Oregon, My Oregon
Encyclopedia
"Oregon, My Oregon" is the state song of Oregon
, United States
. Written for a song contest in 1920, the 16-line, 2-verse song became the state's official song in 1927.
, who wrote the lyrics, and Henry Bernard Murtagh, who composed the music. Buchanan was an amateur lyricist who was an Astoria
state judge, while Murtagh was a professional musician with a Broadway
credit, but who was best known as a professionally-trained theatre organ
ist on the West Coast
during the silent movie
era.
Following the song's selection, the Society promoted the song by conducting performances at public gathering spaces around the state and at schools and universities (the state Superintendent of Public Instruction
had endorsed the song).
On February 12, 1927, the song was officially adopted as the state song by a joint resolution of the Oregon State Legislature.
in F major
. Unlike two other similarly named state songs—"Maryland, My Maryland
" and "Michigan, My Michigan
"—"Oregon, My Oregon" is not set to the tune of "O Tannenbaum
."
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Written for a song contest in 1920, the 16-line, 2-verse song became the state's official song in 1927.
History
In 1920, the Society of Oregon Composers held a competition to select a state song for Oregon. The winning entry, "Oregon, My Oregon," was a collaboration between John Andrew BuchananJohn Andrew Buchanan
John Andrew Buchanan was a judge and politician in Astoria in the U.S. state of Oregon, and an amateur poet who wrote the lyrics to the Oregon state song....
, who wrote the lyrics, and Henry Bernard Murtagh, who composed the music. Buchanan was an amateur lyricist who was an Astoria
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
state judge, while Murtagh was a professional musician with a Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
credit, but who was best known as a professionally-trained theatre organ
Theatre organ
A theatre organ is a pipe organ originally designed specifically for imitation of an orchestra. New designs have tended to be around some of the sounds and blends unique to the instrument itself....
ist on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
during the silent movie
Silent Movie
Silent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
era.
Following the song's selection, the Society promoted the song by conducting performances at public gathering spaces around the state and at schools and universities (the state Superintendent of Public Instruction
Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction
The Superintendent of Public Instruction, sometimes referred to as the State Superintendent of Schools, is a constitutional office within the executive branch of the Oregon state government, and acts as administrative officer of the State Board of Education and executive head of the Department of...
had endorsed the song).
On February 12, 1927, the song was officially adopted as the state song by a joint resolution of the Oregon State Legislature.
Description
Buchanan's lyrics contain two main themes: honoring the early settlers and pioneers of Oregon, and praise for the natural beauty of the state. Murtagh composed the song as a marchMarch (music)
A march, as a musical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently performed by a military band. In mood, marches range from the moving death march in Wagner's Götterdämmerung to the brisk military marches of John...
in F major
F major
F major is a musical major scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat . It is by far the oldest key signature with an accidental, predating the others by hundreds of years...
. Unlike two other similarly named state songs—"Maryland, My Maryland
Maryland, My Maryland
"Maryland, My Maryland" is the official state song of the U.S. state of Maryland. The song is set to the tune of "Lauriger Horatius" and the lyrics are from a nine-stanza poem written by James Ryder Randall...
" and "Michigan, My Michigan
Michigan, My Michigan
"Michigan, My Michigan" is a very popular anthem in the State of Michigan, but it is not an official state song. The only official anthem, a song called "My Michigan", was formally adopted in 1937 – which humourists might say was probably the only time it was ever sung, because everyone thinks the...
"—"Oregon, My Oregon" is not set to the tune of "O Tannenbaum
O Tannenbaum
"O Tannenbaum", or, in its English version, "O Christmas Tree", is a Christmas carol of German origin.A Tannenbaum is a fir tree or Christmas tree...
."
Lyrics
- Land of the Empire Builders,
- Land of the Golden West;
- Conquered and held by free men,
- Fairest and the best.
- Onward and upward ever,
- Forward and on, and on;
- Hail to thee, Land of Heroes,
- My Oregon.
- Land of the rose and sunshine
- Land of the summer's breeze;
- Laden with health and vigor,
- Fresh from the Western seas.
- Blest by the blood of martyrs,
- Land of the setting sun;
- Hail to thee, Land of Promise,
- My Oregon.