All Rise for the singing of "The Great Central Orb"

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In an alternative reality "The Great Central Orb" might have been the United States national anthem. Let's go back to 1861 (I hang out a lot back then) …..


When the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter in 1861 the North was galvanized into action.

Immediately recruitment stations opened and state militias began to train for war.


"The fire of patriotism never burned with purer, brighter, or intenser flame, than in the breasts of the Americans who were so startled by the guns of Sumter.

Such was the feeling of the hour; and with such emotions glowing in their breasts, men met continually in greater or smaller assemblages, where, alternately relieved and excited by each other's eloquence —for then the simplest utterance of patriotism seemed eloquent—there was yet one want most sorely felt. A national hymn was lacking."


Yes, here was a problem, we didn't have a national anthem!


Not that people hadn't been looking for one -

(From "National Hymns" by Richard Grant White)


"And so when loyal Americans assembled in those dark days of the Republic which immediately followed the bombardment of Fort Sumter, they longed to sing; but there was no song suited to them or to the occasion. 

(The problem in a nutshell.) 

"The Star-Spangled Banner" had been growing in favor in the loyal States from the beginning of the secession movement, and was played continually by all military and orchestral bands, and sung often at concerts and private musical gatherings. 

But as a patriotic song for the people at large, as the National Hymn, it was found to be almost useless. The range of the air, an octave and a half, places it out of the compass of ordinary voices; and no change that has been made in it has succeeded in obviating this paramount objection, without depriving the music of that characteristic spirit which is given by its quick ascent through such an extended range of notes.

The words, too, are altogether unfitted for a national hymn. They are almost entirely descriptive, and of a particular event. Such lines as these have not a sufficiently general application for a national hymn; they paint a picture, they do not embody a sentiment.

"The Star-Spangled Banner," though for these reasons so utterly inadequate to the requirements of a national hymn that the people stood mute while in some instances it was sung by a single voice, or in most cases it was only played by a band, is yet far the best of the three songs which, for lack of better, have until now been called American national airs. 

Of the other two, Yankee Doodle has the claim of long association, and will probably always retain a certain degree of a certain kind of favor. But no sane person would ever dream of regarding it as a national hymn. Its words, as all know who have ever heard them, are mere childish burlesque; and its air, if air it must be called, is as comical as its words, and can hardly be regarded as being properly music. "


And finally …

"Hail Columbia" is really worse than "Yankee Doodle."


So, the Star Spangled Banner was out, Hail Columbia was out, and so was Yankee Doodle. Now what?

How do we get a national anthem?

A contest!

Yes, a contest and the winner would get $500.00 and the gratitude of the nation. Sort of an early version of America's Got Talent.

The contest was held, 13 committeemen read the 1,275 entries submitted over the first six weeks, and assisted by an organist and a choir, they looked for the winner. No winner was found.

Finally the project was abandoned, the Civil War fought and ended, and it wasn't until 1931 that the Star Spangled Banner was signed into law as America's official national anthem.

But a book was written about the contest - National Hymns by Richard Grant White. The quotes I used above are from that book and it's available free online. I downloaded it to my computer so I could read it at leisure.

https://books.google.com/books/about/National_Hymns.html?id=bzwCAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button#v=onepage&q&f=false


It's interesting and at times amusing to see the efforts made by earnest, well meaning songsters to come up with an anthem, but in the end the American people liked the Star Spangled Banner, even though it is hard to sing.



Still, it's got to be easier than these lyrics by John Pierpoint:




The harp of the minstrel with melody rings,

When the Muses have taught him to touch and to tune it;

And although it may have a full octave of strings,

To both maker and minstrel the harp is a unit.


So, the power that creates Our Republic of States,

To harmony tunes them at different dates;

And, many or few, when the Union is done,

Be they thirteen or thirty, the nation is one.


The science that measures and numbers the spheres,

And has done so since first the Chaldean began it,

Now and then, as she counts them, and measures their years,

Brings into our system and names a new planet.


Yet the old and new stars, Venus, Neptune, and Mars,

As they drive round the sun their invisible cars,

Whether faster or slower their races are run,

Are "E Pluribus Unum"—of many made one.


Of those federate spheres, should but one fly the track,

Or with others conspire for a general dispersion,

By the great central orb they would all be brought back,

And held, each in its place, by a wholesome "coercion."


Were one daughter of light

Indulged in her flight,

They might all be engulphed by old Chaos and night;

So must none of our sisters be suffered to run,

For, "E Pluribus Unum "—We all go, if one.


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Doesn't really flow off the tongue, does it?


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Here's my entry:


America is great

And so this is our song

The land of opportunity

We can all get along

Let's all do our best

To be nice and kind

Take care of the environment

This land is yours and mine.


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What would your anthem say?

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