The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-09
OUR NATIONAL HYMN.
The Place Of "The Star spansied Ban.
nerp Established by the War.

cent editorial comment IN the Mtstoot
Monitor In support OF Miss Kitty
Cheatham's arguments that both words
and music Of The Star spangled Ban
ner'' are inappropriate for use as our
national hymn would indicate that the
agitation for a new national anthem Is
still carried on In eome quarters not
withstanding the war has established
THE Star spangled Banner" more firmly
than ever In the hearts OF tho American
people.
| More than four million soldiers ana
half million sailors under arms during
the past year have learned respect for
| the words and music OF what lie now
| universally recognized as the American
national anthem. II only remains for
Congress to confirm officially what our
people and the nations of the world have
already adopted. and this should now
be done to set at rest for all time any
further controversy on the subject In
our own land. There is none elsewhere.
No amount of criticism, either OF
words or music, can alter the fact that
1.-THE Star spansled Banner Is ON
cially recognized by our army and navy
and by the diplomats Of foreign coun-
tries as the American anthem and that
|. Is played as such by the military
bands Of all countries. Therefore, no
matter what genius may arise In future
to compose words or music for new
anthem. we are no more likely to see
the day when 1.-THE Star Spangled Ban
| ner'' is superseded than we are to see
God Save the King discarded by Great
Britain. The hands of the clock OF
history may not be turned backward.
There have been many attempts to In
troduce In this country a new tune for
"America," needless to say without sue
cess, as the melody Of God Save the
King" written by an English composer.
Is ono of the best national hymn tunes
in the world and has been adopted by
nearly a score Of nations as a melody
for their patriotic songs and national
anthems. II lie an ideal melody. being
easily within the compass of all voices.
and the text is far superior TO the words
Of God Save the King" which do not
compare In literary quality with those
} Of our own anthem.
In November, 1917. contributed an
article to THE sym from which the fol-
lowing is a quotation:
Now In this fateful hour our peo-
pie begin to realize tho spirit. o. the
immortal verses composed by Francis
] Scott Key more than century ago
during the bombardment of Baltimore
by tho feet OF that great nation with
whom we are to-day hghting shoulder
to shoulder in defence OF liberty for
the world. II there were no singing
at ail-and the average American sell
- hA AF
: verse-the anthem played as an instru-
/ mental number would be very impress
sive
Il No one who has heard II played
| by the full Marine Band on the steps
Of the grand old Capitol in Washing
ton. while Old Glory slowly fiuttered
down from the Flagstaff, the audience
of thousands with heads uncovered
} and the soldiers and sailors among
them standing at rigid salute. could
, deny that the music has an impressive
= dignity or that II IL very much more
appropriate to Keys verses than to
the frivolous words OF the old English
drinking song for which the melody
was originally composed, ITO Anac-
reon in Heaven"
Again In March, 1918. I wrote TIL
SUN on the same subject, from which
the following is quoted:
We frequently hear the music OF our
national anthem criucIsed on the
ground that It is dificult to Sing be-
al cause OF the great range from low B
: fat to high F. The German national
hymn. "Die wacht am Rhein." has ex-
actiy the same compass. In very large
. audiences when the national anthem
is sung the extreme notes are we'll
covered by the low and high voices.
a the singing Is usually supported by an
I orchestra or military band and the
y general effect IL good.
AS It reverberates around the world
played by the superb bands Of our
allies the millions of people who hear
:. II will admire and respect the music.
d because they will know that It repre-
Q sents the best traditions and mighty
a resources OF a nation OF 100000 OF
4 free people. The Kaiser will learn to
respect It also before the war is over.
Il What we Americans need is not a
new national anthem but more rever-
ence for both words and music OF tho
excellent anthem which we already
= possess, and which Is indissolubly
n bound up with traditions OF this and
= our motheriand for more than a CEN
v fury. May the dAy come when the en-
= tire American nation. amaigsmated in
our nag and national anthem the same
measure OF respect and patriotic emo
ton which our brave allies never fail
J. to render to their anthems-
In regard to the music OF 1.-THE Sta
. Spangled Banner" the eminent criti
q Henry T. Finek has expressed the opin
ion that while inferior to the Russian
and Austrian hymns It is far superio
unsteady to Die Wacht am Rhein,
and that the best arrangement Of tn
melody is to be found in the fragment
Q so cleverly interviewer into the scor
n OF Puccini's Madam Butterfly"
4 Whatever may be the shortcomlng
q Of our national anthem. It has stoo,
e the test OF more than a century o
It American history and Ave, wars. an
IT has become an integral part OF the If
n Of our republic. And now at Chateau
II Thierry. Belleau Wood, Saint Mihie
:, and in the Argonne American valor ha
II made The Star spangled Banner" i'm
o mortal.
EDWIN LrTcHFIELD TyRNBu1L.
10 New LONDON, N. H.. September 8.
Hard Job for Dancing Masters.
vi To The EDITOR OF THE SuN-sh.
IN vote chat tha danpin1 ynaRtara ara trv