PATRIOTIC SONGS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2317, 26 November 1914, Page 5

PATRIOTIC SONGS

The flood of patriotic songs still con* tinues unabated. Tho' musical and literary quality of many of them aro hardly up to the. best standards, .andj the chances are that there are some-' ' that will never be heard here on tlie concert platform. On the other hand, / there are songs plive with that sonti-, ment which is vital at the present timoj and which when well sung cannot fail to rouse the emotional feelings of the ■ loyal .\ Such a one is tho recruiting ■ Bone "Fall In I" a* song .that has.beea , published by Enoch and Sons, of London, in connection with .■■ tho "Daily;; Chronicle," for the benefit .of the" Prince of Wales' Fund. This song has been written by the well-known com-v j poser Frederick H. Cowen to tho stir-* ring lyrics of Harold Begbie, which wore published in full in The Dominion' , some weeks ago. The song, which is , ; Written in four flats, has a splendid Ulty and with the right singer could not'.fail'" to mako an impression. At Home this-. Bong is said to havo been tho means of 1 helping the recruiting ofßcors immensely, owing to tho reflection the words: convey on the young fellows who hangi' back when their country and King. ; calls. • V Another excellent song for baritones. is Laurie Kennedy's "Fear God anS' Honour the King," the words of which') nre based on the message delivered'to tho first English Expeditionary Force to bo to France by Lord Kitchener, to ■ whom thes song is dedicated. The composer and writer is tho clover 'cellist of tho Musical Kennedys.. The music has all the awakening qualities of a trumpot call, and the refrain is inspiriting and easily memorised. We should T)laco this song among the best so far received. "Soldiers of the Empire," words and mnsio by Mr. W. E. Whiteley, is.another song of fair merit that breathes t safcriotia-iaairii-: '