usterance by circumstances.
\ more beautiful and apter utterance.
as >yas remarked, or rather implied on
tins page q week ago, is "Amerca." :"
But DT. Smiths hymn, which is Of the
type that national anthem ought to
be, IS associated with the melody Of
God Save the King" which during
the war came into more direct and
particular relationship with its original
text than it was wont to have in the
United States. We did not. like the
Germans riace taboo on the melody
we had borrowed, because it had not
become hateful to ss; but instinctiyejv
recognized the right of our ENGLISH
allies to its possession. The recogni-
ton may have been more or less sub
conscious, but it was real; and on
occasion the words Of the Englisb
anthem were sung with real enthuxi-
asm after "The star-spangled Ban
ner"
Popular patriotic utterances are moi
10 be evoked by decree or govern
mental mandssc. As has been init.
iaaiea they must be spontaneous. How
tney emerge from silence is illustrated
BY the synchronism between the de-
mand Tor racial determination il ~
rope (and in TINS country for that na,-
teri and the general outburst Of eoll
song. We Observed striking rIuetro-
tion Of this fact years ago in Paris
after the political bonds had been
tad