Notes on the Histories of
The National Anthems of the Allies
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER
The words of the Star-Spangled Banner were written by Francis Scott Key, son of John Ross Key, an officer in the Revolutionary army. He was born August 1, 1779, and died Jan. 11, 1843. The words were written Sept. 14, 1814, under the following circumstances: After burning Washington, the British advanced towards Baltimore, and were met by a similar number of Americans, most of whom were captured and taken to the large fleet then preparing to attack Fort McHenry. Among the prisoners taken at Bladensburg, was a Doctor Beanes, an intimate friend of Mr. Key. Hoping to intercede for the Doctor's release, Mr. Key, with a flag of truce, started in a sail-boat for the Admiral's (Cockburn) vessel. Here he was detained in his boat, moored from the stern of the flag-ship, during the terrible bombardment of twenty-five hours, and at last, seeing the "Star-Spangled Banner" still waving, then, as his fashion was, he snatched an old letter from his pocket, and laying it on a barrel-head, gave vent to his delight in the spirited song which he entitled "The Defense of Fort McHenry." "The Star-Spangled Banner" was printed within a week in the Baltimore Patriot, under the title of "The Defense of Fort McHenry," and found its way immediately into the camps of our army. Ferdinand Durang, who belonged to a dramatic company, and had played in a Baltimore theatre with John Howard Payne, read the poem effectively to the soldiers encamped in that city, who were expecting another attack. They begged him to set the words to music, and he hunted up the old air of "Adams and Liberty," set the words to it, and sang it to the soldiers, who caught it up amid tremendous applause.—Johnson, "Our Familiar Songs"; Anderson's History; Nason's Monogram; el al.
GOD SAVE THE KING
The authorship of this soul-stirring song has long been disputed; but the weight of authority would appear to show that Henry Carey wrote both the words and the air, and himself sang them at a dinner given in 1740 to celebrate the taking of Portobello by Admiral Vernon on Nov. 20, 1739. The earliest known printed copy was published in the "Harmonia Anglicana" (1742 or '43); the tune, while substantially similar to that now in vogue, differs from the latter in several bars, notably in the special stress laid on the word "save." In 1745, during the Scottish Rebellion, it became widely known by being sung in the theatres as "a loyal song or anthem," its first public presentation occurring at Drury Lane on Sept. 28.—Dr. John Bull and, more recently, a certain Scottish musician named James Oswald, have been brought forward by various writers to dispute Carey's claim.
LA MARSEILLAISE
The exhilarating strains of the French National Anthem, which just now are heard on every hand, were the inspiration of Rouget de l'Isle, a young officer who was stationed at Strassburg. Dining one night in the Spring of 1792 with the Mayor, the latter requested his guest, who at one time had been a teacher of music, to compose a song for the Volunteers who were about to leave. After a frugal repast of garrison bread and ham he returned to his lodgings in the "Grande Rue," and there in a fit of enthusiasm, wrote in one night the words and music of one of the most stirring melodies the world has ever known! It was sung at a Civic Dinner at Marseilles and met with such instant success that copies were at once printed and distributed to the Volunteers, who sang it as they entered Paris, marching to the storming of the Tuilleries. In honor of them the delighted Parisians gave it the name it now bears, and almost immediately the rousing strains of "La Marseillaise" were heard in every corner of France.
The authorship of both words and music have been disputed, but Rouget de l'Isle's claims were fully and finally established in a pamphlet which appeared in 1865, written by his nephew.
LA BRABANÇONNE
Quite unlike the other European National Anthems is the one associated with Belgium, although this also sprang up in the very breath of battle. The words were written during the revolution of 1830, when the country obtained her freedom, and the author, Louis Dechez, surnamed Jenneval, was killed in action near Antwerp. The music was composed by François van Campenhout, who was born at Brussels in 1779 and who began his musical career in
