Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-05-01

Washington, MIy Abundant evi-
dence that practically lost art had its
golden age in America is available IN the
collection OF colonial music exhibited
at tho Library OF Congress. !.
The declining art is the writing OF
potriotic and national songs. We have
sonp writer's TO extol in light vein the
flapper broadway, prohibition. and other
modern topics. But the serious, poet
laureate type that scents from an event
Of historic Importance and produces an
ode in time for the occasion Is lacking
So also is the composer to set The lyric
20 appropriate music. =,
Occasionally, rs ut the burial OF the
unknown soldier, poetic talent finines
up in blaze OF soDnets, odes, and blank
verse. But most historic events proceed
unaccompanied by poetic and musical
compositions especially written Tor them.
IL WIS otherwise in the early days OF
the republic. Every second piece OF
music in the Library Of Congress exhibit
preserved from colonial America ls
patriotic. political, or national in char =
acter. There must have been q large
set Of unofficial poets laureate busily
scribblng in the attics Of Boston, New
York, and Philadelphia, for no event OF
Importance from the Inauguration OF
Jefferson 70 the death of Alexander
Hamilton went unsung. The lyrics
produced were set TO music by equally
industrious composers and these topical
songs were sung at the occasion ioI
which they were written, or sung on TN.
stage, or, sometimes, they were used
only as popular parlor songs. They toos
the place, in way, Of the current event
reels Mt the modern moving picture show
One of the most interesting OF tht
historic pieces exhibited by the Music
Division of the Library Of Congress is I
copy of "iail Columbia" The musi'
Of this famous song first appeared updet
the title, "The Presidents March" anc
the Music Division displays copy
which was printed in "The Gentleman
: Amusement in 1894.
Hopkinson Writes Classic.
The stirring march became Hail
Columbia" when Joseph Hopkinsoi
wrote the words four years later. a not
accompanying the first edition OF tn
song SAYS that the words we're writtei
q for the use Of Hopkinson's friend
E Gilbert Fox, an actor who wished +
4 sing patriotic song TO the well know
g air.
. Before the vogue Of "The President
A March" Philadelphia, New York, an
a Boston nodded their heads and tappe
their feet in time TO the now forgotte
d, Federal March" This composition
according to the cover of an old cop,
was performed 'fin the grand processio
!, in Philadelphia, the fourth of Jul.
: 1888" IL was written for this Ind
= pendence Day anniversary because
great parade was being held in hon'
II of the ratification Of the Federal Cons'
/ tuition by ten Of the States.
The composer of this march, Alexand
~ Reinsgle. was honored by having Georr
q Washington attend one OF his bene'
concerts Washington tells IN his dIa
r. Of attending the concert, and u
d thought that thi, prominent muslci'
70 of Philadelphia was engaged by Was
& ington 10 teach Nellie Gusts to pli
the harpsichord. One Of the pieces Tn
,r Nellie Custis played and sang for .
& General in tho drawing room at "
n Vernon is in the Music Division exhib
IN George Washington is mentions
I. frequently in the exhibit. Since he W
!. the most prominent man of the tim
:, Washington's opinions on music we
- - quoted and remembered. The CON
80 opera "The Poor Soldier" copy
which is in the exhibit, is interestil
~ !, today chiefly because it was perform
= number Of times Eat the President
desire when he visited the theatre
he The deduction drawn is that '"The Pot
D. Soldier" must have been a particul
"i favorite of Washington
"a One exhibit, book of handwritt
DO compositions, is open to page entitie
diary fashion, Fancy Menuit Dan
before Genl. Washington, 1872" T.
composer of this dance tune was Pier
! Landrin Duport, who is said to ha
been the accredited da ancing master
society in Boston, New York, Philad'
phia, Richmond and Georgetown.
Martha Washington Figures.
There is evidence that Mrs. Washln