"Old New Hampshire" is the
regional anthem
An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to shor ...
(or
state song) of the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...
of
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the nor ...
. The words were written by Dr. John F. Holmes and music composed by Maurice Hoffmann in 1926. "Old New Hampshire" was chosen to be the "official" state song first in 1949, then again in November 1977, by the
State Song Selection Board. New Hampshire has nine "honorary" state songs and no other official songs.
History
In 1926, Dr. John F. Holmes of
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
wrote the song's lyrics. Maurice Hoffman, Jr., the Franklin Street Congregational Church
organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational h ...
of
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
, wrote the music. The 1941
General Court voted against making it the state song, and the 1943 General Court killed a bill public contest with cash prizes, to pick a state song. In 1949, the General Court voted in favor of designating "Old New Hampshire" as the state song.
In 1963, the legislature approved "New Hampshire, My New Hampshire", by Julius Richelson and Walter P. Smith of
Plymouth, as the "Second State Song". The "Third State Song", designated by the legislature in 1973, was "New Hampshire Hills", with music by Tom Powers of
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...
, son of retired Director Edward Powers of the
State Sweepstakes Commission, and the late
Paul Scott Mowrer
Paul Scott Mowrer (July 14, 1887 – April 7, 1971) was an American newspaper correspondent, born in Bloomington, Illinois. He studied at the University of Michigan and began his newspaper career as a reporter in Chicago, in 1905. He was a corre ...
, state
poet laureate
A poet laureate (plural: poets laureate) is a poet officially appointed by a government or conferring institution, typically expected to compose poems for special events and occasions. Albertino Mussato of Padua and Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch ...
.
In March 1977, "Autumn in New Hampshire," by Leo Austin of
Warner, was added as the "Fourth State Song". The addition of this song coincided with the creation of an interim board to recommend one "official" state song and designate the remainder of songs as "honorary".
In June 1977, another song law was enacted by the General Court which added four more songs to the listing of state songs, with a stipulation that if none were chosen by the Board as the official state song, they would become "honorary" state songs. The four songs were: "New Hampshire's Granite State" by Annie B. Currier of
Londonderry; "Oh, New Hampshire (You're My Home)" by Brownie Macintosh of
Hampton
Hampton may refer to:
Places Australia
*Hampton bioregion, an IBRA biogeographic region in Western Australia
*Hampton, New South Wales
*Hampton, Queensland, a town in the Toowoomba Region
* Hampton, Victoria
Canada
* Hampton, New Brunswick
*Ha ...
; "The Old Man of the Mountain" by Paul Belanger of
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...
, and "The New Hampshire State March" by Rene Richards of
Nashua Nashua may refer to:
* Nashaway people, Native American tribe living in 17th-century New England
Places
In Australia:
* Nashua, New South Wales
In the United States:
* Nashua, California
* Nashua, Iowa
* Nashua, Minnesota
* Nashua, Kansas City ...
.
The State Song Selection Board consisted of Rep. Richardson D. Benton of
Chester, who was the Board's coordinator; William E. Elwell of
Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most dens ...
, who became
chairman,
Ted Hebert and Robert F. Thibeault of Manchester, who were all named by the
Governor of New Hampshire
The governor of New Hampshire is the head of government of New Hampshire.
The governor is elected during the biennial state general election in November of even-numbered years. New Hampshire is one of only two states, along with bordering Verm ...
and
Council; Senator Robert F. Bossie of Manchester, named by the Senate President; and Rep. Jane F. Sanders of
Alton Bay, named by the House Speaker.
On November 29, 1977, the announcement of the name of the official song was made in Representatives Hall. New Hampshire
First Lady Gale Thomson, wife of Governor
Meldrim Thomson, Jr., drew the choice from a sealed envelope in which the name had been placed by the Board.
In 1983, "New Hampshire Naturally," with words and music by Rick and Ron Shaw, was added to the list of state songs listed in
RSA 3:7.
Lyrics
: With a skill that knows no measure,
: From the golden store of Fate
: God, in His great love and wisdom,
: Made the rugged Granite State;
: Made the lakes, the fields, the forests;
: Made the Rivers and the drills;
: Made the bubbling, crystal fountains
: Of New Hampshire's Granite Hills
::Refrain
:: Old New Hampshire, Old New Hampshire
:: Old New Hampshire Grand and Great
:: We will sing of Old New Hampshire,
:: Of the dear old Granite State
: Built the New Hampshire glorious
: From the borders to the sea;
: And with matchless charm and splendor
: Blessed her for eternity.
: Hers, the majesty of mountain;
: Hers, the grandeur of the lake;
: Hers, the truth as from the hillside
: Where her crystal waters break
::Refrain
Honorary state songs
* "
New Hampshire, my New Hampshire" with words by Julius Richelson and music by Walter P. Smith.
* "
New Hampshire Hills" with words by Paul Scott Mowrer and music by Tom Powers.
* "
Autumn in New Hampshire" with words and music by Leo Austin.
* "
New Hampshire's Granite State" with words and music by Anne B. Currier.
* "
Oh, New Hampshire (You're My Home)" with words and music by Brownie Macintosh.
* "
The Old Man of the Mountain" with words and music by Paul Belanger.
* "
The New Hampshire State March" with words and music by Rene Richards.
* "
New Hampshire Naturally" with words and music by Rick Shaw and Ron Shaw
*"Live Free or Die" with words and music by Barry Palmer
External links
*
{{National anthems of North America
Music of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the nor ...
1926 songs
Songs about New Hampshire