100 YEARS AGO...IN MUSICAL AMERICA (113)
October 16, 1915
Page 3
THEIR TEN FAVORITE AMERICAN SONGS
Lists of Compositions by Resident Composers Which Noted Concert Artists Prefer to Sing Horsman, Damrosch, MacDowell, Huhn and Spross Lead, According to the Investigation
Songs Which Received Four or More Votes:
Bird of the Wilderness (Horsman) 7
Danny Deever (Damrosch) 6
Long Ago (MacDowell) 4
Invictus (Huhn) 4
Will-o’-the-Wisp (Spross) 4
In the series of song recitals given by him at the New York University during the past summer the distinguished baritone Reinald Werrenrath devoted his final program to American numbers, prefacing the recital with a brief talk, in which he spoke of his particular offerings as his favorites. Comment on Mr. Werrenrath’s choice in the review of this recital published in MUSICAL AMERICA led the singer to write an article, which appeared in this journal, in which he explained that he was endeavoring to present a program of songs that would “represent the best output of the best American composers.”
Through a misunderstanding, however, the artist’s selections were widely regarded as his idea of ten intrinsically best American song products. Nevertheless, Mr. Werrenrath had made it clear that his choice was not to be viewed in that light, but rather as conditioned by the suitability of the songs to his voice and their appeal to his particular artistic personality.
The matter suggested the interesting experiment of investigating the preferences in the matter of American songs of certain leading concert artists in this country, of discovering which songs they best liked to sing. The results of this canvass are given herewith. From them may be deduced various interesting conclusions.
However much those who have ranged widely over the field of American song composition may be inclined to deplore the absence of certain works that touch greatness, they cannot fail to be impressed by the frequent mention of some other songs. The great French baritone, Maurice Renaud, once remarked that “musicians do not love master-works.” The reader may decide for himself to what extent this hypothesis is here justified. Following is the soprano verdict:
Anna Case
“To designate the ten best American songs would almost be impossible, as we have so many interesting songs by good composers,” said Anna Case. “The following I have sung with great pleasure and success in my concerts:
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The Sacred Fire | Alexander Russell |
Ah! Love But a Day | Mrs. Beach |
Hindu Slumber Song | Harriet Ware |
That’s the World in June | Charles Gilbert Spross |
My Lovely Nancy | Max Herzberg |
The First Spring | Kurt Schindler |
Slumber Song | MacDowell |
Star Trysts | Marion Bauer |
The Bird of the Wilderness | Edward Horsman |
The Wind That Shakes the Barley | Arthur Claassen |
Florence Hinkle
“Here are ten songs which I sing constantly, and love to do, although I cannot get all my favorite American songs within the allowance,” said Florence Hinkle:
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Sunset | Alexander Russell |
Her Love Song | Mary Turner Salter |
A Birthday | Woodman |
Summertime | Ward-Stephens |
Sing to Me, Sing | Horner |
A Ruined Garden | Arthur Farwell |
Yesterday and To-day | Spross |
Ah! Love But a Day | Beach |
Allah | Kramer |
The Bird of the Wilderness | Edward Horsman |
Olive Kline
Olive Kline, the soprano, selects these as her ten favorites:
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Long Ago | Sidney Homer |
Bird of the Wilderness | Edward Horsman |
Summertime | Ward-Stephens |
Down in the Forest | Landon Ronald |
Virgins Cradle Hymn | F. Morris Class |
Romance | F. Morris Class |
Remembrance | Will Macfarlane |
Condescend | Will Macfarlane |
Will-o’-the-Wisp | Charles Gilbert Spross |
To a Messenger | Frank La Forge |
Alma Gluck
"The following are among my favorite American songs," declares Alma Gluck:
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The Land of the Sky Blue Water | Cadman |
Allah | Chadwick |
Mammy’s Lullaby | Horner |
The Lark Now Leaves His Wat’ry Nest | Parker |
Long Ago | MacDowell |
The Bird of the Wilderness | Edward Horsman |
Will-o’-the-Wisp | Spross |
Green River | Carpenter |
My Laddie | Thayer |
Carry Me Back to Old Virginny | Bland |
Alice Nielsen
"Here is my list of songs American," wrote Alice Nielsen:
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Mighty Lak’ a Rose | Nevin |
Ecstasy | Rummel |
The Sweetest Flower That Blows | Rogers |
The Land of the Sky Blue Water | Cadman |
Expectancy | La Forge |
The Swan | MacDowell |
Spirit Flower | Campbell-Tipton |
Will-o’-the-Wisp | Spross |
Her Rose | Coombs |
To My Love | Matthews |
Corinne Rider-Kelsey
"The wording of your request for the ten songs by American composers which I ‘prefer to sing’ ought to make it very easy for one to comply, but the caption ‘Symposium’ sounds very argumentative and would seem to indicate a discussion of relative values rather than more personal preference in the performance of the songs," offers Mme. Corinne Rider-Kelsey. "Permit me to say that the following list is the answer to your question, and in no way implies that there are not many other American songs of equal or even greater merit":
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Long Ago | MacDowell |
Bluebell | MacDowell |
Retreat | La Forge |
Am See | La Forge |
Im der Nacht | Van der Stucken |
The Year’s at the Spring | Beach |
I’m Wearing A wa’, Jean | Foote |
The Lark Now Leaves His Wat’ry Nest | Parker |
June | Downing |
The Joy of Spring | Woodman |
Mezzo-Soprano and Contralto Preferences
Mme. Schumann-Heink
"Allow me to say that I think the following are the best American songs," announces Mme. Ernestine Schurnann-Heink:
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When I Am Dead | Chadwick |
Allah | Chadwick |
The Rosary | Ethelbert Nevin |
Before the Crucifix | Frank La Forge |
Cry of Rachel | Mary Turner Salter |
Love But a Day | Mrs. Beach |
Do You Remember? | Carrie Jacobs Bond |
War | J. H. Rogers |
Mavourneen | M. R. Lang |
Dawn in the Desert | Gertrude Ross |
Christine Miller
"I send you a list of the ten American· songs I prefer to sing," writes Christine Miller. "This, as you know, is a very difficult list to select, as I feel there are considerably more than ten such songs that I have great pleasure in singing and which I feel are worthy of serious consideration. However, I have selected the following:
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The Day Is No More | John A. Carpenter |
How’s My Boy | Sidney Horner |
A Nocturne | A. Walter Kramer |
A Birthday | Arthur Whiting |
The Danza | George A. Chadwick |
Song of the Persian Slave | Mabel W. Daniels |
The Bird of the Wilderness | Edward Horsman |
Only of Thee and Me | Marion Bauer |
The Moon Drops Low | Charles W. Cadman |
The Nightingale’s Song | Ethelbert Nevin |
Eleanora de Cisneros
"The question ‘Which are the best American Songs is difficult to answer," according to Eleanora de Cisneros. "To my mind, the American songs have improved 50 per cent in the last five years. There are now such a number of beautiful compositions that it is difficult to make a limited selection. Particularly is the superiority noticed in the exquisite poems and prose settings which appeal so much to the dramatic singer who would make a picture of every song. Some of the following list were sung by me for the first time there on my Australian concert tour and had great success, while the others have appealed equally to my other audiences. I am sorry to be limited to ten only."
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Dansons la Gigue | John Alden Carpenter |
Her Voice | John Alden Carpenter |
The Land of the Sky-Blue Water | Charles W. Cadman |
Will o’ the Wisp | Charles Gilbert Spross |
Thy Beaming Eyes | Edward MacDowell |
Only of Thee and Me | Marion Bauer |
The Cry of Rachel | M. T. Salter |
A Book of Verses Underneath the Bough | James Rogers |
The Grey Wolf | H. T. Burleigh |
La Vie | Ethelbert Nevin |
Merle Alcock
"I am inclosing a list of songs that have given me the best success, but don’t quote me as saying they are the ten best songs. I can only judge from the response of an audience," says Merle Alcock.
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The Year’s at the Spring | Mrs. Beach |
Only of Thee and Me | Marion Bauer |
The Unremembered | F. Morris Class |
On the Seashore of Endless Worlds | Carpenter |
Peace | Hawley |
How Many Thousand Years Ago | Huhn |
Dancing on the Hilltops | Homer |
In Dreams | Kramer |
Flower Rain | Loud |
In Fountain Court | Russell |
Mary Jordan
"Here is the list of American songs · you asked for," observes Mary Jordan. "These are only some of my favorites, for I have many others I could name, but these are songs I have used on my different programs with much success."
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Long Ago | Edward MacDowell |
O let Night Speak of Me | Chadwick |
How’s My Boy | Sidney Homer |
The Grey Wolf | Harry Burleigh |
Cry of Rachel | Mary Turner Salter |
The Sacred Fire | Alexander Russell |
My Star | Mrs. H. H. A. Beach |
The Rosary | Ethelbert Nevin |
At Parting | Rogers |
Invocation to Eros | Kürsteiner |
From the Tenors:
John McCormack
The following is a list of ten songs by American composers hastily compiled by John McCormack. They represent the selections he likes to use on his program:
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The Moon Drops Low | Cadman |
O Moon Upon the Water | Cadman |
Fill a Glass of Golden Wine | Hadley |
When the Dew Is Falling | Schneider |
Her Eyes Twin Pools | Burleigh |
Long Ago | MacDowell |
When I am Dead | Chadwick |
The Spirit Flower | Campbell-Tipton |
The Crying of Water | Campbell-Tipton |
The Sleep That Flits on Baby’s Eyes | Carpenter |
Paul Althouse
"Inclosed herewith you will find a list of the ten American songs which you asked for," writes Paul Althouse.
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Springtime of Love | Fay Foster |
Bird of the Wilderness | Edward Horsman |
Love Song | William Haesche |
Sacrament | James MacDermid |
Lamp of Love | Mary Turner Salter |
Proposal | Bruno Huhn |
Before the Dawn | Chadwick |
Thoughts of You | Charles Gilbert Spross |
You, Just You | Harry Burleigh |
A Gypsy Song | Alexander Russell |
Lambert Murphy
"Below is a list of the songs you asked for," writes Lambert Murphy. "They are the ten I should prefer to sing, although not necessarily, of course, the ones I should pick, had you asked for the ten ‘best’ American songs."
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Thy Beaming Eyes | MacDowell |
Before the Dawn | Chadwick |
In Pride of Spring | La Forge |
Bird of the Wilderness | Edward Horsman |
Old Roses | F. Morris Class |
Sunset | Alexander Russell |
Love, Awake | C. Linn Seiler |
Daybreak | Mabel Daniels |
A Moonlight Song | Cadman |
O Love, Stay by and Sing | Arthur Foote |
Dan Beddoe
Dan Beddoe selects this list of ten songs as his favorites, although he adds that he could extend the list considerably:
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Call Me No More | Cadman |
The Hour Glass | Burleigh |
In My Garden | John Adam Loud |
An Irish Love Song | Margaret Ruthven Lang |
Yesterday and To-day | Spross |
The Nightingale | Stephens |
Send Me a Dream | Marion Bauer |
Ah ! Love but a Day | Protheroe |
The Year’s at the Spring | Mrs. Beach |
Dearest | Sidney Homer |
Reed Miller
Reed Miller presents this list as representing ten songs by American composers, which he prefers to sing.
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The Red Man’s Requiem | Marion Bauer |
Hail, ye Tyme of Holidays | Gena Branscombe |
Remembrance | Will Macfarlane |
Recompense | Hammond |
Inter nos | MacFadyen |
Blue are Her Eyes | W. Watts |
Sie Haben mich Gequälet | Strickland |
Beautiful Art Thou, My Love | Hyde |
A Kiss Divine | Harling |
Heart of Hearts | Manney |
John Barnes Wells
"Following are ten songs that I’m very fond of, but as for the ten favorite American songs, I know after I have sent this list I shall think of several that should have gone in," says John Barnes Wells. "It is a difficult matter to say ten are far above the rest, for no two are exactly alike, except a few of my own songs. Were I candid with you and myself in naming my ten favorite American songs, I should use eight of my own songs and a couple of George Cohan’s, but my modesty forbids. Hence, I am sending these:
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Sunset | Russell |
The Cross | Harriet Ware |
Sometimes I Watch Thee | Bruno Huhn |
In the Foggy Dew | Harvey Worthington Loomis |
Sunrise | Edward MacDowell |
Yesterday and To-day | Charles Gilbert Spross |
The Hermit | F. Morns Class |
Love if for Nothing Else | W. Franke Harling |
To a Messenger | Frank La Forge |
If I Were King | Campbell-Tipton |
"These are not in the order of their merit or favoritism," adds Mr. Wells, on second thought, "but it’s just a bunch of good songs that I like to sing and audiences like to hear."
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From the Baritones and Bassos: Reinald Werrenrath
"I have omitted three of my favorite songs by American composers because of the foreign text; ‘Oben wo die Sterne Gliihen,’ by Edward MacDowell; ‘Schlupfwinkel,’ by Frank La Forge, and ‘Ultima Rosa,’ by H. Reginald Spier," explains Reinald Warrenrath, who presents this list:
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Adoration | Kurt Schindler |
Danny Deever | Walter Damrosch |
Fuzzy-Wuzzy | Arthur Whiting |
In the Foggy Dew | Harvey Worthington Loomis |
Night and the Curtain Drawn | G. Ferrata |
Noon and Night | C. B. Hawley |
The Sea | Edward MacDowell |
To a Messenger | Frank La Forge |
To You, Dear Heart | F. Morris Class |
Witch-Woman | Deems Taylor |
David Bispham
"In reply to your question as to which songs by American composers I prefer to sing, I would say that it is rather difficult to choose among so many excellent compositions by our own musicians," writes David Bispham.
"I may, however, say that ‘Danny Deever, ‘by Walter Damrosch, should perhaps head the list. Then Sidney Homer comes next with his beautiful ‘Banjo Song,’ which is of a totally different character. His ‘Pauper’s Drive’ offers a splendid contrast, and is a noble song. The ‘Pirate Song,’ by Henry F. Gilbert, is another I can recommend for its great originality, and which is a particular favorite of mine. Some of Mrs. Freer ‘s songs, notably ‘When I am Dead, Dearest,’ is beautiful in its way, as is Harriet Ware’s ‘Boat Song.’ Then, of course, I might name Mr. Stock’s recently composed ‘Route Marchin,’ a splendid soldier-song.
"One of the most beautiful of modern examples of song writing is Louis Elbel’s ‘Calm Be Thy Sleep,’ and Cooke’s ‘An Exhortation’ is a great favorite of mine as a comedy piece and character study. Gena Branscomb’s ‘Sleep Then, Oh Sleep’ is another of my favorites and is often sung. That makes ten. There are lots more, but these are all fine for me."
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Herbert Witherspoon
"Following is a list of the ten American songs I prefer to sing," states Herbert Witherspoon.
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Pirate Song | Gilbert |
Prospice | Homer |
How’s My Boy | Homer |
Danny Deever | Damrosch |
Forever and a Day | Mack |
Ballad of Trees and the Master | Chadwick |
Eyes of Blue | Orth |
Ethiopia Saluting the Colors | Burleigh |
Lochinvar | Chadwick |
The Pauper’s Drive | Homer |
Claude Cunningham
"Your request for the names of ten songs by American composers which I ‘prefer to sing’ does not commit one to much," observes Claude Cunningham. "Yet, methinks the suggestion might have been a worthy addition to Mr. Whistler’s ‘Gentle Art of Making Enemies.’Nevertheless, I comply with pleasure. Here they are:
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Go, Lovely Rose | Carpenter |
Sehnsucht | La Forge |
To a Messenger | La Forge |
Come L’Amore | Tirindelli |
Desire | Clough-Leighter |
Resignation | Clough-Leighter |
Ich wand’re durch die Stille Nacht | Fox |
Sehnsucht | Rubner |
Pirate’s Song | Gilbert |
The Bony Fiddler | Homer |
"If it be objected that Mr. Tirindelli is not an American*, you may substitute Carpenter’s ‘Dansons la gigue,’ adds Mr. Cunningham. "If the same objection be made to Dr. Rubner, you may place Victor Harris’ ‘Song of Omar Khayyam’ in the list, instead of Rubner’s ‘Sehnsucht.’"
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Charles W. Clark
"In regard to the American songs, the songs I prefer to sing may and may not be the best. However, I am inclosing a list of songs that I find the most effective,’’ writes Charles W. Clark.
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A Ballad | Arthur Hartmann |
A Fool’s Soliloquy | Campbell-Tipton |
Recompense | Hammond |
Uncle Rome | Homer |
The Fairest One of All the Stars | Schindler |
The Song of Tristram | Borowski |
The Pilgrimage | Arthur Dunham |
The Eagle | Carl Busch |
Irish Folk Song | Arthur Foote |
That Sweet Story | John West |
Percy Bemus
"I enjoy singing many American songs," says Percy Hemus. Among my favorites are:
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Gitche Manito the Mighty | Carl Busch |
Sunset at Kokkedal | Carl Busch |
A Venezuelan Guerilla Song | C. Linn Seiler |
Hour of Dreams | Ward-Stephens |
A Fragment | Arthur Hartmann |
Peace, Ye Martyred Ones | Fay Foster |
Flower Rain | Edwin Schneider |
The Pauper’s Drive | Sidney Homer |
Danny Deever | Walter Damrosch |
Invictus | Bruno Huhn |
Allen Hinckley
"I inclose list as you request," says Allen Hinckley. "Would like very much to include Spross and Woodman, but if you must have only ten, omit them.’’
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Egyptian War Song | Homer |
Requiem | Hadley |
Come Where the Lindens Bloom | Buck |
Danny Deever | Damrosch |
Allah | Chadwick |
I’m Wearin’ Awa’ | Foote |
The Star | Rogers |
lnvictus | Huhn |
The Sea | MacDowell |
The Day Is No More | Carpenter |
Francis Rogers
"You ask me for a list of the ten songs by American composers that appeal to me most strongly. Here it is,’’ offers Francis Rogers:
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A Health to King Charles | Boott |
Invictus | Huhn |
The Rosary | Ethelbert Nevin |
Song from Omar | Victor Harris |
In a Garden | Hawley |
Clown’s Serenade | Luckstone |
Prospice | Sidney Homer |
Before the Dawn | Chadwick |
Boat Song | Harriet Ware |
The Day Is No More | Carpenter |
"These ten songs are all winners—good texts, good music, and sure (when sung understandingly) of their effect," adds Mr. Rogers. "They can hold their own in the best company. All these ten composers, and other American composers, too, have written songs quite, or nearly, as good as those I have selected, but my ten I consider to be fairly representative of the best work done by American composers.’’
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Charles N. Granville
"Replying to your very interesting question, ‘Which arc the ten best American songs,’ let me say that I find it very difficult ·to answer, as there are so many beautiful and interesting songs which I consider in the ‘best’ class,’’ states Charles N. Granville.
"Complying with your request for ‘ten songs which I prefer to sing,’ I am sending herewith a list of songs which appeal to me in a poetical as well as musical sense, and in which the composer—through the music—seems to have created an atmosphere that truly and beautifully expresses the thought of the poem. That, to my way of thinking, is the aim of real musical expression in song. I do not mean to say, however, that there are not many other songs which are worthy to be classed as best.
"These are the songs which appeal to my voice, style and temperament and which my public has received favorably."
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The Sea | MacDowell |
The Rosary | Nevin |
Danny Deever | Damrosch |
Invictus | Huhn |
Ecstacy | Beach |
Far Off I Hear a Lover’s Lute | Cadman |
Allah | Kramer |
Boat Song | Ware |
Lorraine, Lorraine, Loree | Spross |
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Editor’s Note.—MUSICAL AMERICA’S definition of the word American, as applied to musicians, is anyone who resides in this country, whether native born or not, who is in sympathy with our ideals, customs and methods, and who has decided permanently to identify himself with our musical life.
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