Theodore F. Morse

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Theodore F. Morse
Born(1873-04-13)April 13, 1873
Washington, D.C.
DiedMay 25, 1924(1924-05-25) (aged 51)
New York City
EducationMaryland Military and Naval Academy
OccupationComposer
SpouseTheodora Morse

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

Biography[edit]

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[edit]

(all music by him only unless when stated otherwise)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Dorothy Terriss (lyricist) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". Adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  2. ^ "Broadway Song Writer Dies Just Before His Pals Plan Surprise". The Binghamton Press. New York. Associated Press. May 27, 1924. p. 9. Retrieved March 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Blau Äugelein du mußt scheiden - Volkslieder-Archiv". September 18, 1904.
  4. ^ Hakenkreuz am Stahlhelm / Kamerad reich mir die Hände
  5. ^ "Hunger in allen Gassen (Rote Frontsoldaten) - Volkslieder-Archiv". July 24, 1928.
  6. ^ Heil Deutschland / Deutschland du Land der Treue / Blue Bell the dawn is waking
  7. ^ a b c d e Parker, Bernard S. (2007). World War I Sheet Music - Volume 1. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 198, 209, 267, 422, 438. ISBN 978-0-7864-2798-7.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Parker, Bernard S. (2007). World War I Sheet Music - Volume 2. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 502, 593, 700, 762, 773, 775. ISBN 978-0-7864-2799-4.

External links[edit]

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