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America, Our Country

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/9621a540-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-3

The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to the following terms and conditions: https://www.newberry.org/rights-and-reproductions

Descriptive Information

Title
America, Our Country  
Alternative Title
America, Our Country / Battle Hymn  
Composer
Oesterle, Louis  
Lyricist
Oesterle, Louis  
Publisher
New York : Edw. Schuberth & Co.  
Year of Publication
1919  
Date of Copyright
1919-06-19
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1-2], 3-6, [7-8] p.)
Type
Musical notation  
Comment
This title appears to have been marketed as a successor to Osterle's earlier "America, Our Pride." But it went almost unnoticed and it was issued only in a single edition. Released well after the conclusion of the war, it was probably viewed as largely outdated.
Historical Note
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found. Only a handful of scattered amateur performances have been located, all in the summer of 1919.  
  • This was the only printing, although the cover listing ("Medium Voice or Unison Chorus") implies that other versions may have been planned.   
Musical Note
This quadruple-time march ballad ("Tempo di Marcia") displays many "high-class" characteristics: extensive expressive markings, pervasive chromaticism, modulation to the submediant, rubato, and a fermata at the climax. It also has a ballad-like, unusual form, with an extended verse of forty-two bars followed by a refrain of thirteen bars; and the accompaniment verges on the virtuosic. Although many characteristic martial gestures are used (fanfare figures, drumbeat rhythms, ascending fifths), there are no direct quotations.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Lyrics
  • [refrain] Our County first! Our watchword this shall be; / In any Cause so just We fear no enemy. / We'll fight with all our might, A Nation proud and free, / For our undoubted right, A Land of Liberty. / Our Country first! And let ev'ry echo wake / To this our cry, "For her dear sake"
  • [verse] Our Country first in Peace or trouble, / Now and ever as of yore; / No pow'r on Earth shall ever humble / This, the Land that we adore. / We'll give our lifeblood one and all, / For this our dear America / We'll ever heed our country's call, / To arms! prepare for War! / To arms! prepare for War! / We'll march to the Front like soldier's true and tried / And do our duty there; / We'll fight for our right with all our might, / 'Till our Flag's victorious ev'rywhere. / It is a glorious privilege to die / For the Land we dearly love, / With steadfast heart and true and courage high / Our Country's need, all else is far above. / So forward march and win the day, / Tho' fierce the fight and long; / And plunge right gladly in the fray / With this our Battle song:
Musical Genre
March ballad
Repository
Newberry Library
Rights
The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to the following terms and conditions: https://www.newberry.org/rights-and-reproductions
Cover Description
Text only, in a simple frame, with two other Oesterle songs listed with equal weight: Come Boys and Fight for Your Country (© 1919 06 18) and America, Our Pride (© 1917 03 22).  
Back Cover Description
Sample: Dear Land of Home (© 1911 01 31), and three advertisements, text only: Columbia (Victor Herbert, © 1898 04 21); Song of Freedom (© 1895 02 01); and Lord, While for All Mankind We Pray (© 1897).  
Interior Description
Plate numbers: pp. 3, 4, 5, 6, BL: E. S. & Co. 4350 – 4  
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_099  
Collection Title
James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
Collection
World War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
TitleAmerica, Our Country  
Alternative TitleAmerica, Our Country / Battle Hymn  
ComposerOesterle, Louis  
LyricistOesterle, Louis  
PublisherNew York : Edw. Schuberth & Co.  
Year of Publication1919  
Date of Copyright1919-06-19
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1-2], 3-6, [7-8] p.)
TypeMusical notation  
CommentThis title appears to have been marketed as a successor to Osterle's earlier "America, Our Pride." But it went almost unnoticed and it was issued only in a single edition. Released well after the conclusion of the war, it was probably viewed as largely outdated.
Historical Note
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found. Only a handful of scattered amateur performances have been located, all in the summer of 1919.  
  • This was the only printing, although the cover listing ("Medium Voice or Unison Chorus") implies that other versions may have been planned.   
Musical NoteThis quadruple-time march ballad ("Tempo di Marcia") displays many "high-class" characteristics: extensive expressive markings, pervasive chromaticism, modulation to the submediant, rubato, and a fermata at the climax. It also has a ballad-like, unusual form, with an extended verse of forty-two bars followed by a refrain of thirteen bars; and the accompaniment verges on the virtuosic. Although many characteristic martial gestures are used (fanfare figures, drumbeat rhythms, ascending fifths), there are no direct quotations.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Lyrics
  • [refrain] Our County first! Our watchword this shall be; / In any Cause so just We fear no enemy. / We'll fight with all our might, A Nation proud and free, / For our undoubted right, A Land of Liberty. / Our Country first! And let ev'ry echo wake / To this our cry, "For her dear sake"
  • [verse] Our Country first in Peace or trouble, / Now and ever as of yore; / No pow'r on Earth shall ever humble / This, the Land that we adore. / We'll give our lifeblood one and all, / For this our dear America / We'll ever heed our country's call, / To arms! prepare for War! / To arms! prepare for War! / We'll march to the Front like soldier's true and tried / And do our duty there; / We'll fight for our right with all our might, / 'Till our Flag's victorious ev'rywhere. / It is a glorious privilege to die / For the Land we dearly love, / With steadfast heart and true and courage high / Our Country's need, all else is far above. / So forward march and win the day, / Tho' fierce the fight and long; / And plunge right gladly in the fray / With this our Battle song:
Musical GenreMarch ballad
RepositoryNewberry Library
RightsThe Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to the following terms and conditions: https://www.newberry.org/rights-and-reproductions
Cover DescriptionText only, in a simple frame, with two other Oesterle songs listed with equal weight: Come Boys and Fight for Your Country (© 1919 06 18) and America, Our Pride (© 1917 03 22).  
Back Cover DescriptionSample: Dear Land of Home (© 1911 01 31), and three advertisements, text only: Columbia (Victor Herbert, © 1898 04 21); Song of Freedom (© 1895 02 01); and Lord, While for All Mankind We Pray (© 1897).  
Interior DescriptionPlate numbers: pp. 3, 4, 5, 6, BL: E. S. & Co. 4350 – 4  
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_099  
Collection TitleJames Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
CollectionWorld War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

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