University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

American Consecration Hymn

Permalink

https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/98bbf490-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-8
No Copyright - United States (RightsStatements.org)

NoC-US

Descriptive Information

Title
American Consecration Hymn
Composer
Macmillen, Francis  
Lyricist
MacKaye, Percy  
Publisher
Carl Fischer  
Place of Publication
New York (N.Y.)  
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.)
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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Both editions were widely performed in 1918, but despite their popularity, no recordings or piano rolls have been found.
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
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Hymns  
  • Choruses, Secular (Mixed voices, 4 parts) with piano  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Subject - Temporal
1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [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!
  • [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 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 2]
  • [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 3]
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
  • Text only, with a simple art-deco border and a stylised laurel wreath in the center.
  • 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
Back Cover Description
Blank.
Interior Description
  • p. [2]: lyrics (poem) in full
  • p. [2], bottom: Copyright, MCMXVII, by Percy MacKaye
  • p. 3, top: Introduced by Miss Margaret Woodrow Wilson
  • p. 3, TL: Carl Fischer Edition No. 4514
  • p. 3, bottom, linked with an asterisk to the lyric attribution: Used by permission of Percy MacKaye, Owner of the Copyright
  • Plate number: p. [2], BL: 20504-I
  • Plate number: p. 3, BL: C.C. / 20504-4
  • Plate number: pp. 4-5, BL: 20504-4
Performance Medium
Mixed voices and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_091
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
TitleAmerican Consecration Hymn
ComposerMacmillen, Francis  
LyricistMacKaye, Percy  
PublisherCarl Fischer  
Place of PublicationNew York (N.Y.)  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-12-31
Physical Description1 score, mixed voices and piano ([1-2], 3-6, [7-8] p.)
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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Both editions were widely performed in 1918, but despite their popularity, no recordings or piano rolls have been found.
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
  • World War, 1914-1918  
  • Songs and music  
  • Popular music  
  • Hymns  
  • Choruses, Secular (Mixed voices, 4 parts) with piano  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Subject - Temporal1911-1920  
Lyrics
  • [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!
  • [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 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 2]
  • [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 3]
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 Description
  • Text only, with a simple art-deco border and a stylised laurel wreath in the center.
  • 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
Back Cover DescriptionBlank.
Interior Description
  • p. [2]: lyrics (poem) in full
  • p. [2], bottom: Copyright, MCMXVII, by Percy MacKaye
  • p. 3, top: Introduced by Miss Margaret Woodrow Wilson
  • p. 3, TL: Carl Fischer Edition No. 4514
  • p. 3, bottom, linked with an asterisk to the lyric attribution: Used by permission of Percy MacKaye, Owner of the Copyright
  • Plate number: p. [2], BL: 20504-I
  • Plate number: p. 3, BL: C.C. / 20504-4
  • Plate number: pp. 4-5, BL: 20504-4
Performance MediumMixed voices and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_091
Collection TitleJames Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
CollectionWorld War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

Download Options

  Zip of Original Files…   Zip of JPEGs PDF
nda163_091-001
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
nda163_091-002
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
nda163_091-003
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
nda163_091-004
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
nda163_091-005
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
nda163_091-006
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
nda163_091-007
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…
Email Curator About This Item