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FAMOUS SONGS
song in its newer form was published with the melody arranged for four voices by Hurka. The versions by Harries and Schumacher were not vastly different, while the similarity between the two poets in some of the parts proves con-clusively enough that Schumacher in his altera-tions was only printing the work of an earlier imitation of " God Save the King." Except in the melody and the rhythm, "Heil Dir im Siegeskranz!" has nothing in common with the English " God Save the King;" and we now see that originally it was not dedicated to the Prussian ruler, but was written in honour of a Danish sovereign.
More curious is the story of the melody. The writer refers to a volume published at Paris, and bearing the title " Souvenirs de la Marquise de Crequy de 1710 a 1803." ^ con" tains a strange declaration made by three old ladies of the convent of Saint Cyr. The docu-ment, which was only signed on September 19th, 1819, is quoted in full. It sets forth that the three undersigned have been requested to write down what they know of an old motet, which is generally regarded as an English melody. The said melody, they continue, is the same as that which they had often heard in their com-munity, where it had been preserved tradi-53 |
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