THE HISTORY BEHIND THE SONG

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 60, 16 August 1940, Page 48

THE HISTORY BEHIND THE SONG

HE " Melody Storyteller," who broadcasts from all ZB Stations, beginning on Thursday, August 15, at 7.30 p.m., tells in simple song and story form, the interesting tales which lie behind some of the beautiful old ballads with which listeners are familiar. Although there are many songs which we practically know by heart and which we hum over to ourselves as we are busy at work, or join in a sing-song around the piano on a winter’s evening, we are perhaps not aware that many of these ballads have intriguing histories. One favourite is " The End of a Perfect Day," by Carrie Jacobs Bond; and the story of its composition can be cited as one of the most interesting. A Perfect Day About 20 ‘years ago Carrie Bond spent a day motoring with friends through the flower-laden drives of Southern California, past ivy-covered banks, and through hedges of exquisite Gold of Ophir roses. The day was glorified with a dreamy sort of happiness, and at eventide Carrie Bond stood on the top of Mt. Rubidoux and watched the sinking sun splash the sky with all the gorgeous colours of a painting by the immortal Turner. As the great ball of burning gold sank into the calm and mysterious Pacific, she said to herself: "Truly this has been a perfect day." Words and phrases began forming in her mind. A song of praise and thanksgiving welled up in her heart, and while the spell was still hot upon her, she dashed off two stanzas of a poem. After a while she found herself humming a tune. The thing was done-

a musical miracle had been performed, for without effort she had created a song that was destined to have a greater sale than any other piece of music since Gilbert and Sullivan launched " Pinafore," "Silver Threads " We all know and love "Silver Threads Among the Gold," but how many of’ us know the story of how this immortal ballad came to be written. . The composer of the EE melody was Hart Pease Danks, a composer and singer who lived in America. In the year 1872 a set of poems was sent to him and among them was "Silver Threads." He purchased this poem from Eben Rexford for three dollars. Danks, who was very much in love with his wife, felt comforted’ by the words of the poem that "although life was fading fast away" there would always remain the, great consolation of undying love; and so the composer gave to the world something more than a mere tune; for the words and music of this song contain a haunting restfulness which dissipates the fear of old age ‘between two lovers, whose fidelity is strong against the ravages of time. Upon completing the manuscript, Danks sold it to a publisher in Philadelphia, who forwarded it to Chicago, where it was sung by minstrels, the only method of publicising a song in those days. It was an instantaneous success and it sold throughout the country until it had passed. the two million dollar mark. Many famous tenors have included this. song in their programmes. It is over 68 years ago since it was written, and yet it is still sung by countless numbers of people. Other Immortal Melodies The "Melody Storyteller" also tells how Robert Schumann composed two of his greatest songs, "Thou Art Like a Lovely Flower" and " The Evening Song." Another included in his repertoire is Schubert’s "* Who is Sylvia?" The " Melody Storyteller" has the art of storytelling, and apart from giving much listening pleasure he imparts something which adds to the musical knowledge of listeners,