Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-02


available in the collection Of colonial music
exhibited at the Library of Congress.
The declining art is the writing of patriotic
and national songs. We have song writers to
extol in light vein the flapper, Broadway,
prohibition, and other modern topics. But
the serious, poet-laureate type that scents
from afar an event of historic Importance
and produces an ode in time for the occa-
sion is lacking So also is the composer to
set the lyric to appropriate music
Occasionally, as at the burial of the un-
known soldier, poetic talent flames up in a
blaze of sonnets, odes and plank verse. buG
.ost historic events proceed unaccompanled
by poetic and musical compositions especl-
ally written for them.
It was OF wise in the early days Of the
republic. Every second piece Of music in
the Library of Congress exhibit, preserved
from colonial America, is patriotic, political
or national in character. There must have
been a large set of unofficial poets laureate
busily scribbling in the attics of Boston, New
-ork and PhiIadelr. ia, for no event of i'm
portance from the inauguration of Jefferson
to the death of Alexander Hamilton went I'M
sung. The lyrics produced were set to music
by equally industrious composers and these
topical songs were sung at the occasion for
which they were written, or sung on the
stage, or, sometimes, they were used only
as popular parlor songs. They took tn :
place, in way, of the current events reels
at the modern moving picture show.
One Of the most interesting of the historic
pieces exhibited by the music division of
the Library of Congress is copy of Hail,
Columbia The music of this famous song
first appeared under the title, "The Pres1-
dents March," and the music division dis
plays copy which was printed in "The Gen
tleman's Amusement" in 1894.
Hopkinson Writes Classic.
The stirring march became Hail, Column
bia" when Joseph Hopkinson wrote the words
four years later A note accompanying the
first edition of the song says that the words
were written for the use of Hopkinson's
friend, Gilbert Fox, an actor, who wished
to sing patriotic song to the we'll known air.
Before the vogue of "The Presidents
March," Philadelphia, New York and Bos-
ton nodded their heads and tapped their feet
in time to the now forgotten Federal
March," This composition, according to the
cover Of an old copy, was performed in the
grand procession in Philadelphia, the fourth
Of July, 1885," 1t was written for this In
dependence Day anniversary because great
parade was being held in honor of the ratifi-
cation of the federal constitution by 10 of
thu states.
The composer of this march, Alexander
ReinagIe, was honored by having George
Washington attend one of his benefit con-
certs Washington tells in his diary OF at
tending the concert, and it is thought that
engaged by Washington to teach Nellie Gus
tbs to- play the harpsichord. One of the
pieces that Nellie GUSTS played and sang
for the general in the drawing room at Mt.
Vernon is in the music division exhibit.
George Washington is mentioned frequent
ly in the exhibit. Since he was the most
prominent man of the time, Washington's
opinions on music were quoted and remem-
bered. The comic opera, 1.-THE Poor Soldier"
a copy of which is in the exhibit, is interest
ing today, chiefly because it as performed
ar mber of times Eat the presidents desire
when he visited the theater." The deduction
drawn is that "The Poor Soldier" must have
been particular favorite of Washington.
One exhibit, book of handwritten compo-
sitions, is open to page entitled, diary
fashion, Fancy Menuit Dance before Gen
eral Wa hington, 1892" The composer Of
who is said to have been the "edited do =
ing master of society in Boston, New York,
Philadelphia, Richmond and Georgetown.
Martha Washington Figures
There is evidence that Mrs. washington
shared her husbands fame as patron of
music Another page Of Duport's music
book bears the heading Fancy Menuit with
Figure Dance by two young ladies in the
presence of Mrs. Washington in 1892, Ph1la-
delphia."
Mrs Washington, like her husband, had
songs indited to her. One pathetic, and yet
amusing, specimen of the Revolutionary
period is entitled "L.uy Washington" 1t
begins with fIamboyant rhetoric, "Saw you
my hero? Saw you my hero George?" Ac-
cording to the song, Mrs Washington goes
on to say that she has been out looking for
her hero. She has Inquired of every
swain" only to be told that the missing gen.
eral was in the van of the battle. The song
ends with a dramatic line in which Lady
Washington implores the SWANS to return
my hero George"
The conception of this emotional song was