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In the fortnight since I (parenthetically) complained
about our obscure official state song, Where the
Columbines Grow,
I have learned a great deal.
1. It is difficult to play on the piano -- Lois Padgett
of Denver graciously sent the sheet music. (In fairness, I
should note that, for me, everything past Chopsticks
is difficult to play on the piano.)
2. I could have heard it if I had only gotten up in time for the civic reception the last time the governor was in town; a local choir performed it then. But that was at the uncomfortable hour of nine in the morning, and what's the use of being an unemployed columnist if you can't sleep on a comfortable schedule?
3. The song has been controversial almost from the start. I learned that from Arlin Buller, the junior-high music teacher. He got a letter from John W. Kincaid of Gunnison, who enclosed a copy of an article by Terry L. Shockey which appeared about 15 years ago in the Colorado Music Educators Association Journal.
So what follows is no better than fourth-hand information, but it's probably as authoritative as anything else you're likely to read or hear these days.
Arthur J. Fynn, the song's creator, was born and educated in New York. In 1889, he moved to Central City to teach, and later to Alamosa. In 1898, he joined the CU faculty, where he later received a doctorate.
His inspiration came on an 1896 camping trip to the San Juans when he saw the multitude of columbines at Schinzel Flats. But he didn't write anything for a while; his wife finally nagged him into starting in 1909, and the song was first published and publicly performed in 1911.
It received favorable reviews and an endorsement from
the DAR, and in 1915, after lengthy legislative debate,
Where the Columbines Grow
became the official state
song.
However, some soon complained that its lyrics did not
contain the word Colorado.
In 1916, the Colorado
Federation of Women's Clubs unanimously voted for repeal.
One Denver columnist complained that the state song of
Colorado is as bad as her politics.
In 1917, the legislature held a competition before a
joint session, with four other songs in the running.
Columbines
won with 34 votes; Skies Are Blue in
Colorado
by Jim Ramey of Salida was second with 17.
The controversy didn't stop then. In 1947, Sen. John J.
Harpel proposed substituting a military march, Hail
Colorado.
In 1960, Sen. Allegra Saunders wanted to drop
it, but the Daughters of Colorado fought her successfully.
Most recently, Rep. Betty Ann Dittemore in 1969 wanted
Colorado,
also known as If I Had a Wagon.
Her
bill died in committee.
Columbines
is a survivor, and thus probably
deserves its honor, although there is one tune that is
certainly more suitable for our state anthem: Buddy, Can
You Spare a Dime?
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