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116 The National Music of America.
granted him a pension because of the " Marseillaise."
Probably the national song that has been put to the most diverse uses by more civilised nations than had ever before united upon a single tune, is " God Save the Queen." The English national anthem has become a patriotic song in Germany, used since 1793, under the title of " Heil dir im Siegerkranz;" it has been adopted in Switzerland, and it has had many different American and other settings. Before examining these, let us trace, as far as possible, the origin of the music. As is the case with many of the greatest national anthems, the beginning of the melody is ascribed to different sources, and the historians are still breaking lances in favour of different theories regarding its origin.
Briefly stated, some of the different views are the following:
1st, An old air, by Dr. John Bull, dated |
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