World War II was from 1941 to 1945 where America participated. There were many American Musicians that produced a lot of significant songs ranging which become popular during this period. The songs were either patriotic, for military service, love and separation novelty, or other categories. Americans who were in the battle fields or at home gathered around to listen and dance to the popular music sang by their favorite artists. During this era some of the most popular Bands were; Glenn Miller, Harry James, Duke Ellington among others. These songs were written and composed by Americans who are now regarded as inspiration and icons in the music industry. Irving Berlin and Ray Henderson are among the most popular song composers of America. They both composed several songs during the Second World War II which become popular among many Americans. This paper reviews them in terms of their life and career and compares them.
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was born in Israel in a village of Tyumen, Russia in 1888 and moved to America in New York City at an early age with his family because of religious persecution of the Jewish community. Some of his popular hit songs he composed include “Alezander’s Ragtime Band”, “White Christmas” and “What’ll I Do”. The composer died at the age of 101 . He was a hard working person and the main purpose of composing music according to Berlin was to educate people about sensitive issues that are complex to understand during difficult times such as war. Music according to him had a great influence of people even without their knowledge.
Early life and career
Irving Berlin grew up in New York City and 1906 he had started his songwriting career. The composer published his first song in 1907s titled Marie from Sunny Italy which was performed by Nick Nicholson. Berlin was a hardworking composer and he focused on songwriting as a business. The first hit song Alexander’s Ragtime Band” was published by Waterson and Snyder Company in 1911. The hit song earned him respect and popularity among many Americans which resulted into a nickname “King of Tin Pan Alley”.
His work
The following are some of the songs composed by Berlin
Music about war
The songwriter composed many songs of war especially the Second World War. The How About a Cheer for the Navy was written in 1942 with the message shows the importance of the Navy in the Second World War. The song praises some of the top leaders of the Navy such as William Knox who was a navy sailor during the war. The song gives them respect just like any other American who participated in the war.
“The sailors say that William Knox, the Secretary of the Navy, deserves as much respect as Henry Stimson, the Secretary of War. There is also a mention of Astor and Vanderbilt, two famous New York millionaires, who the sailors bring up to show how high class the navy is. The song portrays the strength, patriotism, and importance of the navy in World War II. It conveys, through lyrical content and musical style, all of the characteristics that the public could hope to find in the forces defending the nation." Michelle Bradbury
Angels of Mercy is another song written by Berlin in 1941 at the beginning of the Second World War. The song was composed and dedicated to the Red Cross nurses of America after the bombing of the Pearl Harbor. This song becomes popular because boosted the morale of the nurses and sent message of hope to the injured.
I’m getting Tired So I can Sleep was also written in 1942 by Irving Berlin. The song was sentimental because it portrays a picture of an American soldier in the battle field that is afraid to sleep because he will dream about his girlfriend back at home. The demonstrated the sentiment and hope that Americans had for their loved ones to return home.
Ray Handerson
Ray Henderson is a music composer who also wrote music about the Second World War. He was born in New York in 1896.
Early life and career
He was a professional piano and composer from the Chicago Conservatory. Some of his sentential hits of the times include; “Life is a Bowl of Cherries”, “Bye, Bye Blackbird”, “Five Foot Two and Eyes of Blue” and “You’re the Cream in My Coffee”. In 1920s he teamed up with music publisher company Tin Pan Alley together with two other young lyricists. They were able to win the love of their fans during the 1920s to 1930s as a group of three. They later split up to peruse different careers. Ray also worked with many other lyricists apart from De Sylva and Brown.
War songs
The songs that Ray Henderson composed during Second World War include On the Old Assembly Line in 1942. This song was performed by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra. The song was about Americans who were discouraged and demoralized during the war. The song was aimed at raising their spirits by letting them know that it is not only the soldiers that will ensure victory but their hard work too. There were different voices in the music symbolizing different professionals who should not give up to work because they are key to the victory.
Comparison of the two composers
The two composers were the greatest music composers before, during and after the Second World War. They composed music with the aim raising the spirits of the Americans during the difficult time. Although Irving Berlin was not born in New York, both songwriters grew up and started their music career in this city. The music producing company Tin Pan Alley was their first stop for the publishing of their songs although it was in different years.
Ray Handerson was a songwriter who came from a family that was into music business. He further went to college to study piano and music writing. On the other hand, Berlin was not a professional piano player and did not have professional skills in music writing. The songs by Berlin were more focused on the army and the soldiers while Ray Handerson looked at the common Americans and their plight during the war. The two songwriters have also contributed to several films in Hollywood.
Works Cited
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Hennessey, Thomas, J. From Jazz to Swing: African-American and Their Music, 1890-1935. 1994.
Magee, Jeffrey. Readers on American music series the irving berlin reader. New York: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2012.
Susan, Stinson, Weimer Mark and Roock Jennifer. World War II Songs from Belfer Audio Laboratory and Archive Syracuse University Libraries. 2010. 11 July 2013 <http://library.syr.edu/belfer/programs/projects/belfer78/by-title.php>.
