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PRESENT-DAY WOMEN COMPOSERS 309
in America, with the result that it was pirated there broadcast—a delicate compliment that has been paid to many popular English ballads.
Perhaps the most universally popular of Frances Allitsen's songs has been "There's a Land," the words of which are by Charles Mackay. It lay for some years on the publisher's shelves neglected, until, at the time of Queen Victoria's Jubilee, Miss Agnes Sibley, the head of a ladies' school in the West of England, wrote an extra verse referring to the Queen, and asked whether her pupils might sing it. The publishers agreed to include the extra verse in the song, and then Clara Butt took it up, meeting with a tremendous reception the first time she sang it at Belfast. From that moment the song leapt into popularity.
Other patriotic songs by this composer are " When the Boys come Home," "Sons of the City" (dedicated to the C.I.V.), and "England, my England " ; while songs of a different type, but equally popular, are "Prince Ivan's Song," words by Marie Corelli, which has been sung so much by Hayden Coffin ; " Mary Hamilton," a great favourite of Blanche Marchesi's, and "An Eastern Serenade."
Her sacred songs include "The Lord is my Light," "Oh, for a burst of song," " Like as the hart desireth," and "Lift thy heart," both of the last two being great favourites of Ada |
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