150 Years of 'Home on the Range'
The famous cowboy song has been covered by numerous musicians.
From Mark Steyn’s April 30th column, I learned that the old cowboy tune, “Home on the Range,” recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. It’s author, Brewster Higley VI, was a doctor, not a professional songwriter, “living in a sod dugout on the banks of Beaver Creek in Smith County, Kansas…” Over time, the tune traveled from campfire singalongs to well-known artists covering it, including Bing Crosby and Sting.
The version that hit a home run for me is by Welsh baritone Byrn Terfel. This past weekend, Mr. Terfel sang the Kyrie eleison at the coronation of King Charles III. That performance is exquisite as well. But please check out the rendition of “Home on the Range” with the Welsh singer and the New York Philharmonic on a rainy night in Central Park some years ago.
Moments before the music began, I doubted the simple tune’s ability to grow up and somehow stand tall given such an elaborate production, but “Home on the Range” has always been larger than life as I witnessed the orchestra open softly, majestically, and Mr. Terfel bring forth the thunder for the next five minutes of earth time.
Whether the camera panned the audience or stopped on a single person or small group, I witnessed the sweetest faces ever filmed at a live concert. I felt love for my fellow human beings, all of us sharing the beauty of this enduring American song.