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America Triumphant

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/977d7110-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-1
No Copyright - United States (RightsStatements.org)

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.

Descriptive Information

Title
America Triumphant
Composer
Fisher, William Arms  
Lyricist
Smith, Elvira B.  
Publisher
Oliver Ditson Co.  
Year of Publication
1919  
Date of Copyright
1919-01-16
Physical Description
1 score, mixed voices and piano ([1], 2-7, [1] p.)
Comment
Though included in Ditson lists and collections over several years, this song appears to have been overshadowed by Clifford Demarest's much more popular composition with the same title.
Historical Note
  • Written shortly after the Armistice, this title seems from the outset to have been planned for publication in Ditson's series "Choruses of Peace & Victory," most titles of which were copyrighted at almost the same time, and which was advertised even before the copyrights were registered.
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found, but a smattering of amateur performances have been documented.
Musical Note
A slow march song (marked “With dignity, but not too slow”) that has some aspects of a hymn, this composition is complex, with extended chromaticism and frequent use of a steady drumbeat rhythm. The notation is for women's voices, sometimes divisi, and with mixed voices for the final refrain, but footnotes provide instructions if only a two-part chorus is available.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Peace  
  • Songs and music  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] America, thou peerless one, / Our own loved motherland! / Turn from the crash of battles grim, / With white robed Peace now stand. / Place Honor high above all else / Like one great radiant star, / And let thy teeming millions now / Acclaim her from afar.
  • [refrain 1] America! triumphant one, / Thy destiny is known. / The din and smoke and strife are done, / Kneel humbly at God's throne. / Then to earth's struggling peoples go / Go with a love sublime, / Go in the might of service true, / Bring forth a happier time!
  • [verse 2] Oh, keep undimm'd thy upward look, / And herald the new day / When Peace shall make all nations one / With her own perfect sway. / And may our God who led thee on / Through warfare's bitter strife, / Gird thee to help all nations now / And bring the World new life!
  • [refrain 2]
Musical Genre
March song
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
  • List of titles in art deco border; separated by eagle rousant mounted on US shield, laurel to the left, arrows to the right, titled: Choruses of Peace & Victory
  • TL, above border: No. 13,375
  • TR, above border: 10 cents
Back Cover Description
Text and list of titles, three stars above publisher; in simple frame with ornamental tassels on edges and stars at corners: Patriotic music.
Interior Description
  • p. 2, below title: Two-part Chorus with Refrain for two parts or four
  • p. 2, BL, below score: Orchestra parts 50¢
  • p. 2, BL, below copyright line: No. 13,375 – 10¢
  • p. 7, BR, below score: Dec. 1, 1918
  • Plate numbers, pp. 2–7, BR: 72982-6
Performance Medium
Mixed voices and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_093
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 Triumphant
ComposerFisher, William Arms  
LyricistSmith, Elvira B.  
PublisherOliver Ditson Co.  
Year of Publication1919  
Date of Copyright1919-01-16
Physical Description1 score, mixed voices and piano ([1], 2-7, [1] p.)
CommentThough included in Ditson lists and collections over several years, this song appears to have been overshadowed by Clifford Demarest's much more popular composition with the same title.
Historical Note
  • Written shortly after the Armistice, this title seems from the outset to have been planned for publication in Ditson's series "Choruses of Peace & Victory," most titles of which were copyrighted at almost the same time, and which was advertised even before the copyrights were registered.
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found, but a smattering of amateur performances have been documented.
Musical NoteA slow march song (marked “With dignity, but not too slow”) that has some aspects of a hymn, this composition is complex, with extended chromaticism and frequent use of a steady drumbeat rhythm. The notation is for women's voices, sometimes divisi, and with mixed voices for the final refrain, but footnotes provide instructions if only a two-part chorus is available.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Peace  
  • Songs and music  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] America, thou peerless one, / Our own loved motherland! / Turn from the crash of battles grim, / With white robed Peace now stand. / Place Honor high above all else / Like one great radiant star, / And let thy teeming millions now / Acclaim her from afar.
  • [refrain 1] America! triumphant one, / Thy destiny is known. / The din and smoke and strife are done, / Kneel humbly at God's throne. / Then to earth's struggling peoples go / Go with a love sublime, / Go in the might of service true, / Bring forth a happier time!
  • [verse 2] Oh, keep undimm'd thy upward look, / And herald the new day / When Peace shall make all nations one / With her own perfect sway. / And may our God who led thee on / Through warfare's bitter strife, / Gird thee to help all nations now / And bring the World new life!
  • [refrain 2]
Musical GenreMarch song
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 Description
  • List of titles in art deco border; separated by eagle rousant mounted on US shield, laurel to the left, arrows to the right, titled: Choruses of Peace & Victory
  • TL, above border: No. 13,375
  • TR, above border: 10 cents
Back Cover DescriptionText and list of titles, three stars above publisher; in simple frame with ornamental tassels on edges and stars at corners: Patriotic music.
Interior Description
  • p. 2, below title: Two-part Chorus with Refrain for two parts or four
  • p. 2, BL, below score: Orchestra parts 50¢
  • p. 2, BL, below copyright line: No. 13,375 – 10¢
  • p. 7, BR, below score: Dec. 1, 1918
  • Plate numbers, pp. 2–7, BR: 72982-6
Performance MediumMixed voices and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_093
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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