I was recently asked to change the composer's name on my music roll
listing for the march, "The Marines' Hymn," from Jacques Offenbach,
who originally wrote the melody in 1867 as the "Gendarmes' Duet" for
his operetta "Geneviève de Brabant."

The request to me was to change the composer from Offenbach to Thomas
Holcomb.  The reason given was because Holcomb "adapted" Offenbach's
melody when he wrote the lyrics to create "The Marines' Hymn."  But
I don't know what the adaptation consisted of.

We all know the "Marines' Hymn" and sing its lyrics:

"From the halls of Montezuma
  < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chapultepec >
To the shores of Tripoli
  < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Derne >,
We will fight our country's battles in the air, on land, and sea.
First to fight for right and freedom and to keep our honor clean,
We are proud to claim the title of United States Marines."

Assuming the validity of the facts above, whom would you name as
composer of the "Marines' Hymn"?  While there is more space to state
the facts on a rollography entry for the tune, there is very limited
space on a roll label.  Keep in mind also that most music rolls
contain just melody.  Only "word rolls" would involve the actual
words accompanying the melody.

Matthew Caulfield
Irondequoit, New York

 [ Resources:
 [ http://imslp.org/wiki/The_Marines%27_Hymn_(Anonymous) 
 [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marines%27_Hymn 
 [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Holcomb 
 [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genevi%C3%A8ve_de_Brabant 
 [ http://www.archive.org/stream/genevivedebrab00offe#page/128/mode/2up 
 [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2Skp7NPNpQ 
 [ -- Robbie