The Washington times., 1920-10-31
REEVES FORGOTTEN
SONGS Of AMERICA
N. Y. Artist Brings Back Com
positions of Other
Generations.

II there are those who have been
led to believe that the composition OF
music in America 10 something new.
and therefore needs to be fostered ana
safeguarded as an "infant industry"
one present force in American music
is being exerted to remind jewellers
under the Stars and Stripes that there
has been musical composition In this
country since the days OF the revolu-
.tion, writes Oscar Thompson In re-
cent number Of Musical America.
This force 10 found In the pen ana
musical personality OF Harold VIM
cent Milligan. the widely known New
York organist and composer, who has
devoted much time and labor to bring
ing back to a musical public eager for
novelties, new or old. various worthy
works by early American composers,
unknown to the present and several
preceding generations.
MLLIGAN REVIVED SONGS.
1t was Mr.. Milligan who resuscitated
of the Declaration Of Independence.
jurist, and otherwise eminent citizen,
who spoke OF himself as the frst ma
tive American composer. In letter
written by Hopkinson to George
Washington in 1878. A number OF the
Hopkinson songs. as edited and aug
mented by Mr.. Milligan. have been
heard in New York recitals and else
where on club programs. They have
the charm Of the eighteenth century,
and though closely akin to the Brit
ish music Of the period. show that not
all the culture and inspiration or the
day was to be found on the other
side of the Atlantic.
A few historians, notably Oscar
Sonneck, previously had delved into
the subject Of early American compo-
sition, but among musicians. as well
as the general public, the history OF
, American music prior to the civil war
had been practically terra incognito.
DELICATE TASK.
It was a delicate but intensely in
teresting task which the New York
musician set for himself when he
sought to go TO original sources for
the manuscripts OF the pioneers OF
American music. so he turned to fresh
avenues of research. which led him
through private treasures. family
archives and long buried correspond
ence.
He went to the authentic and per-
sonal records Of the lives of the men
who in early days contributed some
thing Of their vision and sense of
beauty to Americas store of formal
music. Old desks and trunks belong
ing to scions Of Colonial families gave
up their secrets. and the results were
| bits of yellowed manuscript on which
were written fragments of quaint and
melodious music.
MUSIC LAY FORGOTTEN.
These songs had lain forgotten,
some of them, for more than a CEN
dies had been written out in complete
form by the composer. and Mr.. Mill
gan was the first to put them into
, modern harmony and notation. In
doing this ne sought. first OF all, to
keep them simple and to preserve
their eighteenth century flavor.
, Hopkinson, It seems, dedicated a
volume OF eight original musical COM
positions to George Washington. and
in sending them to hts illustrious
friend at Mt. Vernon. wrote a quaint
and courtly letter Of dedication, in
which he said:
However small the reputation may
be that I shall derive from this work,
! cannot, believe. be refused the
credit Of being the first native Of the
United States who has produced q
musical composition"
Washington wrote letter In Feb.
ruary OF 1889 to the composer, In
which he referred humorously to the
tabled powers OF music in ancient
times, and inEeniously complimented
Hopkinson. The composer was an
intimate friend also OF Benjamin
Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.