 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
50 Essential American Songs
(1759 -1860)The classification of a song is one having both words and music.
Thus, there are no instrumental works included.
The categories include:
ballads
Christmas carols & songs
patriotic songs
religious music
sentimental songs
war songs
This list is based on three criteria:
1. songs which are representative of a musical style.
2. songs evoking their historical period.
3.songs important because of their popularity
in sheet music sales.No claim is made to be comprehensive or include all the popular songs of the time. This list is meant to be representative and a reference list for students, teachers, writers or listeners.
Some of these songs are available on the CDR:
America in Song, Volume I (see below)
Other songs are available from PineTree Productions
for a copying fee and shipping charge.
If you are in search of vintage American music collections
and CDs, go here:Music Titles from PineTree Press
Do you enjoy songs and themes from the past?
Then consider joining this web group:
Membership is Free.
See also
Send your comments or questions to:
50 Essential American Songs
From
Francis Hopkinson
To
Daniel Decatur Emmett
(1759 -1860)Selected by Roger Hall, music preservationist
Some of the songs listed below [ marked # ] are on this CDR:
America in Song, Volume I -
From The American Revolution to World War I
Now in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the
FIRST SONG WRITTEN BY AN AMERICAN [see below]
is a list of recommended recordings
of earlier American music in two sections:I. 1759 - 1860
II. 1861 - 1959
The recordings will include American classical, folk, jazz, stage & screen, country & western, rock, rhythm & blues, and other music.
Funds are needed to publish this important survey in 2009.
If you know of a possible publisher or
would like to help fund this needed preservation project, write to:
w= words/ m = music
I. Prelude to the Revolution
1. "My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free" (1759) - w & m: Francis Hopkinson (the FIRST AMERICAN SONG)
2. "19th Psalm" (1761) - m: James Lyon
3. # "The Liberty Song" (1768) - w: John Dickinson/ tune: HEART OF OAK (the first propaganda song in America; words set to a British tune)
4. "Free America" (1770) - w: Dr. Joseph Warren/ tune: BRITISH GRENADIERS
II. The American Revolution
5. "The American Hero" (1775) - w: Nathaniel Niles/tune: HEROISM
6. # "The Lexington March" (c. 1775) - author unknown/
tune: YANKEE DOODLE7. # "Father and I Went Down to Camp" (1776) - w: Edward Bangs/
tune: YANKEE DOODLE
8. #"Chester" (1770/ 1778) - w & m: William Billings (first patriotic hit song with words and music by an American)9. " A Toast" (1778) - w & m: Francis Hopkinson (written in tribute to George Washington)
10. "David's Lamentation" (1778) - m: William Billings, 1778
11. "Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier" - author unknown
12. #"Thanksgiving Hymn" (1783?) - m: Williiam Billings, 1778
III. The Federalist Era13. # "The Grand Constitution" (1787) - author unknown/
tune: HEART OF OAK14. "Beneath a Weeping Willow's Shade" (1788) -
w & m: Francis Hopkinson (dedicated to George Washington)15.#"Ode to President George Washington" (1789) - w: Samuel Low/
tune: GOD SAVE THE KING (written for the First Presidential Inauguration in New York City)16. # "The Bird" (1790) - m: William Billings
17. # "Victory" (1793) - m: Daniel Read
18. #"Jubilant" (1794) - m: Supply Belcher
19. "New Jerusalem" (1796) - m: Jeremiah Ingalls
20. # "Hail, Columbia! (1799) - w: Joseph Hopkinson/
tune: THE PRESIDENT'S MARCH21. # "Adams and Liberty" (1798) - w: Thomas R.T. Paine/
tune: TO ANACREON IN HEAVEN
IV. From Singing Masters to Shakers
22. # "Dormant" (1802) - m: Jacob French
23. "Jefferson and Liberty" (1803) - author unknown
24. # "The Star Spangled Banner" (1814) - w: Francis Scott Key/
tune: TO ANACREON IN HEAVEN25."Home, Sweet Home" (1823) - w: John Howard Payne/
m: Sir Henry Bishop26. "My Country 'Tis of Thee" (1831) - w: Samuel F. Smith/
tune: GOD SAVE THE KING27."Old Dan Tucker" (c. 1830) - w & m: Daniel Decatur Emmett
28. "Amazing Grace (c. 1835) - w: John Newton/
m: NEW BRITAIN (unknown composer)29. "Woodman! Spare That Tree!" (1837) - w: George P. Morris/
m: Henry Russell30. "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" (1840) - author unknown
31. "Columbia the Land of the Brave (1843) - w & m: David T. Shaw
32. "The Old Granite State" (1843) - w & m: The Hutchinson Family
33. #"The Erie Canal" - author unknown
34. #"Buffalo Gals" (1844) - w & m:Cool White/ later a 1940s hit song; also sung in the popular film, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
35."Joy to the World" (1839) - m: Lowell Mason ("arr. from Handel")
36. # "Come Life, Shaker Life" (1835) - w & m: Issachar Bates
37. # "Simple Gifts" (1848) - w & m: Elder Joseph Brackett
V. Songs of Stephen Foster38. "Oh, Susanna" (1848)
39. "Camptwon Races (1850)
40. " Old Folks at Home" (1850)
41. "My Old Kentucky Home" (1853)
42. "Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair" (1854)
VI. Slavery and Sentimental Songs
43. "Get Off the Track" (1844) - w: Jesse Hutchinson/
tune: Old Dan Tucker [see No. 27] (Anti-salvery song)44. "There's Music in the Air" (1854) - w: Fanny Crosby/
m: George F. Root45. "Listen to the Mockingbird" (1855) - w: Alice Hawthorne (Septimus Winner)/ m: Richard Milburn
46. "Song of the Old Folks" (1855) - w: Albertt Laighton/
tune: AULD LAND SYNE47. "Darling Nellie Gray" (1856) - w & m: Benjamin Hanby
48. "We Three Kings of Orient Are" (1857) - w & m: John H. Hopkins
49. "Jingle Bells" (1857) - w & m: James Pierpont
50. "Dixie" (1859-60) - w & m: Daniel Decatur Emmett
Songwriters with 2 or more songs on the Top 50:
William Billings = 4 [Nos. 8, 10, 12, 16]
Daniel Decatur EmmettI = 2 [Nos. 27 and 50]
Stephen Foster = 5 [Nos. 38 - 42]
Francis Hopkinson = 3 [Nos. 1, 9, 14]
Hutchinson Family = 2 [Nos. 32, 43 ]
Send comments or questions to:
Click here to buy your favorite music and other posters!
Help support the mission of
American Music Preservation.com
Use this handy Search for your purchases...
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
© 2006-2008 PineTree Productions. All Rights Reserved.