"My Belgian Rose" is a 1918 song written by George Benoit, Robert Levenson, and Ted Garton, and published by Leo Feist, Inc.[1] The song was performed by Charles Hart and Ellot Shaw and reached number eight on the top 100 U.S. songs of 1918.[2]
The song would later be popularized by Yvette of Yvette & Saranoff.[3] Louisa Glaum was featured on one of the sheet music editions as a performer of this song.[4]
The cover illustration for this song features a picture of a woman holding roses, and the back of the cover features an ad for pocket-sized music books from Leo Feist, Inc.[5] A later edition would feature a photo of Yvette.[3]
One edition of "My Belgian Rose" displays a small note identifying it as the "War Edition"—physically smaller in order to conserve paper during World War I.[6] Compared to its original release in two-page style, the publisher claimed that the War Edition used only half of the amount of paper.[7] It was reprinted four times as a war edition.[4]
Analysis
"My Belgian Rose" depicts the American effort in Europe, particularly focused on the viewpoint of the soldiers. The soldiers describe an appreciation for the beauty that has been destroyed in the war and they express the hope of restoring that beauty once again.[3] Commentary by author Timothy Scheurer remarks that like other songs of the time, "My Belgian Rose" envisions the post-war environment; it uses the rose to represent regeneration in Europe brought about by the promise and efforts of U.S. forces. Early in the piece, the rose is wilting and being crushed by "the tyrant", but later, the lyrics state that the rose will endure and "bloom on a happier day."[8] Scheurer also notes that the concept of restoring "American beauty" abroad is a theme in the 1940 piece, "Johnny Doughboy Found a Rose in Ireland" describing American soldiers stationed in Northern Ireland just prior to World War II.[8]
While many songs from World War I were listed in the Commission on Training Camp Activities song book, which promoted mass singing in order to boost the moral of soldiers and improve fighting capabilities, "My Belgian Rose" was not included. This is thought to be due to its sentimentality which appealed more to the homefront.[3]
References
^ Parker, Bernard S. (2007). World War I Sheet Music. Vol. 1. McFarland. p. 428. ISBN978-0786427987.
^"My Belgian Rose". MusicVF.com. VF Entertainment. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
^ abcd Gier, Christina (Winter 2008). "Gender, Politics, and the Fighting Soldier's Song in America during World War I". Music & Politics. II (1). doi:10.3998/mp.9460447.0002.104.
^ abPaas, John Roger (2014). America Sings of War: American Sheet Music from World War I. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 243, ISBN9783447102780.
^"My Belgian Rose". Mississippi State University Digital Collections. Mississippi State University Libraries. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
^"Feist "War Edition" Song Hits Featured". Music Trades. Music Trades Corporation. 56: 34. 19 October 1918.
^ abScheurer, Timothy E. (1991). Born in the U.S.A. the myth of America in popular music from Colonial times to the present (Print-on-demand ed.). Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. p. 112. ISBN1604738073.
External links
[unavailable]
Video of player piano playing My Belgian Rose, "Belgian Rose". Youtube.com. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
View the song MP3 and sheet music here.
March 06, 2023
belgian, rose, 1918, song, written, george, benoit, robert, levenson, garton, published, feist, song, performed, charles, hart, ellot, shaw, reached, number, eight, songs, 1918, sheet, music, coversongpublished1918songwriter, george, benoit, robert, levenson, . My Belgian Rose is a 1918 song written by George Benoit Robert Levenson and Ted Garton and published by Leo Feist Inc 1 The song was performed by Charles Hart and Ellot Shaw and reached number eight on the top 100 U S songs of 1918 2 My Belgian Rose Sheet music coverSongPublished1918Songwriter s George Benoit Robert Levenson Ted GartonThe song would later be popularized by Yvette of Yvette amp Saranoff 3 Louisa Glaum was featured on one of the sheet music editions as a performer of this song 4 Contents 1 Sheet music 2 Analysis 3 References 4 External linksSheet music EditThe cover illustration for this song features a picture of a woman holding roses and the back of the cover features an ad for pocket sized music books from Leo Feist Inc 5 A later edition would feature a photo of Yvette 3 One edition of My Belgian Rose displays a small note identifying it as the War Edition physically smaller in order to conserve paper during World War I 6 Compared to its original release in two page style the publisher claimed that the War Edition used only half of the amount of paper 7 It was reprinted four times as a war edition 4 Analysis Edit My Belgian Rose depicts the American effort in Europe particularly focused on the viewpoint of the soldiers The soldiers describe an appreciation for the beauty that has been destroyed in the war and they express the hope of restoring that beauty once again 3 Commentary by author Timothy Scheurer remarks that like other songs of the time My Belgian Rose envisions the post war environment it uses the rose to represent regeneration in Europe brought about by the promise and efforts of U S forces Early in the piece the rose is wilting and being crushed by the tyrant but later the lyrics state that the rose will endure and bloom on a happier day 8 Scheurer also notes that the concept of restoring American beauty abroad is a theme in the 1940 piece Johnny Doughboy Found a Rose in Ireland describing American soldiers stationed in Northern Ireland just prior to World War II 8 While many songs from World War I were listed in the Commission on Training Camp Activities song book which promoted mass singing in order to boost the moral of soldiers and improve fighting capabilities My Belgian Rose was not included This is thought to be due to its sentimentality which appealed more to the homefront 3 References Edit Parker Bernard S 2007 World War I Sheet Music Vol 1 McFarland p 428 ISBN 978 0786427987 My Belgian Rose MusicVF com VF Entertainment Retrieved 6 October 2014 a b c d Gier Christina Winter 2008 Gender Politics and the Fighting Soldier s Song in America during World War I Music amp Politics II 1 doi 10 3998 mp 9460447 0002 104 a b Paas John Roger 2014 America Sings of War American Sheet Music from World War I Harrassowitz Verlag p 243 ISBN 9783447102780 My Belgian Rose Mississippi State University Digital Collections Mississippi State University Libraries Retrieved 6 October 2014 Feist War Edition Song Hits Featured Music Trades Music Trades Corporation 56 34 19 October 1918 Music Trades 1918 p 40 a b Scheurer Timothy E 1991 Born in the U S A the myth of America in popular music from Colonial times to the present Print on demand ed Jackson University Press of Mississippi p 112 ISBN 1604738073 External links Edit unavailable Video of player piano playing My Belgian Rose Belgian Rose Youtube com Retrieved 7 October 2014 View the song MP3 and sheet music here Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title My Belgian Rose amp oldid 1126266979, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
