2006-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2006
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Sheet One
Sheet Two
Sheet 3
Berlin's Annotation
Berlin's Letter
Irving Berlin (1888-1989), Annotated Musical Manuscript, three pages on Standard Brand ABC Music Corporation New York City printed music form. The preprinted form has the manuscript title, "God Bless America" by Irving Berlin." This document is a revised manuscript by Irving Berlin, handwritten and corrected under Berlin's instruction by his musical arranger and musical secretary of 60 years Helmy Kresa. It was always Mr. Berlin's style to dictate the words and music of his songs to his musical secretaries. This revision has the original lyrics verse, "From the green fields of Virginia to the gold fields in Nome" which is lined out in pencil, and the final lyrics revision is inked in, "From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam." This is the only known copy with the original lyrics verse and the corrected lyrics verse on the same form. It is also evidence that this revision postdates the collection held by the Library of Congress, (which is dated October 31,1938). Additionally, this document is signed by Mr. Berlin to Ted Collins, manager of singer and popular radio star, Kate Smith in pencil on upper right corner of first page "Ted-What do you think now" and signed by Berlin, "I[rving]." ...plus; ... Ted Collins TLS, January 31,1942, 1 page, 7 1/2 x 10 1/2, personal letterhead, New York, signed in black ink "Ted Collins" To: Mr. Thomas L. Shattuck, Pelham Manor, New York; text in full: "Dear Tommy: Enclosed you will find the original manuscript of God Bless America which I promised you. The delay in sending it to you has undoubtedly been explained to you by your Dad. Some of the things I want to point out to you in this manuscript, as you will see, are that originally we did have a verse which we discarded after the first broadcast, and you will also probably notice that we had two sets of lyrics and, of course, by now being a true patriot, you know the ones we used. I am certainly glad that this was not thrown out and that I am able to pass it along to you for your collection. With kindest regards. Sincerely," Plus, ...Also included is a manuscript letter by Jane Shattuck, September 15, 1990, attesting the fact that this musical manuscript was in her husband's collection. She continues advising that the collection was sold by Shattuck at auction through Parke Bernet, 1947. These three pieces are all professionally matted/framed in a hinged frame, together with metal engraved identification plaques. Plus, ...Irving Berlin, TLS, to Harry Ruby on personal stationary, November 27,1967, 1 page, signed "Irv." In part Berlin advises, "Much has happened with God Bless America since I wired you to listen to Kate Smith introduce it." Berlin continues, "Apart from the fund I created for the benefit of the Boy and Girl Scouts, which up until June 30th, 1967 has earned $361,597.49, God Bless America is closer to me than any song I have ever written. How lucky that I didn't do anything with the original version I wrote in 1918 which I'm sure would have turned out to be just another war song." Professionally framed with Berlin image and metal engraved plaque. "God Bless America" Background Irving Berlin was already a successful Broadway writer and composer when, in 1918, he was drafted and told to report to Long Island's Camp Upton. Although he was prepared to serve his country in any way possible, he was not prepared for 5:00 a.m. reveille. While in camp, he composed a song based on his experiences, called "Oh How I Hate To Get Up In the Morning." The song reached the camp officers, who decided to put Berlin's talents to better use. In exchange for Berlin being allowed to work late and sleep later, he would write and compose music for an all-soldier comedy show, Yip! Yip! Yaphank!, which would help raise money for an on-base community house. "God Bless America" was among the songs that were part of Yip! Yip! Yaphank!, and Berlin planned to use that song for the finale. The title was inspired by Berlin's mother, who with her family escaped from the Russian pogroms in 1893. As a child, Berlin remembered his mother often saying "God Bless America." "And not casually, but with emotion that was almost exaltation," he later wrote. But the solemn, reverent "God Bless America" did not fit in a ribald comedy musical, and was removed from the show. Then, in 1938, Berlin happened to be in London when Neville Chamberlain announced his "Anglo-German Pact of Friendship"--and he wanted to believe that its promises of peace in the world were true. "I'd like to write a great peace song," he told a friend, "but it is hard to do, because you have trouble dramatizing peace." In his hotel room he started writing a song called "Thanks, America," but soon abandoned it. He tried another one, called "Let's Talk About Liberty," but deemed it too hokey. Then he remembered the old unused closer from "Yip! Yip! Yaphank" and he called his secretary in New York to see if she could fish it out of his trunk. She searched long and hard, eventually recovered "God Bless America." At the same time, with heightened tensions and war breaking out throughout Europe, Kate Smith needed a patriotic song for her radio show. She and her manager Ted Collins visited Berlin's music studio in New York City, and asked the famed songwriter if he had anything that was both patriotic and reverent. Berlin reached into a file drawer and pulled out "God Bless America." Berlin changed some of the lyrics from his original 1918 composition, replacing "from the green fields of Virginia / to the gold fields out in Nome" with "From the mountains to the prairies / To the oceans white with foam." After some other minor adjustments, he gave the song to Collins and Smith. On Armistice Day, November 11, 1938, Smith told her radio audience about the song and her reasons for performing it that night. "This year, with the war clouds of Europe so lately threatening the peace of the entire world, I felt I wanted to do something special - something that would not only be a memorial to our soldiers - but would also emphasize just how much America means to each and every one of us ... The song is 'God Bless America'; the composer, Mr. Irving Berlin. When I first tried it over, I felt, here is a song that will be timeless - it will never die - others will thrill to its beauty long after we are gone. In my humble estimation, this is the greatest song Irving Berlin has ever composed ... As I stand before the microphone and sing it with all my heart, I'll be thinking of our veterans and I'll be praying with every breath I draw that we shall never have another war..." With that, she performed "God Bless America" for the first time. The new anthem electrified the nation and Kate sang it on nearly every broadcast through December 1940, after which there was a ban on public performances of A(merican) S(ociety) C(omposers) A(uthors) P(ublishers) songs. She had exclusive performance rights for a time. She recorded it for RCA Victor on March 21, 1939, and that version has been reissued countless times over the years. The lyrics were inserted into the Congressional Record, and there was a movement to make the song our national anthem. "God Bless America" was sung at both the Democratic and Republican national conventions in 1940, and again at the Republican national convention in Philadelphia July 31, 2000, the convention that nominated George W. Bush as our 43rd President. Then, as a result of the horrible attacks on the World Trade Center buildings, US Senators and Congressman gathered on the steps of the Capitol September 12, 2001 for a symbolic display of unity and sang a spontaneous chorus of "God Bless America." In 1940 Irving Berlin established the God Bless America Foundation, with all royalties from its performance earned by either Berlin or Miss Smith going to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. That arrangement exists to this day. These organizations were chosen, to quote the contract, because "the completely nonsectarian work of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts is calculated to best promote unity of mind and patriotism, two sentiments that are inherent in the song itself."
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