Hail Columbia
| Composer | |
| Lyricist | |
| Year Published | 1789 |
| Type | Patriotic |
| Playing Time | 2:12, Sounds of the Civil War (CD) and Volume II (Cassette) |
| Comments | England and France were involved in a quarrel and war between the two
countries was imminent. In 1794 the United States had concluded the Jay Treaty with Great
Britain which was assailed by some as too friendly to England. The political bitterness
continued until 1798. It was during this reign of partisanship that a theater was opened
in Philadelphia, and a benefit was to be given to Gilbert Fox, a singer with some talent.
The singer was somewhat acquainted with Hopkinson whom he called in April, 1798 to furnish
a patriotic song which could be sung to the tune known then as the "Presidents
March" composed in 1789 by a German professor in Philadelphia, named Phylo, alias
Feyles, alias Thyla, alias Phyla, alias Roth, and was first played at Trenton when
Washington was on his way to New York to be inaugurated president. Mr. Hopkinson wrote the
words now recognized as "Hail Columbia." The song packed the house and was called for again and again during the same performance and at the finale the audience rose and lustily joined in the chorus. The song evoked such universal interest that within a few nights after it was first given, President Adams and the heads of all government departments attended the theater to hear the new-born song. EDITOR'S NOTE: The article does not qualify the use of "Columbia." Notes from Bill Warren SNGSTR4.CWM
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