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 1838
Victoria's Grand Waltz, Victoria's Grand Waltz
When Stars are in the Quiet Skies, Alexander Ball
Submissions from 1837
Brillantes Variations Faciles, Franz Hünten
Cachoucha: An Admired Spanish Dance, Franz Hünten and Fanny Ellsler
Come Brothers Arouse, Henry Russell and William B. Bernard Esqr.
Come, Gang Awa' Wi' Me, Edwin Ransford
Etudes de la Velocite, Charles Czerny
Gitana, La Gitana
My Heart's in the Highlands, Henry Russell and Robert Burns
Oh Little Daisy Growing Wild, Edward J. Loder
Oh! take me back to Switzerland, Caroline Sheridan Norton
Old Maid, Old Maid
She Wore a Wreath of Roses, Joseph Philip Knight
True Love Can Ne'er Forget, Samuel Lover
Submissions from 1836
A School for the Flute: Being a New Practical Instruction Book, Charles Nicholson
Celebrated Overture, Daniel Francois Esprit Auber
Hero's Quick Step, Henry Schmidt
Highland Minstrel Boy, Harry Stoe Van Dyk and John Barnett
Jackson's Grand March, Kuffner
Kendall March, George Hews
Mercy Seat: A Favorite Hymn, Oliver Shaw
Strauss' Much Admired Waltzes, Johann Strauss
Sweetly O'er My Senses Stealing, Nicola Zingarelli
Texan Lament, Texan Lament
We Met, Thomas H. Bayly
Submissions from 1835
Beats There a Heart, D. F.E. Auber
Bird Waltz, Francis Panormo and Charles Bradlee
Boston Quick Step, Charles Zeuner
Buy My Flowers: Song of the Blind Girl, G. Herbert Rodwell
Charming Woman, Charming Woman
False One! I Love Thee Still, Vincenzo Berllini and Joseph Wood
God Save the King, God Save the King
Guardian Angel, T.W. H. B.B.
La fiancée : opéra comique en trois actes, Daniel François Esprit Auber and Eugène Scribe
L'éclair : opéra comique en trois actes, F. Halèvy, Eugène de Planard, Henri Saint-Georges, and Henri Hippolyte Potier
Lightly May the Boat Row, Lightly May the Boat Row
Lizzy Lindsay or Will You Gang to the Highlands Wi' Me, A. Robertson
Louisville Waltz, W. C. Peters
Nicholas, Emperor of Russia's grand march & quick step, David Lee
O Sing Sweet Bird, Joseph Mazzinghi
Our Way Across the Sea, Our Way Across the Sea
Queen Mary's Escape from Lochleven Castle, Queen Mary's escape from Lochleven Castle
Sans amour : romance, Francesco Masini, Laure Jourdain, and Joseph Vimeux
Should He Upbraid, Henry R. Bishop
Variations Brillantes, J C. Viereck
We Have Been Friends Together, Henry Russell
Submissions from 1834
Brattleboro Waltz and Quick Step, Geo. Hews
Bride, Sydney Nelson
Brides Farewell, Thomas Williams
Collection of Waltzes for the Piano Forte. Set 1, Ludwig van Beethoven
Erin is My Home, James Gaspard Maeder
Hail Columbia, W. A. King
Irelande, Carl Czerny
Maiden, Wrap Thy Mantle Round Thee, Austin Phillips
Mary's Tears, Oliver Shaw
Matrimonial Sweets, W.H. Freeman and Charles Bradlee
My Pretty Gazelle, George Alexander Hodson and Edward Riley
Old Oaken Bucket, Samuel Woodworth Esqr.
O Sing to Me One Song of Thine, James B. Taylor
O Sing to me One Son of Thine, James B. Taylor
Overture to Lodoiska, Rudolphe Kreutzer
She Stood Beside the Altar, She Stood Beside the Altar
Sonate Pathetique, Louis van Beethoven
Souvenirs of Meyerbeer's Celebrated Opera, Giacomo Meyerbeer
Souvenirs of Meyerbeer's Celebrated Opera Robert le Diable, Giacomo Meyerbeer
Sparkling & Bright, James B. Taylor
Spirit Waltz, Ludwig van Beethoven
Stormy Petrel, Sigismund Neukomm and Charles Bradlee
The Old Oaken Bucket, Samuel Woodworth
The Tiger Quick Step, Thomas Comer
Titus March, Titus March
To Jesus the Crown of my Hope: A Sacred Song, Oliver Shaw
Variations brillantes pour le piano forte sur la dernière valse de C.M. de Weber : op. 51, Henri Herz and Carla Maria von Weber
Vivi Tu in the Opera of Anna Bolena, Gaetano Donizetti
Wood Up A Quick Step, John Holloway
Submissions from 1833
Dragoon Guards' March, Dragoon Guards' March
I'm sometimes sad, but know not why, Rev. Fitch W. Taylor and Wilhelm Iucho
Maltese Boatmans Song, L. Devereaux
Quadrilles: Sur les Motifs de La Sylphide, J B. Tolbecque
Trumpet March, Gioacchino Rossini
Venetian Gondoliers, William M. Bennett
Where, Where is the Rover: A Ballad, Alexander Lee, Henry Robert Addison, and Lo Zingaro
Why Do I Weep, John Barnett
Submissions from 1832
Airs Ecossois, Johann Baptist Cramer
Beethoven's Celebrated Grand Waltz for the Piano Forte, Beethoven's Celebrated Grand Waltz for the Piano Forte
Coronation Waltzes, J. Strauss
Delices de Vienne, Johann Strauss
Donna del Lago, Gioacchino Rossini
Favorite Gallopade from Gustavus the Third, or, The Masked Ball, Daniel Francois Esprit Auber
Favorite Melodies, John Freckleton Burrowes
Favorite Scotch Air, D. Ross
Favorite Spanish Cachoucha, Montague Corri
Fleurette, George Kiallmark
Grand Military Waltz, W. R. Coppock
I Have Something Sweet To Say, George Linley and Charles Edward Horn
I Turn to Thee in Time of Need, T. H. Bayly
Lays of Harmony, or the Musical Scrap Book, Neville Butler Challoner
Maid of Cashmere, Daniel Francois Esprit Auber
Mansaniello, George Luff
March in the Opera Le Dieu et la Bayadère, Daniel Francois Esprit Auber