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America, Our Motherland

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/97e37c70-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-2
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, Our Motherland
Composer
Conant, Grace Wilbur  
Lyricist
Conant, Grace Wilbur  
Publisher
Oliver Ditson Co.  
Place of Publication
Boston (Mass.)  
Year of Publication
1919  
Date of Copyright
1919-01-16
Physical Description
1 score, mixed voices and piano ([1-2], 1-7, [1-3] p.)
Comment
Conant's text was preceded by several related poems; some of these were widely published, but none were set to music. Ditson marketed the piece skilfully and persistently, so that it remained of interest well after the war had ended; as late as 1950 it was still being sung by amateur choruses on Memorial Day, graduation ceremonies, and other civic events.
Historical Note
  • This is the second of two printings. Ditson’s usual practice was to deposit a first printing, for copyright only, that had identical music but no covers.
  • In December 1918, Ditson created a subseries of choral works entitled "Choruses of Peace and Victory." Judging by catalogue number, Conant's piece was the first of these; and together with eight others, it was advertised in a Boston Symphony Orchestra program on December 30, 1918, though it was not copyrighted until eight days later. The full list of nine compositions was included on the front cover of the eventual publication.
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found.
Musical Note
This anthem is skilled but conservative, clearly intended to appeal to an educated audience. Effectively a slow march ballad, it makes very moderate use of passing chromaticism and walking bass. The first two verses can be sung by baritone solo or unison chorus; the refrains and the third verse are for four-part mixed voices.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Choruses, Secular (Mixed voices, 4 parts) with piano  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] Sing we a song today, song to our Mother, / Homage we bring to her, the Fairest and Best; / True are all hearts to her, owning no other, / Sing, North and South, chant her praise, East and West!
  • [refrain 1] Motherland, Motherland, land free and glorious, / In ev'ry noble cause be thou victorious! / Motherland, Motherland, land free and glorious, / God save America, our Motherland.
  • [verse 2] Come, let us bring today gifts to our Mother, / Haste we to honor her nor wait her command; / Freely we offer them, one with another, / Knowledge and treasure, and good right hand.
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 3] Mother of Freemen, own our devotion; / Make us thy messengers thro' peace or thro' strife; / Sound we thy clarion call o'er land and o'er ocean, / Honor and Freedom are dearer than life! /
  • [refrain 3] Motherland, Motherland, land free and glorious, / In ev'ry noble cause be thou victorious! / Motherland, Motherland, land free and glorious, / God save America, God save America, / God save America, our Motherland.
Musical Genre
Anthem
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 headed "Choruses of Peace & Victory"; below heading, eagle rousant on US shield; the whole encased in decorative rectangular frame. Blue on white; unsigned.
Back Cover Description
List of "Music for Schools".
Interior Description
  • Inside front cover: list of "Patriotic Music" for men's voices and for women's voices, in simple frame with ornamental tassels on edges and stars at corners.
  • p. 1 top, below title: Patriotic Song for Mixed Voices
  • antepenultimate page: list of "Patriotic Music" for mixed voices, in simple frame with ornamental tassels on edges and stars at corners.
  • Inside back cover: identical to preceding (antepenultimate) page.
Performance Medium
Mixed voices and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_101
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 Motherland
ComposerConant, Grace Wilbur  
LyricistConant, Grace Wilbur  
PublisherOliver Ditson Co.  
Place of PublicationBoston (Mass.)  
Year of Publication1919  
Date of Copyright1919-01-16
Physical Description1 score, mixed voices and piano ([1-2], 1-7, [1-3] p.)
CommentConant's text was preceded by several related poems; some of these were widely published, but none were set to music. Ditson marketed the piece skilfully and persistently, so that it remained of interest well after the war had ended; as late as 1950 it was still being sung by amateur choruses on Memorial Day, graduation ceremonies, and other civic events.
Historical Note
  • This is the second of two printings. Ditson’s usual practice was to deposit a first printing, for copyright only, that had identical music but no covers.
  • In December 1918, Ditson created a subseries of choral works entitled "Choruses of Peace and Victory." Judging by catalogue number, Conant's piece was the first of these; and together with eight others, it was advertised in a Boston Symphony Orchestra program on December 30, 1918, though it was not copyrighted until eight days later. The full list of nine compositions was included on the front cover of the eventual publication.
  • No piano rolls or recordings have been found.
Musical NoteThis anthem is skilled but conservative, clearly intended to appeal to an educated audience. Effectively a slow march ballad, it makes very moderate use of passing chromaticism and walking bass. The first two verses can be sung by baritone solo or unison chorus; the refrains and the third verse are for four-part mixed voices.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Patriotic music  
  • Choruses, Secular (Mixed voices, 4 parts) with piano  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] Sing we a song today, song to our Mother, / Homage we bring to her, the Fairest and Best; / True are all hearts to her, owning no other, / Sing, North and South, chant her praise, East and West!
  • [refrain 1] Motherland, Motherland, land free and glorious, / In ev'ry noble cause be thou victorious! / Motherland, Motherland, land free and glorious, / God save America, our Motherland.
  • [verse 2] Come, let us bring today gifts to our Mother, / Haste we to honor her nor wait her command; / Freely we offer them, one with another, / Knowledge and treasure, and good right hand.
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 3] Mother of Freemen, own our devotion; / Make us thy messengers thro' peace or thro' strife; / Sound we thy clarion call o'er land and o'er ocean, / Honor and Freedom are dearer than life! /
  • [refrain 3] Motherland, Motherland, land free and glorious, / In ev'ry noble cause be thou victorious! / Motherland, Motherland, land free and glorious, / God save America, God save America, / God save America, our Motherland.
Musical GenreAnthem
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 DescriptionList headed "Choruses of Peace & Victory"; below heading, eagle rousant on US shield; the whole encased in decorative rectangular frame. Blue on white; unsigned.
Back Cover DescriptionList of "Music for Schools".
Interior Description
  • Inside front cover: list of "Patriotic Music" for men's voices and for women's voices, in simple frame with ornamental tassels on edges and stars at corners.
  • p. 1 top, below title: Patriotic Song for Mixed Voices
  • antepenultimate page: list of "Patriotic Music" for mixed voices, in simple frame with ornamental tassels on edges and stars at corners.
  • Inside back cover: identical to preceding (antepenultimate) page.
Performance MediumMixed voices and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_101
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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