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America, Our Pride

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/976e0000-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-a

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 Pride  
Alternative Title
America Our Pride / National Hymn  
Composer
Oesterle, Louis  
Lyricist
Oesterle, Louis  
Publisher
New York : Edw. Schuberth & Co.  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-03-22
Physical Description
1 score, voice and piano ([1], [1]-[2], [1] p.)
Type
Musical notation  
Comment
Louis Oesterle was a workhorse editor for Schirmer and very well connected in the classical music world, and he placed notices in major magazines like Musical America and Musical Courier three months before his song was copyrighted. It enjoyed modest success among amateur and school groups but may have been hampered by its evident emulation of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee."
Historical Note
  • There seems to have been no attempt to mount an advertising campaign, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found.  
  • The song must have been composed in late 1916, since the December 9, 1916 issue of Musical America reviewed it briefly but positively. The Musical Courier followed suit in its issue of January 4, 1917, noting that many national hymns were on the market and observing presciently that "If Louis Oesterle can get up a revolution or a war he may speedily make his hymn famous." In the event, after war was indeed declared, the song was a modest success, performed intermittently through 1917 and part of 1918 by amateur choral groups, schools, bands, and orchestras.   
  • Several versions were released, but this appears to be the only printing of the version for solo voice; it prints on single pages two versions, one for high voice and one for low voice. In 1919 the title was bundled on the covers of two other patriotic songs by Oesterle, "America, Our Country" and "Come Boys and Fight for Your Country," but there is no indication that it was re-released bearing the new cover.   
Musical Note
Explicitly a "national hymn," the music and text adhere very closely to the rhythms and structure of "God Save the King" (imported to the States as "America"). Passing chromaticism and walking bass are used appropriately; the whole is competent but somewhat bland.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • Hymns.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Lyrics
  • [verse 4] Great this our land of love, / Guided by Him above, / Thanks to His might: / Thanks to His might: / With us His Hand shall be / Till all eternity, / While in our Country we / Stand for the Right.
  • [verse 3] Cherish their memory, / Those who first set us free, / Honor their deed: / Honor their deed: / Let us united stand / For this our dear, dear land, / Far flung our banner grand / O'er land they freed.
  • [verse 2] Sweet land America, / Great is thy name afar, / Glory to thee: / Glory to thee: / Land where our ancestry / Fought for their liberty, / Ever from sea to sea / Thou shalt be free.
  • [verse 1] America, our pride, / Herald her glory wide, / All thro' the Earth: / All thro' the Earth: / Beauteous in ev'ry part, / Cherished in ev'ry heart, / Priceless to us thou art, / Land of our birth.
Musical Genre
Hymn
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
  • Bottom: 946  
  • TL, U. S. shield laid flat, with eagle rousant perched, claws clutching arrows and a laurel branch, beak holding a banner with the U. S. motto; behind and running the length of the page, a U. S. flag, partly furled around a spear-like flagpole. Below the composer's name is a list of versions and prices. Blue, brown, and red on white; unsigned.   
Back Cover Description
Cover: “Dear Land of Home" (© 1911 01 31).  
Interior Description
Plate numbers: pp. [1] and [2], BL: E S & Co 4319_1  
Performance Medium
Voice and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_050  
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 Pride  
Alternative TitleAmerica Our Pride / National Hymn  
ComposerOesterle, Louis  
LyricistOesterle, Louis  
PublisherNew York : Edw. Schuberth & Co.  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-03-22
Physical Description1 score, voice and piano ([1], [1]-[2], [1] p.)
TypeMusical notation  
CommentLouis Oesterle was a workhorse editor for Schirmer and very well connected in the classical music world, and he placed notices in major magazines like Musical America and Musical Courier three months before his song was copyrighted. It enjoyed modest success among amateur and school groups but may have been hampered by its evident emulation of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee."
Historical Note
  • There seems to have been no attempt to mount an advertising campaign, and no piano rolls or recordings have been found.  
  • The song must have been composed in late 1916, since the December 9, 1916 issue of Musical America reviewed it briefly but positively. The Musical Courier followed suit in its issue of January 4, 1917, noting that many national hymns were on the market and observing presciently that "If Louis Oesterle can get up a revolution or a war he may speedily make his hymn famous." In the event, after war was indeed declared, the song was a modest success, performed intermittently through 1917 and part of 1918 by amateur choral groups, schools, bands, and orchestras.   
  • Several versions were released, but this appears to be the only printing of the version for solo voice; it prints on single pages two versions, one for high voice and one for low voice. In 1919 the title was bundled on the covers of two other patriotic songs by Oesterle, "America, Our Country" and "Come Boys and Fight for Your Country," but there is no indication that it was re-released bearing the new cover.   
Musical NoteExplicitly a "national hymn," the music and text adhere very closely to the rhythms and structure of "God Save the King" (imported to the States as "America"). Passing chromaticism and walking bass are used appropriately; the whole is competent but somewhat bland.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • Hymns.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Lyrics
  • [verse 4] Great this our land of love, / Guided by Him above, / Thanks to His might: / Thanks to His might: / With us His Hand shall be / Till all eternity, / While in our Country we / Stand for the Right.
  • [verse 3] Cherish their memory, / Those who first set us free, / Honor their deed: / Honor their deed: / Let us united stand / For this our dear, dear land, / Far flung our banner grand / O'er land they freed.
  • [verse 2] Sweet land America, / Great is thy name afar, / Glory to thee: / Glory to thee: / Land where our ancestry / Fought for their liberty, / Ever from sea to sea / Thou shalt be free.
  • [verse 1] America, our pride, / Herald her glory wide, / All thro' the Earth: / All thro' the Earth: / Beauteous in ev'ry part, / Cherished in ev'ry heart, / Priceless to us thou art, / Land of our birth.
Musical GenreHymn
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 Description
  • Bottom: 946  
  • TL, U. S. shield laid flat, with eagle rousant perched, claws clutching arrows and a laurel branch, beak holding a banner with the U. S. motto; behind and running the length of the page, a U. S. flag, partly furled around a spear-like flagpole. Below the composer's name is a list of versions and prices. Blue, brown, and red on white; unsigned.   
Back Cover DescriptionCover: “Dear Land of Home" (© 1911 01 31).  
Interior DescriptionPlate numbers: pp. [1] and [2], BL: E S & Co 4319_1  
Performance MediumVoice and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_050  
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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