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American Consecration Hymn

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Rights Information

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
American Consecration Hymn
Composer
Macmillen, Francis  
Lyricist
MacKaye, Percy  
Publisher
New York : Carl Fischer  
Year of Publication
1917
Date of Copyright
1917-12-31
Physical Description
1 score, mixed voices and piano ([1-2], 3-6, [7-8] p.)
Type
Musical notation  
Comment
First performed by Margaret Woodrow Wilson on October 3, 1917, this title was not copyrighted until three months later. In the meantime it was circulated, perhaps in a private printing, among church and civic groups, receiving at least two performances; then, after publication and promotion by Carl Fisher, it enjoyed considerable and wide-ranging success through the summer of 1918. In the autumn interest faded, and it was heard only rarely, disappearing completely after 1943.
Historical Note
  • Both editions were widely performed in 1918, but despite their popularity, no recordings or piano rolls have been found.
  • This is the second of two editions (for solo voice and for mixed voices) that were copyrighted and published simultaneously. Percy MacKaye copyrighted the text separately, on September 29, 1917, publishing it as a broadside with copies deposited on October 3, the very day that Margaret Wilson first performed the work. Subsequent editions take care to note that the text is used by permission of MacKaye. Versions for orchestra and for band were also issued.
  • The sentence quoted in the dedication was from President Wilson's address to Congress on April 2, 1917, calling for a declaration of war. Margaret Woodrow Wilson was the president's daughter.
Musical Note
Labeled a hymn, this composition also resembles a high-class ballad, with a fermata in the penultimate line and frequent expressive markings. Fanfare figures throughout, in the accompaniment as well as the vocal parts, together with a brief modulation to the relative minor and strategic harmonic chromaticism, attest to the training of the composer.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • Choruses, Secular (Mixed voices, 4 parts) with piano.  
  • Hymns.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 3]
  • [verse 3] O land, whose living soul / Hast led all tribes to seek / Their God-ward star and goal, / America! / Now bid thy beacon speak / In fire, and let thy bright / Auroral stars, unfurled, / Go forth to light, / Go forth to light, / Forth to light / The world!
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Not bound by earthly loam / Art thou, nor sheltering hill: / Thou art our spirits' home, / America! / Our home, that lures us still / To build beyond war's grave / And, where God's watchfires gleam, / Go forth to save, / Go forth to save, / Forth to save / Our dream.
  • [refrain 1] For right, more dear than peace, / For hope, that bears release / To slavish agonies / Our swords are drawn; / And they shall rest no more / Till yonder blood red seas / And hell-dark shore / Are white with dawn.
  • [verse 1] O thou, who long ago / Didst move the hearts of men / Their freedom's worth to know, / America! / Now move our hearts again / To rise for all men's right / And, strong in liberty, / Go forth to fight, / Go forth to fight, / Forth to fight / For thee!
Musical Genre
Hymn
Repository
Newberry Library
Conditions of Use
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: Solo for Medium Voice with piano accompaniment / Price 50 cents net / Chorus for Mixed Voices with piano accompaniment / Price 6 cents net net. / $5.00 Per Hundred / Also published for Orchestra and Band
  • Text only, with a simple art-deco border and a stylised laurel wreath in the center.
Back Cover Description
Blank.
Interior Description
  • Plate number: pp. 4-5, BL: 20504-4
  • Plate number: p. 3, BL: C.C. / 20504-4
  • Plate number: p. [2], BL: 20504-I
  • p. 3, bottom, linked with an asterisk to the lyric attribution: Used by permission of Percy MacKaye, Owner of the Copyright
  • p. 3, TL: Carl Fischer Edition No. 4514
  • p. 3, top: Introduced by Miss Margaret Woodrow Wilson
  • p. [2], bottom: Copyright, MCMXVII, by Percy MacKaye
  • p. [2]: lyrics (poem) in full
Performance Medium
Mixed voices and piano.
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_091
Collection
World War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

Descriptive Information

TitleAmerican Consecration Hymn
ComposerMacmillen, Francis  
LyricistMacKaye, Percy  
PublisherNew York : Carl Fischer  
Year of Publication1917
Date of Copyright1917-12-31
Physical Description1 score, mixed voices and piano ([1-2], 3-6, [7-8] p.)
TypeMusical notation  
CommentFirst performed by Margaret Woodrow Wilson on October 3, 1917, this title was not copyrighted until three months later. In the meantime it was circulated, perhaps in a private printing, among church and civic groups, receiving at least two performances; then, after publication and promotion by Carl Fisher, it enjoyed considerable and wide-ranging success through the summer of 1918. In the autumn interest faded, and it was heard only rarely, disappearing completely after 1943.
Historical Note
  • Both editions were widely performed in 1918, but despite their popularity, no recordings or piano rolls have been found.
  • This is the second of two editions (for solo voice and for mixed voices) that were copyrighted and published simultaneously. Percy MacKaye copyrighted the text separately, on September 29, 1917, publishing it as a broadside with copies deposited on October 3, the very day that Margaret Wilson first performed the work. Subsequent editions take care to note that the text is used by permission of MacKaye. Versions for orchestra and for band were also issued.
  • The sentence quoted in the dedication was from President Wilson's address to Congress on April 2, 1917, calling for a declaration of war. Margaret Woodrow Wilson was the president's daughter.
Musical NoteLabeled a hymn, this composition also resembles a high-class ballad, with a fermata in the penultimate line and frequent expressive markings. Fanfare figures throughout, in the accompaniment as well as the vocal parts, together with a brief modulation to the relative minor and strategic harmonic chromaticism, attest to the training of the composer.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • Choruses, Secular (Mixed voices, 4 parts) with piano.  
  • Hymns.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Lyrics
  • [refrain 3]
  • [verse 3] O land, whose living soul / Hast led all tribes to seek / Their God-ward star and goal, / America! / Now bid thy beacon speak / In fire, and let thy bright / Auroral stars, unfurled, / Go forth to light, / Go forth to light, / Forth to light / The world!
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 2] Not bound by earthly loam / Art thou, nor sheltering hill: / Thou art our spirits' home, / America! / Our home, that lures us still / To build beyond war's grave / And, where God's watchfires gleam, / Go forth to save, / Go forth to save, / Forth to save / Our dream.
  • [refrain 1] For right, more dear than peace, / For hope, that bears release / To slavish agonies / Our swords are drawn; / And they shall rest no more / Till yonder blood red seas / And hell-dark shore / Are white with dawn.
  • [verse 1] O thou, who long ago / Didst move the hearts of men / Their freedom's worth to know, / America! / Now move our hearts again / To rise for all men's right / And, strong in liberty, / Go forth to fight, / Go forth to fight, / Forth to fight / For thee!
Musical GenreHymn
RepositoryNewberry Library
Conditions of UseThe 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: Solo for Medium Voice with piano accompaniment / Price 50 cents net / Chorus for Mixed Voices with piano accompaniment / Price 6 cents net net. / $5.00 Per Hundred / Also published for Orchestra and Band
  • Text only, with a simple art-deco border and a stylised laurel wreath in the center.
Back Cover DescriptionBlank.
Interior Description
  • Plate number: pp. 4-5, BL: 20504-4
  • Plate number: p. 3, BL: C.C. / 20504-4
  • Plate number: p. [2], BL: 20504-I
  • p. 3, bottom, linked with an asterisk to the lyric attribution: Used by permission of Percy MacKaye, Owner of the Copyright
  • p. 3, TL: Carl Fischer Edition No. 4514
  • p. 3, top: Introduced by Miss Margaret Woodrow Wilson
  • p. [2], bottom: Copyright, MCMXVII, by Percy MacKaye
  • p. [2]: lyrics (poem) in full
Performance MediumMixed voices and piano.
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_091
CollectionWorld War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

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