Theodore Morse Explained

Theodore Morse
Birth Date:13 April 1873
Birth Place:Washington, D.C.
Death Place:New York City
Occupation:Composer
Spouse:Theodora Morse
Education:Maryland Military and Naval Academy

Theodore F. Morse (April 13, 1873 – May 25, 1924) was an American composer of popular songs.

Biography

Born in Washington, D.C., Morse was educated at the Maryland Military and Naval Academy. He went on to study both violin and piano. He and his wife, Theodora Morse, became a successful songwriting team for Tin Pan Alley. Listed as Terriss & Morse, they were one of the earliest Tin Pan Alley husband-wife songwriting teams.[1]

Morse died from pneumonia in New York City on May 25, 1924.[2]

His song "Blue Bell, the Dawn is Waking..." became popular in Germany shortly after WW1 due to its marching rhythm. In 1920, Erich Tessmer wrote German lyrics,[3] and the song was performed by the Freikorps. Then the German Stormtroopers used it as their march with new lyrics "Kamerad, reich mir die Hände";[4] another version of the lyrics was used by their opponents, the Rotfront ("Hunger in allen Gassen").[5] When the Nazis came to power, they used the song as a Hitler Youth march with a newer version of lyrics "Deutschland, du Land der Treue".[6]

Partial list of songs

(all music by him only unless when stated otherwise)

See also

External links

music by Theodore F. Morse; lyrics by Howard E. Johnson; Leo Feist, Inc., 1915

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dorothy Terriss (lyricist) - Discography of American Historical Recordings. Adp.library.ucsb.edu. 19 April 2019.
  2. News: Broadway Song Writer Dies Just Before His Pals Plan Surprise . . New York . Associated Press . 9 . 1924-05-27 . 2020-03-11 . Newspapers.com.
  3. Web site: Blau Äugelein du mußt scheiden - Volkslieder-Archiv. September 18, 1904.
  4. https://ingeb.org/Lieder/kameradr.html Hakenkreuz am Stahlhelm / Kamerad reich mir die Hände
  5. Web site: Hunger in allen Gassen (Rote Frontsoldaten) - Volkslieder-Archiv. July 24, 1928.
  6. https://ingeb.org/Lieder/deutschd.html Heil Deutschland / Deutschland du Land der Treue / Blue Bell the dawn is waking
  7. Book: Parker, Bernard S.. World War I Sheet Music - Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. 2007. 978-0-7864-2798-7. Jefferson, North Carolina. 198, 209, 267, 422, 438.
  8. Book: Parker, Bernard S.. World War I Sheet Music - Volume 2. McFarland & Company, Inc.. 2007. 978-0-7864-2799-4. Jefferson, North Carolina. 502, 593, 700, 762, 773, 775.