War and Music

by Gail Smith

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George Washington's weary army began singing as they marched and realized that by singing they were able to continue marching on hundreds of miles further and feel refreshed . POW's have sung songs and prayed when captured to sustain themselves. Through the ages, during war or peace, people express themselves in song.

Music can sooth, sustain and inspire us. I'm stirred whenever I hear "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America." Unfortunately singing a song doesn't take away our fears and the heaviness of heart we feel when our troops our in harm's way defending our safety and freedoms.

Composers have used music to express their feelings of national pride throughout the history of music. The first patriotic song in America was composed by Francis Hopkinson (1732-1791). He was our first secretary of the navy and a close friend of George Washington. Hopkinson was the one who designed the American flag that Betsy Ross stitched.

During the Civil War, George Root composed "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!" which was a popular song sung by the Northern troops. The Bonnie Blue Flag was the national anthem of the confederate troops during the Civil War and the publisher was actually fined and the music plates confiscated. Any rebel heard singing or whistling this tune was threatened with punishment. The War of 1812 produced our national anthem by Francis Scott Key. The "Battle Hymn of the Republic" was popularized after the Harpers Ferry incident in 1859. After the Battle of Bull Run in July 1861, General Barnard E. Bee, just before dying, cried out: "There is Jackson, standing like a stone wall." His dying words inspired the "Stonewall Jackson Chorus" sung all over the country. Everyone knows the Army and Navy song, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and other songs like "Over there, over there we will fight for our rights, over there. The Yanks are here." Every war has it's battle cry. "See, the conquering hero comes" is part of Handel's oratorio Judas Maccabaeus, composed in 1746 to celebrate the victory of Culloden.

Chopin expressed his patriotism when composing the Revolutionary Etude. This landmark piece was composed by Chopin when he heard of the capture of Warsaw by the Russians In September 1831. This piece is bursting with revolt, anger and defiance.

"Music is a herald, for change is inscribed in noise faster than it transforms society. ... Listening to music is listening to all noise, realizing that its appropriation and control is a reflection of power, that it is essentially political." -Jacques Attali

"Without the loudspeaker, we would never have conquered Germany." -Adolph Hitler, Manual of German Radio, 1938.

We are deeply affected by the noise and media coverage of the unfolding events of this War. We need to realize that our President is concentrating on the essentials and keeping a somber assessment of America's goals for our protection and freedom that will assure lasting peace.

During the next few months many new songs will be written expressing a variety of emotions.

A poem was given to me called "The Prayer for Protection." It is in the new collection of Hymns Made Easy published by Mel Bay. May the words be of comfort to you during these difficult days.

God bless you.

The light of God surrounds us The love of God enfolds us The pow'r of God protects us The presence of God watches over us Wherever we are God is.