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America! My Homeland

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/98d31340-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-c

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! My Homeland  
Composer
Blaine, Richard  
Lyricist
Treleaven, Henry  
Publisher
New York : Boosey & Co.  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-12-18
Physical Description
1 score, men's voices ([1], 2-9, [3] p.)
Type
Musical notation  
Comment
Blaine and Treleaven’s song competed directly with an identical title issued by Harry C. Eldridge. Both publications were marketed primarily to amateurs and schools; they appear to have been equally successful, especially in school ceremonies, until the 1920s, after which Blaine’s song faded from view. This arrangement by Sumner Salter, and a second arrangement for women's voices, were probably performed more often than the solo song that was originally copyrighted.
Historical Note
  • This arrangement by Sumner Salter is the second printing of the second edition; the first printing, reproducing a manuscript, lacks a piano part. The first edition was for solo voice, and the third was for two-part women's voices.   
  • At least five songs with this title appeared between 1915 and 1920. Two can be disregarded: one, by Rosa Braun was copyrighted in manuscript only on May 10, 1916; another text by Ruth E. DeBoer was set to music and published by song-shark Leo Friedman (copyrighted June 20, 1919). Three other titles appeared in close proximity: the song by Blaine and Treleaven; a song with words and music by Harry C. Eldridge and issued by his own firm, Eldridge Entertainment House (Franklin, OH), copyrighted September 20, 1917 (copies deposited October 27); and a self-publication by Laura Walker Colgrove (Minneapolis, MN), copyrighted December 18, 1917 (copies deposited December 21). Colgrove’s song had negligible impact; Eldridge, however, promoted his title quite extensively, especially in regional music and music education journals. Boosey promoted Blaine’s more high-class song in middle-class magazines like The Musical Courier but also marketed it primarily to schools. Blaine’s and Eldridge’s pieces were performed fairly widely through the 1920s, always by amateurs and largely in schools or on civic occasions; thereafter, it seems that Eldridge’s title prevailed, being included on school concerts at least until the 1950s.   
  • All known performances are by amateurs, but they range from Florida to Colorado. No recordings or piano rolls have been found.  
Musical Note
A high-class ballad that sounds much like an anthem--too slow and dignified to be truly a march song (though this arrangement for men's voices emphasizes the latter genre) but laced with martial figures: walking bass, fanfares, and modified rat-a-tat-tats. Harmonies evidence pervasive chromaticism, with modal borrowings and modulations to the flat submediant in the first quatrain and to the dominant for the final one, at the start of which is a slightly modified quotation from “America.” The music repeats exactly for the second verse.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
Subject - Geographic
United States  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] She gave me all that life doth prize / Beyond the despot's sway, / She set me free beneath her skies— / My life is hers to pay. / She gave me pride of home and sod, / My name American, / A country very dear to God, / Her flag my talisman. / For her I pledge my heart, my hand, / All that my soul can give. / Duty to God and my Home-Land / That truth and right may live— / Carry on!
  • [verse 2] She gave to all men, you and me / What war shall not efface, / Man's brotherhood, Democracy, / To flaunt the tyrant's face. / Democracy, O blessed word! / Blazoned o'er land and sea, / Won by my country's faith and sword / For human liberty. / For her I pledge my heart, my hand, / My life if need there be, / Duty to God and my Home-Land, / My love her victory. / Carry on!
Musical Genre
High-class ballad
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
List of titles: Boosey & Co’s Series. / Famous Songs / Specially Arranged For / Male Voices.  
Back Cover Description
List of titles: Boosey & Co’s Series. / Sacred Quartettes, Anthems, Etc. / for / Mixed Voices (S.A.T.B.)  
Interior Description
  • p. [10]: List of titles: Boosey & Co’s Series. / Secular Quartettes / for / Mixed Voices (S.A.T.B.)  
  • p. [11]: List of titles: Boosey & Co’s Series. / Secular Quartettes / for / Mixed Voices (S.A.T.B.)  
  • Plate numbers: pp. 2-8: 2100-8  
Performance Medium
Men's voices  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_048  
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! My Homeland  
ComposerBlaine, Richard  
LyricistTreleaven, Henry  
PublisherNew York : Boosey & Co.  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-12-18
Physical Description1 score, men's voices ([1], 2-9, [3] p.)
TypeMusical notation  
CommentBlaine and Treleaven’s song competed directly with an identical title issued by Harry C. Eldridge. Both publications were marketed primarily to amateurs and schools; they appear to have been equally successful, especially in school ceremonies, until the 1920s, after which Blaine’s song faded from view. This arrangement by Sumner Salter, and a second arrangement for women's voices, were probably performed more often than the solo song that was originally copyrighted.
Historical Note
  • This arrangement by Sumner Salter is the second printing of the second edition; the first printing, reproducing a manuscript, lacks a piano part. The first edition was for solo voice, and the third was for two-part women's voices.   
  • At least five songs with this title appeared between 1915 and 1920. Two can be disregarded: one, by Rosa Braun was copyrighted in manuscript only on May 10, 1916; another text by Ruth E. DeBoer was set to music and published by song-shark Leo Friedman (copyrighted June 20, 1919). Three other titles appeared in close proximity: the song by Blaine and Treleaven; a song with words and music by Harry C. Eldridge and issued by his own firm, Eldridge Entertainment House (Franklin, OH), copyrighted September 20, 1917 (copies deposited October 27); and a self-publication by Laura Walker Colgrove (Minneapolis, MN), copyrighted December 18, 1917 (copies deposited December 21). Colgrove’s song had negligible impact; Eldridge, however, promoted his title quite extensively, especially in regional music and music education journals. Boosey promoted Blaine’s more high-class song in middle-class magazines like The Musical Courier but also marketed it primarily to schools. Blaine’s and Eldridge’s pieces were performed fairly widely through the 1920s, always by amateurs and largely in schools or on civic occasions; thereafter, it seems that Eldridge’s title prevailed, being included on school concerts at least until the 1950s.   
  • All known performances are by amateurs, but they range from Florida to Colorado. No recordings or piano rolls have been found.  
Musical NoteA high-class ballad that sounds much like an anthem--too slow and dignified to be truly a march song (though this arrangement for men's voices emphasizes the latter genre) but laced with martial figures: walking bass, fanfares, and modified rat-a-tat-tats. Harmonies evidence pervasive chromaticism, with modal borrowings and modulations to the flat submediant in the first quatrain and to the dominant for the final one, at the start of which is a slightly modified quotation from “America.” The music repeats exactly for the second verse.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
Subject - GeographicUnited States  
Lyrics
  • [verse 1] She gave me all that life doth prize / Beyond the despot's sway, / She set me free beneath her skies— / My life is hers to pay. / She gave me pride of home and sod, / My name American, / A country very dear to God, / Her flag my talisman. / For her I pledge my heart, my hand, / All that my soul can give. / Duty to God and my Home-Land / That truth and right may live— / Carry on!
  • [verse 2] She gave to all men, you and me / What war shall not efface, / Man's brotherhood, Democracy, / To flaunt the tyrant's face. / Democracy, O blessed word! / Blazoned o'er land and sea, / Won by my country's faith and sword / For human liberty. / For her I pledge my heart, my hand, / My life if need there be, / Duty to God and my Home-Land, / My love her victory. / Carry on!
Musical GenreHigh-class ballad
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 DescriptionList of titles: Boosey & Co’s Series. / Famous Songs / Specially Arranged For / Male Voices.  
Back Cover DescriptionList of titles: Boosey & Co’s Series. / Sacred Quartettes, Anthems, Etc. / for / Mixed Voices (S.A.T.B.)  
Interior Description
  • p. [10]: List of titles: Boosey & Co’s Series. / Secular Quartettes / for / Mixed Voices (S.A.T.B.)  
  • p. [11]: List of titles: Boosey & Co’s Series. / Secular Quartettes / for / Mixed Voices (S.A.T.B.)  
  • Plate numbers: pp. 2-8: 2100-8  
Performance MediumMen's voices  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_048  
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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