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America the Beautiful

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/96af46d0-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-9
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Descriptive Information

Title
America the Beautiful
Composer
Hewins, Parke W. (Woodbury)  
Lyricist
Bates, Katharine Lee  
Publisher
Parke W. Hewins  
Place of Publication
Wellesley Hills (Mass.)  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-02-20
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
Comment
This is the only music that Hewins ever published and is clearly an amateur production. No recordings, piano rolls, or performances have been discovered, and it seems to have left no mark, even in the Boston area.
Historical Note
This is the first of two editions, and probably served as a kind of proof copy; handwritten corrections on p. 3 have been changed on the plate for the second edition.
Musical Note
This very straightforward unison hymn is presented without a vocal line, with the words inserted within a grand staff.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Hymns, English  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] O beautiful for spacious skies, / For amber waves of grain, / For purple mountain majesties / Above the fruited plain! / America! America! / God shed His grace on thee / And crown thy good with brotherhood / From sea to shining sea!
  • [verse 2] O beautiful for pilgrim feet, / Whose stern, impassioned stress / A thoroughfare of freedom beat / Across the wilderness! / America! America! / God mend thine ev'ry flaw, / Confirm thy soul in self-control, / Thy liberty in law!
  • [verse 3] O beautiful for heroes proved / In liberating strife, / Who more than self their country loved / And mercy more than life! / America! America! / May God thy gold refine, / Till all success be nobleness, / And every gain divine!
  • [verse 4] O beautiful for patriot dream / That sees beyond the years / Thine alabaster cities gleam / Undimmed by human tears! / America! America! / God shed His grace on thee / And crown thy good with brotherhood / From sea to shining sea!
Musical Genre
Hymn
Repository
Newberry Library
Rights
NoC-US
Rights Description
The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information.
Cover Description
Photographic inset of George Washington, possibly from a miniature by Robert Field. Black and blue on white; unsigned.
Back Cover Description
Blank.
Interior Description
Plate number: p. 3, BL: America 2
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_049
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 the Beautiful
ComposerHewins, Parke W. (Woodbury)  
LyricistBates, Katharine Lee  
PublisherParke W. Hewins  
Place of PublicationWellesley Hills (Mass.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-02-20
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], 2-3, [1] p.)
CommentThis is the only music that Hewins ever published and is clearly an amateur production. No recordings, piano rolls, or performances have been discovered, and it seems to have left no mark, even in the Boston area.
Historical NoteThis is the first of two editions, and probably served as a kind of proof copy; handwritten corrections on p. 3 have been changed on the plate for the second edition.
Musical NoteThis very straightforward unison hymn is presented without a vocal line, with the words inserted within a grand staff.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Hymns, English  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] O beautiful for spacious skies, / For amber waves of grain, / For purple mountain majesties / Above the fruited plain! / America! America! / God shed His grace on thee / And crown thy good with brotherhood / From sea to shining sea!
  • [verse 2] O beautiful for pilgrim feet, / Whose stern, impassioned stress / A thoroughfare of freedom beat / Across the wilderness! / America! America! / God mend thine ev'ry flaw, / Confirm thy soul in self-control, / Thy liberty in law!
  • [verse 3] O beautiful for heroes proved / In liberating strife, / Who more than self their country loved / And mercy more than life! / America! America! / May God thy gold refine, / Till all success be nobleness, / And every gain divine!
  • [verse 4] O beautiful for patriot dream / That sees beyond the years / Thine alabaster cities gleam / Undimmed by human tears! / America! America! / God shed His grace on thee / And crown thy good with brotherhood / From sea to shining sea!
Musical GenreHymn
RepositoryNewberry Library
RightsNoC-US
Rights DescriptionThe organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information.
Cover DescriptionPhotographic inset of George Washington, possibly from a miniature by Robert Field. Black and blue on white; unsigned.
Back Cover DescriptionBlank.
Interior DescriptionPlate number: p. 3, BL: America 2
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_049
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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