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 1942
The Marines' Hymn, A. Tregina and U.S. Marine Band
Submissions from 1926
Baby Face, Benny Davis and Harry Akst
Beside A Garden Wall, Gus Kahn, Albert E. Short, and Del Delbridge
Bye Bye Blackbird, Mort Dixon and Ray Henderson
Come to the Fair, Easthope Martin and Helen Taylor
Ding Dong, A. E. Buckingham
Dream House, Earle Fox and Lynn Cowan
Fâcheux: 1. Le Mâitre à Danser, Georges Auric
Fâcheux 3: Les Joueurs de Boules, Georges Auric
I’d Climb The Highest Mountain If I Knew I’d Find You, Lew Brown and Sidney Clare
Idolizing, Sam Messenheimer, Irving Abrahamson, and Ray West
If I Could Be With You (One Hour To-Night), Henry Creamer and Jimmy Johnson
If You’re In Love You’ll Waltz, Harry Tierney, Joseph McCarthy, Guy Bolton, and Fred Thompson
In a Little Spanish Town (‘Twas On a Night Like This), Mabel Wayne
I Never See Maggie Alone, Harry Tilsley and Everett Lynton
Just A Bird’s-eye View (Of My Old Kentucky Home), Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson
Lonesome And Sorry, Benny Davis and Con Conrad
Mary Lou, Abe Lyman, George Waggner, and J. Russel Robinson
Mary Lou, Abe Lyman, George Waggner, and J. Russel Robinson
Mary Lou, Abe Lyman, George Waggner, and J. Russel Robinson
My Wild Irish Rose, Chauncy Olcott
Slumber Boat, Jessie L. Gaynor and Alice C.D. Riley
Some Day, Larry Spier and W.C. Polla
Ting’A’Ling The Waltz of the Bells, Addy Britt and Jack Little
Tonight You Belong To Me, Billy Rose and Lee David
Valencia (A Song of Spain), Lucien Boyer, Jacques Charles, and Clifford Grey
Valencia (A Song of Spain), Lucien Boyer, Jacques Charles, Clifford Grey, and Jose Padilla
When the Red Red, Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along, Harry Woods
When the Red Red, Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along, Harry Woods
Where’d You Get Those Eyes?, Walter Donaldson
Submissions from 1925
Alabamy Bound, Bud De Sylvia, Bud Green, and Ray Henderson
Bam Bam Bamy Shore, Mort Dixon and Ray Henderson
Just A Cottage Small (By A Waterfall), B.G. DeSylva and James F. Hanley
Let Me Linger Longer In Your Arms, Cliff Friend and Abel Baer
Oh How I Miss You To-Night, Benny Davis, Mark Fisher, and Joe Burke
Prisoner's Song, Guy Massey
Remember, Irving Berlin
Smilin' Through, Arthur A. Penn
Song Of The Flame, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, Herbert Stothart, and George Gershwin
Sunny, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Jerome Kern
Tell Her In The Springtime, Irving Berlin
Ukulele Lady, Gus Kahn and Richard A. Whiting
You’ve Got to Mix To-Day, Jack Mahoney
Submissions from 1924
California Here I Come Foxtrot Song, Al Jolson, Bud De Sylva, and Joseph Meyer
Doodle Doo Doo, Art Kassel and Mel. Stitzel
End of the Road, William Dillon and Harry Lauder
Fleurs d'Amour, José Padilla, Albert Willemetz, Jacques Charles, and Mistinguett
Good Bye!, G.J. Whyte-Melville and F. Paolo Tosti
I’m Waiting for Ships That Never Come In, Jack Yellen and A. Olman
Indian Dawn, Charles O. Roose and J.S. Zamecnik
Indian Love Call, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Rudolf Friml
It Had to Be You, Gus Kahn and Isham Jones
It’s Sun Up Now, Eugene Lockhart
June Brought the Roses, Ralph Stanley and John Openshaw
Last Night On The Back Porch (I Loved Her Best Of All), Lew Brown and Carl Schraubstader
Lazy, Irving Berlin
Mandalay Fox Trot Ballad, Earl Burtnett, Abe Lyman, and Gus Arnheim
Marcheta, Victor Schertizinger
Mr. Radio Man (Tell My Mammy To Come Back Home), Ira Schuster, Johnny White, and Cliff Friend
My Best Girl, Walter Donaldson
No No Nanette, Otto Harbach, Frank Mandel, Irving Caesar, and Vincent Youmans
Oh Peter (You’re So Nice), Herb Wiedoeft, Gene Rose, and Jesse Stafford
Oriental Love Dreams, Harry D. Kerr, Earl Burtnett, and Henry Miller
O Sole Mio (Just Like the Sunrise), Al. Dubin, Eduardo Di Capua, Giovanni Capurro, and F. Henri Klickmann
O’ Sole Mio! (My Bright Sun), Eduardo Di Capua, Richard L. Weaver, and Harry P. Small
Over the Hills, Virginia K. Logan and Frederic Knight Logan
Red Hot Mamma, Gilbert Wells, Bud Cooper, and Fred Rose
Rose Marie, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, Rudolf Friml, Herbert Stothard, and David Bennett
West of the Great Divide, George Whiting and Ernest R. Hall
Whose Izzy Is He (Is He Yours or Is He Mine), Lew Brown, Bud Green, and Murray Sturm
Yes! We Have No Bananas, Frank Silver and Irving Cohn
Submissions from 1923
Bambalina, Otto Harbach; Oscar Hammerstein, II; Vincent Youmans; and Herbert Stothart
Dirty Hands! Dirty Face!, Al Jolson, Grant Clarke, Edgar Leslie, and James V. Monaco
Dream Daddy, Louis Herscher and George Keefer
Elle n'est pas si mal que ça, Henri Christiné and Albert Willemetz
If Only I Knew You Were Sorry, Billy Muldoon and Frank Farrell
I Love You!, Harlan Thompson, Harry Archer, and Walter Brooks
Irish Love Song, Margaret Ruthven Lang
It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo', Wendell Hall and May Singhi Breen
Linger Awhile, Vincent Rose and Harry Owens
Miss Los Angeles: Queen of the Golden West, Vern Elliott and Robert V. Dale
Morning Will Come, Al Jolson, Buddy Gard De Silva, and Con Conrad
Once in a Blue Moon, Jerome Kern and Anne Caldwell
Sing Along!, Arthur A. Penn
Sleep, Earl Lebieg
So This is Love, E. Ray Goetz
That Old Gang of Mine, Ray Henderson, Billy Rose, and Mort Dixon
Tho Shadows Fall, James G. MacDermid and Annelu Burns
Wanita: Wanna Eat? Wanna Eat?, Sam Coslow and Al Sherman
Submissions from 1922
Bamboo Bay, Walter Donaldson, Raymond B. Egan, and Richard A. Whiting
Crinoline Days, Irving Berlin
Dream of Love, Franz Liszt
Fallen Leaf, Frederic Knight Logan
Hot Lips, Henry Busse, Henry Lange, and Lou Davis
I'll Be in My Dixie Home Again Tomorrow, Roy Turk and J. Russel Robinson
I'll Be in My Dixie Home Again Tomorrow, Roy Turk and J. Russel Robinson
Lovey Dove, Sigmund Romberg, Harold Richard Atteridge, and J. J. Shubert
Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean, Al. Shean and Ed. Gallagher
My Heart is Calling, Sigmund Romberg and Harold Richard Atteridge
National Colonial Anthem, George K. Hamilton