Historic Sheet Music Collection
The Historic Sheet Music Collection (HSMC) consists primarily of popular music of the mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth century. Although most of the music is composed or arranged for voice with piano accompaniment, some pieces incorporate other instruments such as guitar, and some are for instrumental solo (primarily piano or guitar). A few classical works are also included in the collection.
Sheet music can offer an interesting interdisciplinary research opportunity. The lyrics, cover art, and advertisements open a window on the society and culture of the time. Subjects range from popular love songs to laments to humorous ditties - and everything else in between. Many songs reflect on the U.S. Civil War, World War I, and World War II. There is even a song about Wheaties in the collection.
Submissions from 1865
Oberthur's Nun's Prayer, Charles Oberthur
Pat Malloy, Dion Boucicault Esq. and John L. Cook Esq.
Refugee, Will S. Hays
Reveil Des Patres, Eugene Ketterer
Sighing For Home, Albert Jungmann
Softly the Chimes Are Ringing, A. Leduc and G. Linley
Striking Ile, Dan D. Emmett
Styrien Carneval, Theodore Oesten
The Whip-poor-will's Echo Song, Harrison Millard
Wearing of the Green, Wearing of the Green
We Never Can Forget It, or The Memories of Andersonville Prison Pens, Henry Tucker and M. A. Kidder
When Sherman Marched Down to the Sea, When Sherman Marched Down to the Sea
Submissions from 1864
Bury Me in the Sunshine, Joseph W. Turner
Carroll Schottisch, Mary Carroll Smith
Jeanie Morrison, William R. Dempster
Le parlate d'amor, Charles Gounod and Jacob Wrey Mould
Life on the Ocean Wave, Henry Russell
Never-More, William Kipp Bassford
Solon Shingle, The Peoples Lawyer and Old Si Ellsley
Wait Love Until the War is Over, T. M. Todd
Wake Nicodemus, Henry C. Clay
Submissions from 1863
Babylon Is Fallen, Henry C. Work
Barbe-Bleue Valse, Josef Strauss
Campanella, Wilhelm Taubert
Katie Lee and Willie Gray, J.H. Pixley
Love and Chivalry, Louis Moreau Gottschalk
Morceaux Favoris, Jules Egghard
My Lowland Home, Henry Tucker
Nellie Lost & Found, Henry C. Work
Tarantelle, Sebastian Bach Mills
Then'll You'll Remember Me, Michael Wiiliam Balfe
Veni Creator Spiritus, H. Perabeau
Yes, I Would The War Were Over, Alice Hawthorne
Submissions from 1862
Andante, Franz Bendel
Dundee, George R. Poulton
Submissions from 1861
Flag of our Union, W. V. Wallace
Sounds of Love, Theodor Oesten
Your Blessing Dearest Mother, Thomas H. Howe
Submissions from 1860
Breckinridge Schottische, Charles Grobe
Chant du Bivouac, Eugene Ketterer
Chapelle de la Foret, Albert Jungmann
Duke of Reichstadt's Celebrated Waltz, Johann Strauss
Francaise: Fantaise Brillante, Alphonso Leduc
Gen. Harrison's Grand Entree & Gov. Davis' Quick Step, Dr. James Carroll Bartlett
Gentle Troubadour, René Favarger
In Happy Moments, William Vincent Wallace
Invitation au Galop, Francios Bendel
I've Left the Snow Clad Hills, George Linley
I Wandered by the Brookside, James Hine
Maiden's Prayer, Thekla Badarzewska
Meet me in the Lane, Love, Charles Blamphin
My Trundle Bed, John C. Baker
Oh! Where Art Thou, Julian Munoz
Ojos Criollos, Louis Moreau Gottschalk
Overture to "The Caliph of Bagdad", Adrien Boieldieu
Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow, Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow
Serenade Du Gondolier, William Lemon
Source Caprice pour le piano, Jacques Blumenthal
The Guards' Waltz, Daniel Godfrey
Variations Brillantes sur la Cavatine Favori de La Violette de Carafa, Henri Herz and Michele Carafa
Submissions from 1859
Amelia Polka, Charles Rehm
Dear Mother, I'll Come Home Again, Frederick Wilson and J L. Gilbert
Gentle Words, Carl Heinrich Weber
Make Me No Gaudy Chaplet, Gaetano Donizetti and William H. Callcott
Sea Shell, William Jarvis Wetmore and C.F. Wetmore
Shower of Pearls, Oliver Ditson
Si Loin!, Emile Barateau and Paul Henrion
Submissions from 1858
Broken Ring, Chas Schaeffer and Karl Formes
Ernani, D. Krug
Ever of Thee, George Linley and Foley Hall
Gentle Annie, Stephen Collins Foster
Holy Mother Guide His Footsteps, William Vincent Wallace
Home, Sweet Home, Charles Grove
Linger in Blissful Repose, Stephen Collins Foster
Norma de Bellini, F. Beyer
O Bid Me Not Wed Him, Brother Dear, Alfred Hawthorne
O'er Thee Alone, William Thomas Wrighton
Old Cabin Home, T. Paine
Prophête, D. Krug
Robert le Diable de Meyerbeer, Ferdinand Beyer
Storm, Henry Weber
The Burning Ship, L.W. Wheeler
Then You'll Remember Me, Michael William Balfe
Think of Me as Your Friend, C. E. Whiting
Three Calls, Isaac Baker Woodbury
Yellow Rose of Texas, J. K. and Napoleon W. Gould
Submissions from 1857
Cock-a-doodle-doo: A Political Commercial & Matrimonial Song and Chorus, Thomas William Robertson and Ferdinand Wallerstein
Curfew, John Blockley and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Darling Nelly Gray, Benjamin Russel Hanby and Thomas Brigham Bishop
Dearest Spot of Earth to Me Is Home, William Thomas Wrighton, Francis Weiland, and Robert M. Gaw
Flee As A Bird, Mary Dana Shindler
Le Tremolo, Henri Rosellen
Palermo, Charles D'Albert
Sing Me Songs of Home, Henry C. Thunder and J. E. Macaulay
The Camp Quadrille, B. McKenzie
The Mazurka, John J. Frazer
Wandering Jew, Frederic Burgmeller
You Ask Me Why I’m Lonely Now, Pietro Centemeri
Submissions from 1856
Bring Me My Harp, William Vincent Walllace and Edward Fitzball
Can the Absent be Forgotten?, J. Waters