Music from Stoughton
This old photo from the early 1900s shows the site of Robert Capen's house at the corner of Park and Seaver Streets in Stoughton.
The Capen house is where Boston composer William Billings taught his singing school in 1774 Twelve years later in that house, twenty-five men met to formally organize the Stoughton Musical Society, now the oldest choral society in America.
The Town of Stoughton, Massachusetts, located approximately 20 miles south of Boston,
is known as "The Birthplace of American Liberty."
On August 16, 1774 Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Joseph Warren met at Doty's Tavern to begin writing the Suffolk Resolves. The final meeting was held at Vose's Tavern in nearby Milton. John E. Flynn in his Stoughton history booklet, Beyond the Blew-Hills, claimed that this document "electrified a discordant Congress in Philadelphia with the boldest statement ever made on the continent."
The first descriptions of music in Stoughton can be traced back to the 1760s.
The Stoughton Musical Society was organized on November 7, 1786. Its constitution was written a year later, just a few weeks after the US Constitution had been written in Philadelphia.
After it was incorporated in Massachusetts in 1908, it was called the Old Stoughton Musical Society.
Exactly two hundred years after it was organized, this musical society performed its Bicentennial Concert at Stoughton High School. This 1986 concert featured Haydn's oratorio, The Creation, the same work performed for the Centennial Concert in 1886. A new hymn was also written by Roger Hall for the OSMS Bicentennial. Besides the 1986 concert, there was a proclamation from Gov Michael Dukakis that November 7 was "Old Stoughton Musical Society Day" in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Would you like to schedule an entertaining music program for your organization or school?
If so, then look at these
Music Lectures and Workshops
Are you a music lover or a musician?
There is more information at these web pages:
Music in New England
Old Stoughton Musical Society History
The Tune Lovers Society
If you know of a musician or a music lover,
the following music collections and CD-Rs or Tapes would make an ideal gift...
1. Music in Stoughton: A Brief Survey
Booklet and accompanying CD-R or Cassette Tape = $10.00 (postage included)
A booklet featuring highlights of Stoughton's music history, from 1762 to 1987. It covers the first singing meetings to the activities of the Old Stoughton Musical Society and Stoughton High School music program.
The booklet also includes all the names in the historic early singing school taught by Boston composer, William Billings, in 1774.
Also illustrations of an 1829 Stoughton tunebook, a concert announcement for the benefit of the Johnstown Flood of 1889, and a song titled "Peace" by Roger Hall, based on a 1814 poem by a Stoughton teenage girl.
To order this collection, write to:
Pinetree Music
2. The Stoughton Songster
Booklet and accompanying CD-R or Cassette Tape = $10.00 (postage included)
A collection featuring the words for 12 songs performed in Stoughton concerts between 1980 and 1990.
CD-R Tracks:
1. Song: "O Boston" (text: William Bradford/ music edited by Roger Hall, 1980) --written for the 350th anniversary of the City of Boston.
2. Hymn: "Stoughton" (music by William Billings, 1770/ edited by Roger Hall, 1986)--for the Bicentennial of the Old Stoughton Musical Society.
3. Political Songs:
"Father and I Went Down to Camp"/ "Yankee Song" (tune: Yankee Doodle)
4. Inauguration Song: "Ode to George Washington" (text: Samuel Low, 1789/edited by Roger Hall,1982)
5. Patriotic Song: "My Country 'Tis of Thee" (text: Samuel Francis Smith, 1831)
6. Civil War Songs: "John Brown" (1861)/ "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (text: Julia Ward Howe, 1862)
7. Choral Song: "Old Stoughton" (Edwin Arthur Jones, 1886)
8. Children's Song: "Lullaby" (Frank W. Reynolds, 1922)
9. Folk Song: "Barbara Allen" (arranged by F. William Kempf, 1942)
10. Patriotic Song: "Peace"(text: Esther Talbot, 1814 / music: Roger Hall, 1990)
11. Pipe Organ: "Prelude & Fugue in G minor"(Edwin Arthur Jones, 1878)
12. Monitor Radio: 200th Anniversary of Old Stoughton Musical Society -- November 8, 1986
13. Chamber Music: "String Quartet No. 2"(Prelude)(Edwin Arthur Jones, 1887)
14. Patriotic Song: "Peace" (music by Roger Hall, 1981)(First Performance)--
Written for the Centennial of Stoughton Town Hall in 1981.
15. Song: "Dedication" (music by Roger Hall, 1986)--written for the Old Stoughton Musical Society Bicentennial.
16. Solo Flute: "A Little Theatre Music" (music by Roger Hall, 1990)[In Memory of Dorothy Woodward]
17. Solo Piano: "The Farewell Waltzes" (music by Edwin Arthur Jones, 1874)
To order this collection, write to:
Pinetree Music
3. Ten Town Tunes: Music from Stoughton, 1770-1990
Music collection + CD-R = $20.00 (postage included)
Music collection + Cassette Tape = $15.00 (postage included)
A spiral bound book with accompanying CD-R of vocal and instrumental music featuring Stoughton music from the past.
This collection includes music by these Stoughton composers:
Jacob French, Edwin Arthur Jones, Frank W. Reynolds, F. William Kempf, and Roger Hall.
CD-R Tracks:
1. Psalm Tune: "Stoughton" (William Billings, 1770/ edited by Roger Hall)
2. Tavern Song: "Fly" (Jacob French, 1802)
3. Piano Piece: "Stoughton Waltz" (Oliver Shaw, 1839)
4. Choral Song: "Old Stoughton" (Edwin Arthur Jones, 1886)
5. Piano Piece: "Farewell Waltz" (Edwin Arthur Jones, 1874)
6. Children's Song: "Lullaby" (Frank W. Reynolds, 1922)
7. Folk Song for Soloist, Flute and Piano: "Barbara Allen" (arranged by F. William Kempf, 1942)
8. Choral Tune: "Dedication" (music: Roger Hall, 1986/ words: William Billings, 1794)
9. Anti-war Song: "Peace" (music: Roger Hall, 1990/ words: Esther Talbot, 1814)
10. Solo Flute: "A Little Theatre Music" (music: Roger Hall, 1990)
11. Piano: "Farewell Waltzes" (finale)(Edwin Arthur Jones)
12. Anthem: "Creator God, We Give You Thanks" (Roger Hall, 1977)
13. Anthem: "Prepare the Royal Highway" (arranged by Roger Hall, 1978)
14. Anthem: "He Whom Shepherds Once Came Praising" (arranged by Roger Hall, 1978)
15. Hymn: "They Who Seek the Throne of Grace" (arranged by Roger Hall, 1979)
16. Hymn: "Lord, Keep Us Steadfast" (arranged by Roger Hall, 1983)
17. Choral Responses: "Psalm, Prayer, Benediction"(based on themes of J.S. Bach) (Roger Hall, 1985)
18. Shaker Song: "Gentle Words" (arranged by Roger Hall, 1976)
19. Shaker Song: "Love is Little" (arranged by Roger Hall, 1976)
20. Patriotic Songs: "Yankee Song" (tune: YANKEE DOODLE)
& "Ode to George Washington" (tune: GOD SAVE THE KING) -- arranged by Roger Hall, 1987
21. Choral Songs: "Season's End" (Roger Hall, 1979)
To order this collection, write to:
Pinetree Music
Stoughton History on Videotape
SINGING STOUGHTON
Four half-hour programs, produced and hosted by Roger Hall:
1. SINGING STOUGHTON: The Story of America's Oldest Choral Society (October 1985)
2. IN CONCERT: EASTER CONCERT (Part 3) by E.A. Jones (March 1986)
3. IN CONCERT: Sunday School Hymns by Stephen Foster (May 1986)
4. IN CONCERT: 200 Years of Music in Stoughton (November 1986)
NOW AND THEN - 4 video programs
1. A Centennial Salute to Stoughton Square (1986) -- celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Stoughton Square. Interviews with Selectman Roy Cohen and Town Historian, Howard Hansen. Includes vintage photographs and silent movie from the Town of Stoughton Bicentennial Parade in 1926.
2. A Centennial Tribute to E.A. Jones (1987) -- with rehearsal excerpts from Old Stoughton Musical Society, interviews with OSMS director Earl Eyrich and others, and E.A. Jones music in concert.
3. Old Stoughton and the Grand Constitution (1987) - celebrating the 200th anniversaries of the U.S. Constitution (September 17, 1787) and The Stoughton Musical Society Constitution (October 8, 1787). Readings from the U.S. Constitution by Katy Dexter and David Levy -- both from the E.A. Jones School; Jeanne Fleming, Stoughton Town Clerk; and Howard Hansen, Stoughton Historical Society. State Citation presented by Sen. William R. Keating. One act play: "The Grand Constitution" - featuring Wayne Olem portraying Elijah Dunbar, Esquire; and Bert Anderson portraying Lt. Samuel Capen. Singers from The Old Stoughton Musical Society; Richard Hill, pianist. The play was written and directed by Roger Hall.
4. The Musical Telephone: A Romantic Narrative - one-act play based on the utopian novel, Looking Backward (2000-1888), by Edward Bellamy. The play has two characters: Julian West (Greg Bazaz) and Edith Leete (Dorothy Yanish). The play features music by Joseph Brackett, E.A. Jones, and Roger Hall. Play written and directed by Roger Hall. First produced at the Bellamy Centennial Conference, Emerson College, Boston, September 29, 1988.
A Stoughton Musicfest - A Celebration of Local Composers & Musicians
A one hour program featuring local musicians performing in a program at the Stoughton Public Library from May 10, 1990.
Narrator: Marion Wroble of WBET-AM in Brockton.
Actor Skip Maloney portrayed Boston composer, William Billings, teaching a singing school for the elementary school chorus. Two tunes were performed: CHESTER and STOUGHTON.
Premiere of a revised version of the song titled "Peace," sung by a vocal quartet: Elizabeth Trueblood, soprano; Carol Mezzanotte, alto; Sally MacKerron, female tenor; Roger Hall, bass; with Donna Hieken, flute, and Richard Hill, piano.
Several songs performed by the 30 voice chorus from all six Stoughton elementary schools, directed by Carol Mezzanotte.
Stoughton High School Student Ensembles, directed by Ronald Christianson.
To order the publications, CD-Rs or videotapes listed above, go to:
Music Titles from PineTree Press
The information of this web page has been compiled by musicologist and composer, Roger Hall.
If you have any comments or questions, write to:
Music from Stoughton
Return to top
