"Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" is a song with words by Jessie Brown Pounds and music by John Sylvester Fearis, written in 1897. The song gained huge popularity when it was used in William McKinley's funeral. It was subsequently a staple at funerals for decades, and there are dozens of recorded versions.
Sheet music cover, c. 1901
"Beautiful Isle of Somewhere"
"Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" performed on a 1908 recording by Harold Jarvis
"Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" was originally a poem entitled "Beautiful Isle"[1] by Jessie Brown Pounds. The words were written in the winter of 1896, during a period of miserable weather. Persuaded or possibly forced to stay home, Pounds wrote the lyrics within an hour's time.[2] It was set to music by John S. Fearis, who had purchased the poem for five dollars, and the song was published in 1897.
In 1901, the song was sung by a quartet of young ladies at the beginning of McKinley's funeral in the First Methodist Episcopal Church in his hometown of Canton, Ohio.[3][4][2][5]
"Beautiful Isle" follows a 19th-century tradition of depicting paradise.[8] The song was written to contrast the difficulties on Earth with the tranquility of Heaven. The hearer is invited to think that in the long term, "all is well" because God is alive. The hymn has appeal at funerals because the lyrics state that "somewhere" we will "live anew".[2]
Receptionedit
The song became highly popular for decades after McKinley’s service. The tune and lyrics have been praised as “beautiful,”[3] but praise for the song has not been universal.
Soon after the McKinley service, the song was panned by The Independent as a singular blot on the memory of the late president.[4]Woodrow Wilson, while governor of New Jersey, stated the song could be harmful if taught to children, as it was "silly" and "vague."[9] The Seventh-day Adventist publication Signs of the Times concurred with the future U. S. president, listing it among songs "inexpressibly weak and shallow".[10] At the same time, John D. Rockefeller was endorsing its use in church.[9]
In 1927, William Henry O'Connell, the Catholic Archbishop of Boston, banned the use of the tune in funerals, calling the hymn "inane" and "trashy." Cardinal O'Connell was concerned it was among a group of songs composed by authors whose "maudlin sentiment" overshadowed their faith. He threatened organists and choir directors who performed the piece with loss of their positions.[11] Several Boston protestant ministers joined in criticizing the song at that time.[12] Defenders of the hymn stated that descriptions of paradise were necessarily allegorical, and worried the ban would spread to other favorite hymns.[13] A 1928 Lutheran publication used O'Connell's exact words[14] when it described the song as a "sob-producer" that was a "flagrant outrage to faith and the ritual."[15]
In 1953, Donald H. V. Hallock. the Episcopal Bishop of Milwaukee, banned the use of this and other "popular" songs from use at Episcopal services as they did not conform to the rubric of the church.[16] Some Christian theologians have taken issue with the song because it describes Heaven in nebulous terms.[17]
Criticisms aside, others have noted that this sentimental song is a "joy to sing."[18]
^Anderson, David Rollin (1992). Anthology of Western Reserve Literature. Kent State University Press. p. 121. ISBN9780873384612.
^ abcTroyer, Loris C. (1998). Portage Pathways. Kent State University Press. p. 131. ISBN9780873386005.
^ abEverett, Marshall (1901). Complete Life of William McKinley and Story of His Assassination. Chicago: C. W. Stanton Co. pp. 416–417.
^ ab"Editorials". The Independent. New York. September 26, 1901. p. 2317.
^ abAverill, Gage (2003). Four Parts, No Waiting : A Social History of American Barbershop Quartet: A Social History of American Barbershop Quartet. Oxford University Press. ISBN9780195353754.
^ abLissauer, Robert (1996). Popular Music in America: 1888 to the Present. Vol. 1. Facts On File, Inc. p. 55. ISBN0-8160-3239-4.
^"Jake Hess 30 Years in Gospel". Billboard. October 10, 1970. p. 56.
^Finson, Jon W. (1997). The Voices that Are Gone. Oxford University Press. p. 119. ISBN9780195354324.
^ ab"Criticism of Hymns May Be Troublesome". Meriden Morning Record. Meriden, Connecticut. October 14, 1911. p. 11.
^"We Wish to Say "Amen" to Governor Woodrow Wilson" (PDF). Signs of the Times. 38. Mountain View, California. October 24, 1911. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
^"Cardinal Bans "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" Hymn". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. October 8, 1927. p. 2.
^"Popular Hymn is Barred in Church". The Montreal Gazette. October 10, 1927. p. 3.
^"Reading Pastors Not a Unit on "Trashy" Hymns". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. October 16, 1927. p. 30.
^"Old Hymn Gets Knockout Blow". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Washington. October 8, 1927. p. 1.
^"Creed and Denial: Beautiful Isle of Somewhere". The Northwestern Lutheran. 15. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod: 9–10. 1928.
^"Stick to Episcopal Rules at Weddings, says Bishop". The Milwaukee Journal. October 3, 1953. p. 1.
^McGee, J. Vernon (1984). Genesis through Revelation: 5 Volumes Genesis - Revelation. Thomas Nelson Inc. ISBN9781418586034.
^Dahlberg, Edwin T. (March 2, 1960). "Meditations for Lent: Man Is an Island". The Telegraph. Nashua, New Hampshire. p. 3.
^Nimmo, H. Arlo (2004). The Andrews Sisters: A Biography and Career Record. McFarland. p. 432. ISBN9780786432608.
^Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 29. ISBN0-89820-083-0.
^"RCA Victor advertisement". Billboard. June 30, 1951. p. 21.
^Loy, R. Philip (2001). Westerns and American Culture, 1930-1955. McFarland. p. 50. ISBN9780786410767.
^"Spotlight Winner of the Week: Sacred". Billboard. October 10, 1960. p. 38.
^"Floyd Cramer's Beautiful Songs of Faith (advertisement)". Parade. August 21, 1988. p. 13.
^ abcCatalog of Victor Records: With Biographic Material, Opera Notes, Artist's Portraits, and Special Red Seal and Green Sections. Victor Talking Machine Company. 1917.
^Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 229. ISBN0-89820-083-0.
^Rust, Brian; Brooks, Tim (1999). The Columbia Master Book Discography: Principal U.S. matrix series. 1910–1924. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 21. ISBN9780313308222.
^"Advance Record Releases: Popular". Billboard. March 11, 1950. p. 44.
^"London Records advertisement". Billboard. November 13, 1961. p. 10.
^Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 302. ISBN0-89820-083-0.
beautiful, isle, somewhere, song, with, words, jessie, brown, pounds, music, john, sylvester, fearis, written, 1897, song, gained, huge, popularity, when, used, william, mckinley, funeral, subsequently, staple, funerals, decades, there, dozens, recorded, versi. Beautiful Isle of Somewhere is a song with words by Jessie Brown Pounds and music by John Sylvester Fearis written in 1897 The song gained huge popularity when it was used in William McKinley s funeral It was subsequently a staple at funerals for decades and there are dozens of recorded versions Sheet music cover c 1901 Beautiful Isle of Somewhere source source Beautiful Isle of Somewhere performed on a 1908 recording by Harold Jarvis Problems playing this file See media help Contents 1 History 2 Theme 3 Reception 4 Recordings 5 ReferencesHistory edit Beautiful Isle of Somewhere was originally a poem entitled Beautiful Isle 1 by Jessie Brown Pounds The words were written in the winter of 1896 during a period of miserable weather Persuaded or possibly forced to stay home Pounds wrote the lyrics within an hour s time 2 It was set to music by John S Fearis who had purchased the poem for five dollars and the song was published in 1897 In 1901 the song was sung by a quartet of young ladies at the beginning of McKinley s funeral in the First Methodist Episcopal Church in his hometown of Canton Ohio 3 4 2 5 A 1908 recording for Edison by Harry Anthony and James Harrison was very popular as was a 1916 version by John McCormack 6 In 1969 Jake Hess won the Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance using this song as the title of his album 7 Theme edit Beautiful Isle follows a 19th century tradition of depicting paradise 8 The song was written to contrast the difficulties on Earth with the tranquility of Heaven The hearer is invited to think that in the long term all is well because God is alive The hymn has appeal at funerals because the lyrics state that somewhere we will live anew 2 Reception editThe song became highly popular for decades after McKinley s service The tune and lyrics have been praised as beautiful 3 but praise for the song has not been universal Soon after the McKinley service the song was panned by The Independent as a singular blot on the memory of the late president 4 Woodrow Wilson while governor of New Jersey stated the song could be harmful if taught to children as it was silly and vague 9 The Seventh day Adventist publication Signs of the Times concurred with the future U S president listing it among songs inexpressibly weak and shallow 10 At the same time John D Rockefeller was endorsing its use in church 9 In 1927 William Henry O Connell the Catholic Archbishop of Boston banned the use of the tune in funerals calling the hymn inane and trashy Cardinal O Connell was concerned it was among a group of songs composed by authors whose maudlin sentiment overshadowed their faith He threatened organists and choir directors who performed the piece with loss of their positions 11 Several Boston protestant ministers joined in criticizing the song at that time 12 Defenders of the hymn stated that descriptions of paradise were necessarily allegorical and worried the ban would spread to other favorite hymns 13 A 1928 Lutheran publication used O Connell s exact words 14 when it described the song as a sob producer that was a flagrant outrage to faith and the ritual 15 In 1953 Donald H V Hallock the Episcopal Bishop of Milwaukee banned the use of this and other popular songs from use at Episcopal services as they did not conform to the rubric of the church 16 Some Christian theologians have taken issue with the song because it describes Heaven in nebulous terms 17 Criticisms aside others have noted that this sentimental song is a joy to sing 18 Recordings editAndrews Sisters 1965 from album The Andrews Sisters Favorite Hymns 19 Anthony and Harrison 1908 6 on Edison cylinder record 9959 20 Eddy Arnold 1951 on RCA Victor single 21 0160 78rpm and 48 0166 45rpm 21 Gene Autry performs the song in the 1939 film Colorado Sunset 22 The Blackwood Brothers 1960 title track from album Beautiful Isle of Somewhere 23 Henry Burr and the Peerless Quartet 1920 issued on Canadian Victor 216108 5 Floyd Cramer on set 39 Beloved Songs of Faith 24 Richard Crooks with Jesse Crawford 1932 on Victor Red Seal 1558 25 Charles Hart and Elliott Shaw 1923 issued on Federal 5015 Silvertone 2015 and Resona 75015 26 Hayden Quartet 27 Jake Hess 1968 on RCA Camden LP Beautiful Isle of Somewhere Harold Jarvis 1909 on Victor 16008 28 and 1911 on Columbia A 1121 29 Frank Luther 1950 on Decca single 24915 30 Mantovani 1961 from album Songs of Praise 31 John McCormack 1916 27 on Victor red seal 64428 32 Harry Secombe 2014 on Essential Media Group album How Great Thou Art 33 Oscar Seagle 1917 on Columbia A2487 34 The Southernaires 1941 on Decca single 3919 35 Jo Stafford 1954 on Columbia LP Garden of Prayer 36 Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae 1962 on Columbia LP Whispering Hope 37 Marion Talley 1927 on Victor Red Seal 1248 38 Evan Williams 27 References edit Anderson David Rollin 1992 Anthology of Western Reserve Literature Kent State University Press p 121 ISBN 9780873384612 a b c Troyer Loris C 1998 Portage Pathways Kent State University Press p 131 ISBN 9780873386005 a b Everett Marshall 1901 Complete Life of William McKinley and Story of His Assassination Chicago C W Stanton Co pp 416 417 a b Editorials The Independent New York September 26 1901 p 2317 a b Averill Gage 2003 Four Parts No Waiting A Social History of American Barbershop Quartet A Social History of American Barbershop Quartet Oxford University Press ISBN 9780195353754 a b Lissauer Robert 1996 Popular Music in America 1888 to the Present Vol 1 Facts On File Inc p 55 ISBN 0 8160 3239 4 Jake Hess 30 Years in Gospel Billboard October 10 1970 p 56 Finson Jon W 1997 The Voices that Are Gone Oxford University Press p 119 ISBN 9780195354324 a b Criticism of Hymns May Be Troublesome Meriden Morning Record Meriden Connecticut October 14 1911 p 11 We Wish to Say Amen to Governor Woodrow Wilson PDF Signs of the Times 38 Mountain View California October 24 1911 Retrieved October 21 2015 Cardinal Bans Beautiful Isle of Somewhere Hymn Reading Eagle Reading Pennsylvania October 8 1927 p 2 Popular Hymn is Barred in Church The Montreal Gazette October 10 1927 p 3 Reading Pastors Not a Unit on Trashy Hymns Reading Eagle Reading Pennsylvania October 16 1927 p 30 Old Hymn Gets Knockout Blow Spokane Daily Chronicle Spokane Washington October 8 1927 p 1 Creed and Denial Beautiful Isle of Somewhere The Northwestern Lutheran 15 Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod 9 10 1928 Stick to Episcopal Rules at Weddings says Bishop The Milwaukee Journal October 3 1953 p 1 McGee J Vernon 1984 Genesis through Revelation 5 Volumes Genesis Revelation Thomas Nelson Inc ISBN 9781418586034 Dahlberg Edwin T March 2 1960 Meditations for Lent Man Is an Island The Telegraph Nashua New Hampshire p 3 Nimmo H Arlo 2004 The Andrews Sisters A Biography and Career Record McFarland p 432 ISBN 9780786432608 Whitburn Joel 1986 Pop Memories 1890 1954 Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research Inc p 29 ISBN 0 89820 083 0 RCA Victor advertisement Billboard June 30 1951 p 21 Loy R Philip 2001 Westerns and American Culture 1930 1955 McFarland p 50 ISBN 9780786410767 Spotlight Winner of the Week Sacred Billboard October 10 1960 p 38 Floyd Cramer s Beautiful Songs of Faith advertisement Parade August 21 1988 p 13 Discography of American Historical Recordings s v Victor matrix BRC 71226 Beautiful isle of somewhere Jesse Crawford Richard Crooks accessed October 21 2015 http adp library ucsb edu index php matrix detail 800037178 BRC 71226 Beautiful isle of somewhere Online Discographical Project Federal 1920s a b c Catalog of Victor Records With Biographic Material Opera Notes Artist s Portraits and Special Red Seal and Green Sections Victor Talking Machine Company 1917 Whitburn Joel 1986 Pop Memories 1890 1954 Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research Inc p 229 ISBN 0 89820 083 0 Rust Brian Brooks Tim 1999 The Columbia Master Book Discography Principal U S matrix series 1910 1924 Greenwood Publishing Group p 21 ISBN 9780313308222 Advance Record Releases Popular Billboard March 11 1950 p 44 London Records advertisement Billboard November 13 1961 p 10 Whitburn Joel 1986 Pop Memories 1890 1954 Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research Inc p 302 ISBN 0 89820 083 0 How Great Thou Art Essential Media Group Beautiful Isle of Somewhere Harry Secombe accessed June 9 2020 https www amazon com How Great Thou Digitally Remastered dp B00IICCLT0 Discography of American Historical Recordings s v Columbia matrix 77560 Beautiful Isle of Somewhere Oscar Seagle accessed October 21 2015 http adp library ucsb edu index php matrix detail 2000025341 77560 Beautiful Isle of Somewhere Dixon Robert M W Godrich John Rye Howard 1997 Blues amp Gospel Records 1890 1943 Oxford University Press p 847 ISBN 0 19 816239 1 Review and Ratings of Popular Albums Billboard May 29 1954 p 66 Jo Stafford Whispering Hope at AllMusic Retrieved October 21 2015 Discography of American Historical Recordings s v Victor matrix BVE 37899 Beautiful Isle of Somewhere Marion Talley accessed October 21 2015 http adp library ucsb edu index php matrix detail 800012156 BVE 37899 Beautiful Isle of Somewhere Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beautiful Isle of Somewhere amp oldid 1175142148, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
