THE MARSEILLAISE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2276, 9 October 1914, Page 3

THE MARSEILLAISE

.THE DEATH AND GLORY SONG. In tho.course of an article by Cuthbert Hadden, which appeared in "Musical Opinion," the writer states that there is no patriotic air in existence which has had more power over the people or- taken a greater share in their military achievements thauthe "Marseillaise." In the quieter times of the Third Republic, Frenchmen have teamed to listen to it with little more than a thrill; but its effects were altogether different in the days of the. First Republic, when the people were wrought up to fever heat amid the wild scenes of bloodshed and warfare in their streets. In those days _it made the blood tingle in men's veins and whole armies and assemblies sang it, in tho words of Carlyle, "with eyes weeping and' burning, with hearts defiant of Death, Despot, and Devil." The words "Aux amies! Marchousl" were heard resounding in every corner of the country. They helped to win the victory of Jemappes for Dumouriez's forces, forty thousand singing tlhem as they marched irresistibly on the enemy. A Republican general asked for a supply of ten thousand men or a new edition of the "Marseillaise." Another reported: "I am going into, battle, the 'Marseillaise' will command with me." Klopstock, the poet, declared that the song had caused the death of fifty thousand Germans. Of course there is an element of danger in such a song, and as a matter of .fact' it was prohibited for many years from public use. Not until 1879 wero public bands permitted to play it. It was kept in constant thraldom—always ' feared; always watched like a lion ready to' break forth from its den and a second time spread carnage over half the nations of Europe. And yet France might not have. been the France she is', to-day without it. There is no doubt that, it was composed, both words and music, by Rouget de Lisle, an inspired Cyroelan colonel quartered at Strasberg when the volunteer battalions of the Bas . Rhine received orders to join Luckner's army. Rouget de Lisle, was poet, violinist, and 3i'nger, and was .the. son of Royalist parents, 'no' recommoridation in those days. One night he was one of a party at the house of Baron Dietrich, Mayor of Strasberg. and oyer' the last bottle of wine in the house, broken in honour of the guests, the', inspiration seized him. He went;homo to his quarters,' and sitting down that night, June 24, 1792, wrote'words and music. Dietrich, singing it at a party tho next night, made it known and afterwards it was copied and arranged for a military band and played at.a review by the Gade Nationalo Band.' On June 25, it was sung at a civic banquet at Marseilles, where it was received with the greatest enthusiasm. Probably the fact that it was sung there wliile still practically unknown has given rise to the erron-' sous idea that it was composed there. Th-it is not the case. ' t The song was printed and distributed to the volunteers of the battalion then setting out for Paris. Tho army entered tho city on July'3o, singing, and to 'its strains they mnrched days later to tho attack on -flie Tuillertes. From that time the Chant de Guerre was called Chanson des Marseillaise. Never was there a-: song with such Dower over tho hearts.of the people as the "Marseillaise." During th<* rout of Ducroidursin. after Froesehmiller, the story is told how the comrmny, battered by the elements and disheartened by disaster, took Imart and hope when the tall-Tambour Major Berne, 'striding ahead, lifted his gilded staff as a signal and led off.the'"Marseillaise," tho soldiers striking in one by one and becoming new men under its influence. Strange irony of fate that it wns to its strains that Dietrich, .who had heloed" to make it known, walked to the scaffold later on. ' ,