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From the Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP)

 


Singing Stoughton!

This page has detailed information about
singing in Stoughton, Massachusetts,
home of the oldest choral society
in the United States of America

 

Information on this page was compiled by musicologist Roger Hall,
the foremost authority on Stoughton's choral music tradition.

Should you use any of the information listed below
please give credit to Mr. Hall
and
this American Music Preservation website.

 

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Stoughton Music Heritage Series

 

 








A few notes of introduction

 

 

For over 250 years the Town of Stoughton, Massachusetts has been a home for singing!

This town originally also included land which later became the towns of Avon, Canton, and Sharon, Massachusetts.

Yet many of its citizens and also American music specialists are unaware of the long and distinguished music history, beginning way back in the 1760s!

Among Stoughton's distinctions are two musical societies, one of them now -- the oldest choral society in the United States of America!

Over the years there have been many award-winning Stoughton High School musicians who have received gold and silver medals at competitions locally and elsewhere. For more information about these music groups contact the Stoughton High School Fine Arts Department.

Also, Stoughton also is the home of popular Grammy and Country Music Award-winning singer-songwriter, Lori Mckenna [see her website for more information]


and the musicologist and ASCAP composer Roger Hall [see his official website for more information]

 

A minefield of misinformation corrected by Roger Hall:

Unfortunately, there has been many statements about the singing tradition in Stoughton which are incorrect.

So let's correct these claims right here and now...

Error No. 1:

In John E. Flynn's booklet, Beyond the Blew-Hills: A Brief History of the Town of Stoughton, Massachusetts, he wrote this entry:

1762

Beginning Old Stoughton Musical Society: Capt. Samuel Talbot, leader.

That is all incorrect and totally misleading.

Though there were singing meetings being held in local homes and taverns, there was no organized musical society in 1762.

The first one was The Stoughton Musical Society (SMS) organized on November 7, 1786.
The name was changed to Old Stoughton Musical Society (OSMS) when it was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1908.

Their first leader was not Capt. Samuel Talbot..

Who then was their first song leader?

His name was Elijah Dunbar, who was also the first President from 1786 to 1808. He also led the "sings" of the chorus of only male voices at that time.
He lived in what is now Canton and was a graduate of Harvard College.

Capt. Talbot was actually Second President, serving from 1808 to 1818.

According to Elijah Dunbar's diary, there were singing meetings held at various places in Stoughton in 1762 and later,
but no organized musical society at that time.

See the booklet published by the Stoughton Historical Society which has information from original writings and including the early singing meetings
in 1762. This booklet is titled:

:A Man For All Seasons: The 1762 & 1806 Diaries of Elijah Dunbar

 

 

 

Error No. 2:

It has been claimed that the Handel & Haydn Society (H&H)in Boston is the oldest performing organization in America. They began in 1815.

Not true!

The Old Stoughton Musical Society (OSMS) was organized over 20 years earlier in 1786 and is thus the older of the two.
But the two organizations do not perform the same types of music.
H&H has performed mainly European classical choral and instrumental music,
while the OSMS has performed mostly American choral music, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries.


The Old Stoughton Musical Society was officially recognized as the oldest in The Guinness Book of Records in 1994,
thanks to proof provided by Stoughton musicologist, Roger Hall.

 


Error No. 3:

It has been claimed that The Music Society in Stoughton (MSIS) was the oldest choral society in America having begun in 1762.

That is False.

This MSIS actually began in 1802 and not 1762.

See information on The Musical Society in Stoughton below on this page..

The MSIS was disbanded in 1982 and its assets turned over to the Old Stoughton Musical Society.

 

Error No. 4:

It has been claimed that two early composers, Jacob French and Supply Belcher, both had joined the Old Stoughton Musical Society.

That is False.

French was a member of the early singing school taught in Stoughton by Boston tunesmith, William Billings, in 1774.
But he moved elsewhere and never joined the OSMS. Like Billings, he also taught singing.
He eventually moved to Simsbury, Connecticut where he died in 1817.

Belcher had a tavern in Canton where informal "sings" were held before there was any formal musical society.
He moved first to Hallowell, Maine in 1785, so he did not join the OSMS which was organized one year later.
Read more about Belcher -- click here

 

 

Error No. 5:

The tunebooks published by OSMS in 1829 and 1878 are seldom listed in scholarly publications and there seems to be
some prejudice against this less well-known singing tradition in a small Massachusetts town.

For example, there are 28 tunes by America's first major choral composer, William Billings, found in
The Stoughton Musical Society's Centennial Collection of Sacred Music (1878/ reprint, 1980),
yet this large tunebook is not even listed in the Catalog of the Musical Works of William Billings, compiled by Karl Kroeger.

 

 

Error No. 6:

This is probably the biggest error of them all:

Sadly, some of the officers of the Old Stoughton Musical Society over the years have stated incorrectly that lifetime membership is only 50 cents.
But they have misunderstood the original statement.

Here is what was written in the original membership book dated November 7, 1786:

"7th In order to raise a fund to defray necessary expenses, every Member shall pay, or cause to be paid, to the Treasurer, two shillings, and no member shall be admitted unless he shall sign the Articles of Regulations, and also pay, or cause to be paid, the same sum of two shillings to the Treasurer."

But they still had to pay for their "spirits" (whiskey) and their music books as well. So the two shillings was NOT a lifetime membership fee but only an "admission fee."
Singing members of the musical society still had to also pay for their music and any other expense that was needed to help sustain this historic musical society.


Please pass along that this Massachusetts town deserves to be recognized for its over two centuries of choral performances.

As the Town of Stoughton nears its 250th anniversary of their organization in 2026, and having this unique distinction of having
the oldest continuing choral society in America, it deserves to be called -



Singing Stoughton!

The two music collections used in
Old Stoughton Musical Society's concerts
during the 19th and 20th centuries:

 

Centennial Collection (1878/reprint, 1980)


Father Kemp's Old Folks Concert Tunes (1860, 1874, 1889/reprint, 1917)



Of interest to singers, historians, school teachers, students,
and anyone interested in local music history --
a new collection with documents, music examples,
audio and video bonus features on one handy DVD-ROM.


 

 



"DEDICATION" -
A Guide to Singing Meetings and Concerts in Stoughton, 1762-1992

(PTME 1028)


To read about this extensive multimedia collection -- click here

 


 

 

 
















 

A gift of music for the Stoughton Historical Society:

 

Following his illustrated PowerPoint program titled: "E.A. Jones: Stoughton's Man of Music,"
on February 9, 2020, musicologist, Roger Hall, holds the DVD he prepared
with music of local composer E.A. Jones (1853-1911)
which he donated to the Stoughton Historical Society collection,
presenting it to SHS President, Dwight MacKerron.

 

Also discovered at that time by John Carabatsos of the Stoughton Historical Society
was the full orchestral score for the oratorio by Edwin Arthur Jones, "EASTER CONCERT" (1887)
This is an important discovery of a major choral masterpiece.
Read about this majestic oratorio -- click here

 

 

 

 


 

 

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There are more DVDs and CDs
prepared by musicologist, Roger Hall,
with historical information, picture galleries,
audio examples, video programs
all featuring Stoughton choral singers and soloists
performing vocal music.

Read about them at this link:

Stoughton Music Heritage Series







                       

 

 

 

Selected Stoughton Music Highlights, 1762-1987

This information was compiled and written by musicologist, Roger Hall

 

Earliest Singing Meetings

 

 

 

The first known singing meetings outside of a local church were held in Stoughton in 1762. There are 30 singing meetings listed at various locations in the diary of Elijah Dunbar (1740-1814), who eventually became the President of the Stoughton Musical Society in 1786. A list of all the singing meetings in 1762 and 1763 from Dunbar's original diaries are included on the multi-media DVD, "Dedication" - A Guide to Singing Meetings and Concerts in Stoughton, 1762-1992

 

 

Stoughton's First Town Tune


This tune titled "Stoughton" is from the New England composer, William Billings of Boston. The tune was printed in his first tune collection titled, "The New-England Psalm Singer," published in Boston in 1770 -- THE FIRST COLLECTION OF MUSIC BY ONE AMERICAN COMPOSER. The reason he titled it "Stoughton" was due to the fact that he had relatives living in the Stoughton area. He came to town four years later to teach a singing school.

In 1980, musicologist and composer, Roger Hall, added a text by Dr. Isaac Watts (1674-1748) to this wordless Billings tune.
For the complete text -- click here


 

The William Billings Singing School

This photo from the early 1900s shows the site of Robert Capen's house at the corner of Park and Seaver Streets in Stoughton, Massachusetts. It was later moved and remodeled on Seaver Street where it still stands.

The Capen house is where the famous Boston composer, William Billings,taught his singing school in 1774. Billings was the best known New England composer in 18th century America. His Stoughton singing school had 49 pupils, consisting of young males and females, and one of them later became a composer himself, Jacob French.

In that singing school, Billings also met his future wife, Lucy Swan, and they lived in Boston.

 

 

 

Save 20% for this newest publication!

A new DVD-ROM with over 100 files, including 2 books, 2 audio albums with Billings tunes and a one hour video,
all for a very low price --

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Old Stoughton Musical Society (1786 - today)

 

This plaque is located at the entrance of the Stoughton Historical Society building in Stoughton Square and reads:

"On November 7, 1786, America's oldest musical society was organized near this spot. This plaque placed on the occasion of its 200th anniversary in 1986." 

This society was originally known as the Stoughton Musical Society (SMS) and had its first meeting at Robert Capen's house at the corner of Park and Seaver Streets. Many of the first members were from what is now Canton, Massachusetts, including their first President and Song Leader, Elijah Dunbar, who served as President until 1808. He was a graduate of Harvard College and active in many duties, including naming his Town of Canton, when it was incorporated in 1797. Vice-President was Capt. Samuel Talbot, who later served as as their second President from 1808 to 1818. The first Secretary was Lt. Samuel Capen, serving from 1786 to 1800. For the first few years there were two Treasurers: Joseph Smith, 4th and Andrew Capen.

At first it was exclusively a men's singing society with an admission fee of 2 shillings (approximately fifty cents in today's money). Members were also expected to pay for their "spirits" (drinks) and any other expenses. Later, it was incorrectly stated that the payment of today's equivalent of 50 cents was a lifetime membership, but that was supposed to be just a fee to join and membership dues would be possible also.

Then in 1844, "it was voted that ladies be invited to sing with the Society," after the serving of alcohol had been abolished.

This musical society added the prefix "Old" when they were officially incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1908. They accepted singers from all the surrounding towns, including Avon, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Canton, Randolph and other locales.

Two hundred years later to the date, on November 7, 1986, the OSMS bicentennial concert was held at Stoughton High School. The same major choral work was performed as at the Centennial Concert in 1886 -- Franz Joseph Haydn's The Creation, for soloists, chorus and orchestra. Also performed in the concert was a tune titled "Stoughton" by William Billings, in a new edition by Roger Hall with an 18th century text by Dr. Isaac Watts.

In 1994, thanks to the efforts of musicologist and composer Roger Hall, this choral society was listed in The Guinness Book of Records.

Mr. Hall also submitted the information to the Chase's Calendar of Events, a national directory, which had this entry:

"OLD STOUGHTON MUSICAL SOCIETY:  ANNIVERSARY.  Nov. 7, 1786.  Founded at Stoughton, MA, the Stoughton Musical Society is the oldest choral society in the United States."

This musical society has been existence for over 230 years!

To see the Official OSMS Site -- click here

 

 

First Singing Contest

Read about the contest between two Massachusetts choruses, included selected voices from the Stoughton Musical Society at

America's First Singing Contest


 

 

The Musical Society in Stoughton (1802-1982)

A second choral society was organized in Stoughton on January 1, 1802.

The only difference between the two societies was that only Stoughton residents could join this singing group. Many of them also belonged to the older Stoughton Musical Society. For example, the first President of this choral society was Capt. Samuel Talbot, who also served at the same time as Vice President of the Stoughton Musical Society.

Samuel Talbot served as President of the Musical Society in Stoughton from 1802 to 1808. The first Vice President was Robert Swan, who served from 1806 to 1808. First Secretary was Abram Capen (1802-1806), and First Treasurer was John Dickerman Jr. (1802-1806).



One of their last officers, Frank Reynolds, had the original sign board painted over with the incorrect date of 1762 substituted for the date of 1802, bringing great dishonor to him for tampering with an artifact of history. But his dirty deed didn't go unpunished. After years of incorrectly claiming they were the "oldest choral society in America," The Musical Society in Stoughton (MSIS) continued to lose members until they finally dwindled down to only a few and were disbanded in 1982, with their remaining assets given to the Old Stoughton Musical Society, who actually WAS the oldest singing society in town.

There are still traces of the wrong date for the Musical Society in Stoughton, such as in the Pilgrim Monument at Provincetown, Massachusetts, which may be "set in stone" but is still incorrect when it states the Musical Society in Stoughton began in 1762, instead of 1802. The 1786 date s correct for the Old Stoughton Musical Society. Actually both musical societies had singers who were attending informal singing meetings in 1762 in Stoughton but no musical society had yet been formed.

 

 

 

 

The Centennial Celebration in 1886

The Centennial observance of The Stoughton Musical Society took place with Gov. George D. Robinson and Lt. Gov. Oliver Ames in attendance. It was held on June 9, 1886 with an evening concert at Stoughton Town Hall:

The complete program for the Centennial on June 9:

Morning Exercises (10:00 a.m.)

1. Overture: The Magic Flute - Mozart
2. Hymn to the tune of "Old Hundred"
3. Prayer by Rev. E.H. Capen, D.D., President Tufts College.
4. Words of welcome by the SMS President, Winslow Battles.
5. Historical address by Hon. Samuel B. Noyes.
6. Centennial Hymn - written by Dexter Smith, Esq.

Evening Exercises (7:30 p.m.)

Oratorio: The Creation - F.J. Haydn

Miss Elene Buffington Kehew, soprano;
Mr. George J. Parker, tenor;
Mr. Clarence E. Hay, bass.
Orchestra of the Society, Mr. E.A. Jones, leader,
Mr. H.L. West, accompanist.
Conductor: Mr. Hiram Wilde,
Assistant Conductor: Mr. George N. Spear.

Tickets to Concert, 50 and 75 cents.
Admission to the morning exercises alone -- 25 cents


 

Stoughton's Second Town Tune (1886)

"OLD STOUGHTON" - In 1886, Edwin Arthur Jones composed a special commemorative piece for the Musical Society in Stoughton. This tune was composed in the 18th century New England fugal style. A copy the sheet music is included in the pamphlet, E.A. Jones: His Life and Music. A recording of "OLD STOUGHTON" is
on the AMRC CD 0047: "Dedication - The Stoughton Harmony."


 

Benefit Concert for Johnstown Flood Sufferers in 1889

Held at Stoughton Town Hall beginning at 8:00 p.m. on June 14 to raise money
for the victims of the horrific flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on May 31,1889.
The evening program included these music selections:

"Prelude for Horn and Orchestra" - E.M. Toomey, horn soloist,
Stoughton Dramatic Orchestra

"Ave Maria" (Winkler)- sung by Evie A. Drake

"The heart bowed down" (Balfe)- sung by Rev. C.E. Tenney


"Gondoliers" (Moszkowski) - piano solo by Minnie W. Brett

"Meditation" (Chenery) - sung by William Atherton

"Vacant Chair" (George F. Root-Henry S. Washburn) -
sung by Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Lunt, Rev. C.R. Tenney, Mr. S.E. Capen

"Marguerite" (Gounod) - sung by May A. Thayer

 

 

 

The World's Exposition Concerts in 1893

In August of 1893, the Stoughton Musical Society was the only invited chorus to perform early New England music at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The man mostly responsible for arranging these concerts was Stoughton composer and violinist, E.A. Jones. Two concerts were given on August 14 and 15, with several thousand people in the audience, more than attended the classical symphony concerts.

For a complete list of the music performed by the Stoughton Musical Society click this link:

1893 World's Columbian Exposition Concerts

Old Stoughton Musical Society Incorporation

Constitution Adopted at Randolph, Massachusetts

January 1, 1908

Article 1. Object

The object of this Society shall be as heretofore and always, the preservation, cultivation, and practice of the music of the earlier native composers, together with general musical and antiquarian activity.

Article II. Meetings
Article III. Officers
Article IV. Duties of Officers
Article V. Vice President
Article VI. Clerk
Article VII. Trustees
Article VIII. Directors
Article IX. Chorister [Conductor]
Article X. The Vice Chorister
Article XI. Membership
Article XII. Amendments

This Constitution has been changed many times since its approval in 1908, mostly to amend the articles.

.

Two Fall Music Festivals

"Musick in Old New England"

Old Stoughton Musical Society's First Fall Music Festival was held in Bridgewater, Massachusetts on October 14-15, 1978.

Featuring choral music by William Billings, Bartholomew Brown, Samuel Capen, Lewis Edson, Jeremiah Ingalls, Edwin Arthur Jones, Nahum Mitchell, and organ music by James Hewitt, Oliver Shaw and others. The Old Stoughton Musical Society Chorus, William J. Childs, director. Richard Hill, organist.

A CD is available from the radio program narrated by Festival Chairman, Roger Hall. Read about it at -- Stoughton Music Heritage Series

"Musick in Old Boston"
(In celebration of Jubilee 350 for City of Boston)

Second Fall Music Festival:
Boston, November 22-23, 1980

Stoughton Town Hall Centennial Concert in 1981

This concert honoring the centennial of Stoughton Town Hall was performed by the Old Stoughton Musical Society, conducted by Roger Hall, on November 22, 1981.  

A special banner with the Stoughton Town Seal was designed for the occasion by artist, Mildred Wilson.

All the music was by American composers, including: William Billings, Supply Belcher, Samuel Barber and Randall Thompson.

Some of the pieces in the concert were by local composers, including several choruses by Edwin Arthur Jones and an anti-war song, "Peace,"
set to a poem written in 1814 by a Stoughton young girl, Esther Talbot.

This is the first verse of her poem:

Come, gentle Peace, with smiling ray,
Beam on our land a cloudless day;
Beneath thy influence serene,
The olive wears immortal green.

The poem was set to music by Roger Hall and received its Premiere Performance in this 1981 concert,
with soloist Karen Pritchard and The Old Stoughton Musical Society Chorus.

Read more about this song from the Boston Globe newspaper article at -- Peace Poem 1814.



 

Most Performed Early New England Tunes


The custom at Stoughton Musical Society meetings was to sing some of the same tunes in their concerts.
As compiled by musicologist, Roger Hall, these are the top ten most performed tunes in Stoughton Musical Society concerts between 1882 and 1982:

No. 1: NEW JERUSALEM - Jeremiah Ingalls, 1764-1838 = 76 performances
No. 2: MAJESTY - William Billings = 75 performances
No. 3: CHESTER - William Billings, 1746-1800 = 74 performances
No. 4: VICTORY - Daniel Read, 1757-1836 = 66 performances
No. 5: TURNER - Abraham Maxim, 1773-1829 = 64 performances
No. 6: INVITATION - Jacob Kimball, 1761-1826 = 64 performances
No. 7: ANTHEM FOR EASTER - William Billings = 54 performances
No. 8: CONFIDENCE - Oliver Holden, 1765-1844 = 42 performances
No. 9: ODE ON SCIENCE - Jezaniah Sumner, 1754-1836 = 42 performances
No. 10: NEW BETHLEHEM - Edward French, 1761-1845 = 39 performances

Source: Singing Stoughton: Selected Highlights from America's Oldest Choral Society (1985)

 

 

Most Performed American Composers
(1976-1986)

This listing is based on the 16 concerts presented by The Old Stoughton Musical Society
between the 250th anniversary of the Town of Stoughton and the
200th anniversary of the Old Stoughton Musical Society in 1986:

 

 

No. 01: William Billings, 1746-1800 = 34 performances
No. 02: Edwin Arthur Jones, 1853-1911 = 15 performances
No. 03: Oliver Shaw, 1779-1848 = 15 performances
No. 04: Stephen C. Foster, 1826-1864 = 12 performances
No. 05: George W. Chadwick, 1854-1931 = 9 performances
No. 06: Charles E. Ives, 1874-1954 = 8 performances
No. 07: Jeremiah Ingalls, 1764-1838 = 6 performances
No. 08: Jacob French, 1754-1817 = 5 performances
No. 09: Lowell Mason, 1792-1872 = 5 performances
No. 10: Charles T. Griffes, 1884-1920 = 4 performances

Source: Music in Stoughton: A Brief History (1989)

OSMS Bicentennial Anniversary in 1986

November 7, 1986 was declared as "Old Stoughton Musical Society Day" in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by order of Governor Michael S. Dukakis. Shown here behind Gov. Dukakis are (left to right):
State Senator William R. Keating;
O.S.M.S. President David M. Benjamin;
State Representative Marjorie A. Clapprood;
O.S.M.S. Treasurer Joseph M. Klements;
O.S.M.S. Vice President and Bicentennial Chairman, Roger L. Hall

 

The Old Stoughton Musical Society Bicentennial Season included special exhibits at Harvard University, in Lexington and Stoughton, all prepared by Bicentennial Chairman, Roger Hall.

There were four concerts given during 1986:

The first one was given on April 20 in North Easton, Massachusetts, under the direction of Earl Eyrich. It featured the World Premiere performance of the hymn tune, STOUGHTON, by William Billings, edited by Roger Hall, who added a hymn text by Dr. Isaac Watts which was popular in 18th century New England.

Also, there was a special exhibit in the music library of Harvard University and two concerts given at the Museum of Our National Heritage in Lexington, Massachusetts:

The first concert in Lexington was presented in October and titled: "Two Centuries of Piano Music in New England," featuring pianist David Hagan performing works by Charles Ives, Edwin Arthur Jones, Roger Hall and other composers.

The following month a second concert was presented: "Two Centuries of Choral Music in New England," with the Old Stoughton Musical Society Chorus, directed by Earl Eyrich, performing music by William Billings, Jacob French, Oliver Shaw, Edwin A. Jones, George W. Chadwick, and Roger Hall, who composed an 18th century style fuging tune titled, DEDICATION, based on words printed in the 1794 tune book of William Billings.

The fourth concert that year was the official Bicentennial Concert held at Stoughton High School exactly two hundred years later on November 7, 1986.  The Billings hymn STOUGHTON was again performed and the featured work was Franz Joseph Haydn's oratorio, The Creation, for soloists, chorus and orchestra, conducted by Earl Eyrich.  This was the same work that had been performed in the 1886 concert of the Old Stoughton Musical Society. The Bicentennial Commemorative program booklet contains congratulatory letters from President Ronald Reagan, an entry in The Congressional Record by Hon. Joseph Moakley,  and concert notes by Earl Eyrich and Roger Hall.

Also on November 7, Roger Hall was a guest along with William Billings biographer, David McKay, on the popular Boston radio program, "Morning Pro Musica," on WGBH-FM and hosted by Robert J. Lurtsema. There were several Billings tunes played on the program. A portion of this radio interview is available on the CD,
The Best of William Billings (AMRC 0001).

In honor of this 200th anniversary, Roger Hall wrote a special Bicentennial Hymn based on the familiar psalm tune, "Old Hundred." This hymn text was included in the Bicentennial Concert Commemorative Program Booklet.

The 60 member chorus of The Old Stoughton Musical Society on stage at
Stoughton High School for the Bicentennial Concert on November 7, 1986

 

In fond memory of a past music director for the
Old Stoughton Musical Society,

Earl E. Eyrich, 1944-2001


In fond memory of these past OSMS musicians:

Sally MacKerron Worthen, 1947-2011
(soloist and Bicentennial Committee Member)

David M. Benjamin, 1921-2008
(soloist and Past OSMS President)

Richard W. Hill, 1938-2020
(organist and pianist)





 

Stoughton's Third Town Tune

Read about the town tune originally titled, "DEDICATION,"
composed by Roger Hall in 1986 for the Bicentennial of
The Old Stoughton Musical Society and
included in the sheet music collection,
TEN TOWN TUNES: MUSIC IN STOUGHTON -- click here

 

 

 

The Stoughton Musical Society
Bicentennial in 1987

 

The bicentennial of the oldest constitution of any musical society in the United States took place in October of 1987.

The Stoughton Musical Society was written in October of 1787, just a few weeks after the U.S. Constitution was written. Here is a portion of the opening statement or Preamble to this 1787 Constitution :

And as the powers of harmonious music are most admirably calculated to humanize the ferocious passions, to increase the various emotions of the mind, the different degrees of sensibility and all the feelings of the heart, that not only the sense of hearing receives the highest gratification from sounds the most congenial to the organs of man, but we are made partakers at one and the same time of instruction and delight in viewing the noblest work of the Almighty, put in motion to answer the noblest ends... We, therefore, esteem it our duty to study to promote that harmony which is pleasing to our Maker and so delightful to ourselves. Stimulated with these salutary and laudable motives, we, whose names are underwritten, form ourselves in a society by the name of the Stoughton Musical Society, for the implied purpose of practicing vocal music....

The bicentennial program including an original play about the writing of the Stoughton Musical Society's Constitution is titled "Old Stoughton and The Grand Constitution," and the video from the 1987 program is available on this DVD release:

"Dedication" - Singing in Stoughton, 1762-1992

 

 

 

 


Harmony Revered:
Old Stoughton vs. Sacred Harp Singing

Two of the oldest amateur singing traditions of religious or harmony music in the U.S. are the two musical societies in Stoughton, and the Sacred Harp singing in the South, especially in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

Of these, Stoughton is the oldest, performing choral music consisting of plain tunes, fuging tunes, set pieces and anthems. Also, this music has been supplemented with performances of larger choral works, such as cantatas and oratorios -- both types composed by an unjustly forgotten 19th century Stoughton composer, Edwin Arthur Jones.

There were two music collections published by the Stoughton Musical Society, the first in 1829 and the second one in 1878, which had tunes by Stoughton-born composers, such as Supply Belcher, Jacob French, and his brother, Edward French.

 

In 1980, The Stoughton Musical Society's Centennial Collection of Sacred Music (Ditson & Co., 1878), was reprinted with an Introduction and New Index by Roger Hall (New York: Da Capo Press, 304 pages). There are about 160 tunes in the collection, most of them by New England composers and some edited music by European composers (Haydn, Mozart, Naumann, Stephenson, Tans'ur). There are more New England tunes in this Stoughton collection than in most other tune books of the 19th century, including The Sacred Harp.



Just to give an example, here are the number of tunes by William Billings in these collections:



The Sacred Harp (1844/ revision, 1991) = 14 tunes

The Stoughton Centennial Collection (1878/ reprint, 1980) = 28 tunes

Thus, contrary to common belief, 18th century tunes did not disappear during the late 19th century and early 20th centuries in the North, at least in Stoughton and surrounding towns.

Unfortunately, this fact is forgotten or not known by scholars and those who sing the New England music from The Sacred Harp, and other contemporary tune books, like The Northern Harmony (1998) and The Norumbega Harmony (2003).

They all fail to mention the important singing tradition in Stoughton that has been continuous since the 1760s.

The only event ever mentioned about Stoughton is the famous singing school taught there by William Billings in 1774. It is incorrect to say that Billings actually organized the Stoughton Musical Society, though he was greatly admired and five of the pupils in his singing school later joined the musical society when it was organized in 1786. Much more has happened in Stoughton since that time.

Also, the singing traditions in the North and South are not the same.

The Sacred Harp (or Shape-note) Tradition features a different singing style, with more emphasis placed on lung power and less on subtle singing. It is a much better known tradition than the one from Stoughton, and much appreciated, as it should be.

The Stoughton Tradition has been a more cultivated one. Like the Sacred Harp Tradition, the singers are not usually professional musicians. In the past, most of the chorus was made up of singers from many nearby towns in the Stoughton area. Their concerts have often included many of the same people who meet to enjoy the singing experience. It has remained the longest such tradition but unfortunately seems to have lost its way in the present day, with far fewer good singers and a change of repertoire away from the singing of early New England tunes.

For over two centuries, early New England choral music was continued by the Old Stoughton Musical Society, and it deserves to be remembered for that achievement.

Much more information is provided in this book by Roger L. Hall:

"DEDICATION" - A Guide to Singing Meetings and Concerts in Stoughton, 1762-1992

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten Stoughton Choral Composers

Portrait and signature of Supply Belcher from
A History of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine


A research article written by Roger Lee Hall titled,

"The Handel of Maine:
The Musical Life of Supply Belcher"

included on the multimedia DVD,
"OLD STOUGHTON" - Singing Meetings and Concerts"

18th century Stoughton composers

There were at least four composers born in 18th century Stoughton, and two of them Supply Belcher and Jacob French, became better known when they moved to other New England states.

Belcher became a prominent judge in what is now Maine and French taught singing in Connecticut. Both produced music collections (or "tunebooks").

Belcher published only one tunebook, The Harmony of Maine (Boston, 1794), which may have tunes he composed while living in Canton, Massachusetts.

Jacob French published three tunebooks: The New American Melody (1789); The Psalmodist's Companion (1793), and The Harmony of Harmony (1802).

The four Stoughton-born composers from the 18th century are:

  • Supply Belcher (born: Stoughton, 1751/
    died: Farmington, Maine, 1836)
  • Samuel Capen (born: Stoughton, 1745 /
    died: Canton, Massachusetts, 1809)
  • Edward French (born: Stoughton, 1761 /
    died: Sharon, Massachusetts, 1845)
  • Jacob French (born: Stoughton, 1754 /
    died: Simsbury, Connecticut, 1817)

 

19th century Stoughton composers

  • Alanson Belcher (born: 1810/died: Stoughton, 1900)
  • Edwin Arthur Jones (born: 1853/died: Stoughton, 1911)

 

 

 

Stoughton Square in 1910

 

 

 

20th century composers

  • Laura Shafer Gebhardt (born: 1885/died Stoughton, 1959)
  • F. William Kempf (born: 1901/ died: Stoughton, 1950)
  • Frank W. Reynolds (born: 1887/died: Stoughton, 1975)
  • Roger L. Hall (born: 1942)

 

 

 

 

Sample Stoughton Music Programs

 

2012

 



Civil War Event at Faxon Park in Stoughton
April 21, 2012





One of the events was a display with music books and CDs prepared by Roger Hall.
He also played what is believed to be the first modern day concert performance of the original version
of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" written during the Civil War and
sung in Boston by the Old Stoughton Musical Society in 1980, conducted by Mr. Hall.
This version is included on this CD--



Click on this link for more information:

Glory, Hallelujah - Songs and Hymns of the Civil War Era


 

 

 

2011

The year 2011 marked the centennial of the death of Stoughton composer and town benefactor, Edwin Arthur Jones (1853-1911). In addition to his musical activities, Jones also designed the Stoughton Town Seal, which includes a music symbol.


On Sunday, March 13, at the Stoughton Historical Society, musicologist and Jones biographer, Roger Hall, presented several of his DVDs to Dwight MacKerron, Historical Society President. Roger also gave a brief slide show about the music of E.A. Jones at their monthly meeting.

 

 

 

E.A. Jones and Isabella Stewart Gardner:

On April 28, Roger Hall discussed and played a string quartet by E.A. Jones which was first performed at the home of Isabella Stewart Gardner in Boston in 1889. This discussion was part of the Stoughton Reads Together series about the book, The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World's Largest Unsolved Art Heist by Ulrich Boser.

Read more at this link: Edwin Arthur Jones

 

 

 

 

2010

Christmas "Sings"

2010 marked the 250th anniversary year of what is believed to be the first singing school held in New England. 

According to Daniel T.V. Huntoon, Elijah Dunbar, a recent Harvard College graduate, returned to his hometown of Stoughton and taught a singing school there in 1760. More singing meetings were held in the years that followed and by 1774, the Boston composer, William Billings, the Father of American Choral Music, came to town to teach another singing school.

One of the early New England Christmas carols was by Edward French in 1799...

To help celebrate this 250th anniversary, Roger Hall, Director of the New England Music Archive, presented a music program for the Randolph Historical Society, in the Jonathan Belcher House, 360 North Main St., Randolph, on Wednesday, Dec. 8. 

The program was titled, "The Christmas Sings in Randolph."

He read excerpts from his new latest publication on DVD: "OLD STOUGHTON" – Singing Meetings and Concerts and focused on the Christmas Day concerts held in Randolph, and also compared them to a story by the popular 19th century writer, Mary Wilkins Freeman, who wrote about a Christmas sing in Randolph, published in The Ladies’ Home Journal in 1897.

Here are a few of the old New England tunes performed in an 1896 Christmas Sing in Randolph:

INVITATION -- Jacob Kimball
VICTORY -- Daniel Read
MAJESTY -- William Billings
NEW BETHLEHEM -- Edward French
NEW JERUSALEM -- Jeremiah Ingalls

 

 

Some of this music in the Randolph program is included on a CD, Christmas Music From New England.  It includes many carols from New England, including popular ones like “O Little Town  of Bethlehem” and “Joy to the World.”

 

 

Patriotic Songs in Early Canton

On July 11, Roger Hall, Director of the New England Music Archive, presented a program titled,"Music in Early Canton" at the Canton Historical Society.

His program featured music by local composers, plus patriotic songs from a CD recorded in Canton titled, "A Toast - Music of George Washington's Time" including these patriotic songs:

Father and I Went Down To Camp
(tune: Yankee Doodle)

Ode To President George Washington
(tune: God Save The King)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Books and Articles

 

Flynn, John E.

Beyond the Blew-Hills: A Short History of the Town of Stoughton, Massachusetts. Stoughton: Stoughton Historical Society, 1976.
Originally published in 1956.

Hall, Roger L.

  • E.A. Jones: His Life and Music, 1984.

  • "Elijah Dunbar: Canton's First Music Man,"
    Stoughton Journal
    newspaper, February 20, 1997.

  • "When will Stoughton get back on the musical map?"
    Stoughton Journal newspaper, December 11, 1997.

  • MAJESTY: William Billings and The Stoughton Musical Society,
    Stoughton: PineTree Press, 2000.

  • Music in Early Canton: Historical Notes and Music.
    Stoughton: PineTree Press,1997.


  • Music in Stoughton: A Brief Survey, 1989.

  • New England Songster: Songs written between 1768 and 1988,
    PineTree Press, 1997.


  • OLD STOUGHTON: Singing Meetings and Concerts
    Stoughton: PineTree Press, 2010. Multimedia DVD.

  • SINGING STOUGHTON: Selected Highlights from America's Oldest Choral Society, 1985.

  • "Stoughton Choral Society - America's Oldest - Turns 225,"
    Online: Wicked Local News,October 28, 2011, also The Stoughton Journal newspaper.


  • "Stoughton's Singing History,"
    Online: Stoughton Patch news site,
    December 11, 2012.


  • The Stoughton Songster: Music Performed between 1980 and 1990.
    Stoughton: PineTree Press, 1991.

  • Ten Town Tunes - Music From Stoughton, 1770-1990.
    Stoughton: PineTree Music, 1998.

  • The Stoughton Musical Society's Centennial Collection of Sacred Music.
    Boston: Ditson & Company, 1878/ Reprint, DaCapo Press, 1980.
    Introduction and New Indexes by Roger Hall.

    "This reprint is a most welcome offering for anyone interested in examining our native musical heritage, particularly those concerned with the choral tradition... This volume should furnish hours of pleasant singing -- useful in the church, concert hall and the home." - review by David P. McKay in The Hymn, 1982

  • "William Billings' songs to be remembered, Celebration set Oct. 6 at Boston Common," Stoughton Journal, September 26, 1996.

Huntoon, Daniel T.V.

History of Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts
, Cambridge, MA: John Wilson and Son, 1893. Includes a chapter on music in Canton and Stoughton.

Jones, Mary (Swan) and Frank W. Reynolds

History of the Musical Society in Stoughton, undated history [sub-heading "Formed in 1762" is incorrect. This society was formed officially on January 1, 1802.]

Ritterband, Vicki

"Choral group gets credit as nation's oldest"
The Patriot Ledger newspaper, January 8/9, 1994.
Story about Old Stoughton Musical Society being listed in The Guinness Book of World Records.

Standish, Lemuel, editor

The Old Stoughton Musical Society: An Historical and Informative Record of the Oldest Choral Society in America
. Stoughton, Massachusetts, 1929.

 

 

 

Music Collections

.

 

Contents:

PART ONE: William Billings - His Life and Music
1. Family Tree
2. Parents
3. Wife and Children
4. Occupations
5. Revolutionary Patriot
6. Singing Master and Composer

PART TWO: William Billings and Old Stoughton
7. The Singing School
8. The Stoughton Musical Society
9. First Tunebook
10. Second Tunebook
11. Chicago World's Exposition Concerts
12. Billings Tunes in Stoughton Concerts (1876-1986)

Notes
Bibliography
Discography

MUSIC SUPPLEMENT:

THE PLEASURES OF VARIETY (Text: William Billings/
Music: Roger Hall)

COME LET US SING (Text: William Billings/ Music: Roger Hall)

MAJESTY (music by William Billings, 1778)

STOUGHTON (music by William Billings, 1770, edited by Roger Hall)

Music Activities in Stoughton (1980-1999)

 

 

 

2012

 



Civil War Event at Faxon Park in Stoughton
April 21, 2012





One of the events was a display with music books and CDs prepared by Roger Hall.
He also played what is believed to be the first modern day concert performance of the original version
of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" written during the Civil War and
sung in Boston by the Old Stoughton Musical Society in 1980, conducted by Mr. Hall.
This version is included on this CD...



Click on this link for more information:

Glory, Hallelujah - Songs and Hymns of the Civil War Era


 

 

.

A series of 4 CDs from concerts and festivals

 

 

 

No. 1: "Chester" - Music in Old New England, 1778 - 1878 (radio documentary)

Radio broadcast with narration by Roger Hall of highlights from the Old Stoughton Musical Society's
First Fall Music Festival in Bridgewater, Massachusetts on October 14-15, 1978.

Featuring choral music by William Billings, Bartholomew Brown, Samuel Capen, Lewis Edson, Jeremiah Ingalls, Edwin Arthur Jones, Nahum Mitchell, and organ music by James Hewitt, Oliver Shaw and others.
The Old Stoughton Musical Society Chorus, William J. Childs, director.
Richard Hill, organist.

 

No. 2: "Peace" - A Dedication Concert
(In Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Stoughton Town Hall)

Read more about this concert presented by the Old Stoughton Musical Society, conducted by Roger Hall, on November 22, 1981 --

Click this link

 

 

No. 3: "THE HEAVENLY VISION" - Old Stoughton Music Sampler

A survey of music covering two centuries from the 1770s to 1980s, performed by the Old Stoughton Musical Society. Including music by: Supply Belcher, William Billings, Samuel Capen, Stephen Foster, Edward and Jacob French, Roger Hall, Oliver Holden, Jeremiah Ingalls, Charles Ives, Edwin Arthur Jones, and Daniel Read.

 

 

No. 4: "DEDICATION" - The Stoughton Harmony

A selection of choral music by New England composers from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. These are the music titles:

1. The Star Spangled Banner - 19th century choral arrangement

Music By William Billings (1746-1800)
2. STOUGHTON - 1770 (ed. by Roger Hall) - First Performance, 1986
3. SHARON - 1778 (ed. by Roger Hall) - First Performance, 1980
4. BOSTON - 1778
5. CHESTER - 1778 & 1786 (with Paul Revere bell)
6. MAJESTY - 1778
7. THANKSGIVING HYMN (tune: KITTERY)
8. DAVID'S LAMENTATION - 1778

Music From Federalist Era
9. CONSTITUTION SONG (1788)
10. ODE TO PRESIDENT GEORGE WASINGTON (1789)
- excerpt from historical play celebrating U.S. Constitution (1987)
11. MOUNT VERNON - Oliver Holden, 1799

Music From New England Singing Masters
12. CORONATION - Oliver Holden (1793)
13. VICTORY - Daniel Read (1793)
14. NEW JERUSALEM - Jeremiah Ingalls, 1796
15. NORTHFIELD - Jeremiah Ingalls
16. NEW BETHLEHEM - Edward French, 1799
17. THE DOVE - Samuel Capen, 1805


Civil War Years:
18. JOHN BROWN and BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC (1861-62)
19. GIVE US THIS DAY - Stephen Foster, 1863

The Gilded Age:
20. SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE PILGRIMS - Temperance Hymn
21. OLD STOUGHTON - Edwin Arthur Jones, 1886
22. THE LORD IS KING - Edwin Arthur Jones, 1890
23. EASTER CAROL - Charles Ives, 1892

20th Century:
24. O, BOSTON - arr. by Roger Hall, 1980
- First Performance for Boston's 350th anniversary
25. DEDICATION - Roger Hall, 1986 - First performance in OSMS 200th Anniversary Season

26. PEACE - Roger Hall
- First Performance, 1990 - "A Stoughton Musicfest"
27. SONG OF THE OLD FOLKS (tune: AULD LANG SYNE)

 

Each of these four CDs are available for $15.00 or $48 for all four CDs,
and including Free shipping (USA orders only).

To order one or more of the special produced CDs -- click here

 

 

 

 

 

Would you like to schedule a lecture or workshop about
Singing Stoughton
or a related topic?

Read more at this link:

Lectures and Workshops

.

Musicologist Makes Music

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to the efforts of musicologist, Roger Hall, the Old Stoughton Musical Society (OSMS) was listed as America's oldest choral society in The Guinness Book of Records and also in Chase's Calendar of Events - a national directory.

Roger served as the first Chairman of the Stoughton Arts Council from 1980 to 1984, and he was a member of the Massachusetts Arts Advisory Committee during the 1980s.

Between 1979 and 1987, he was the Historian and Vice-President of the Old Stoughton Musical Society.

He also organized several music festivals:

"Musick in Old New England" (1978)

"Musick in Old Boston" (1980)

 

He was the Chairman of the Old Stoughton Musical Society Bicentennial Committee in 1986 and scheduled concerts in Lexington, and an exhibit of Stoughton music at Harvard University's Music Library.

in 1986, he produced a series of monthly programs for local cable television, "In Concert," featuring music from Old Stoughton Musical Society concerts and highlighting Stoughton high school musicians: Synneve Carlino, currently Chief Communication Officer for Carnegie Hall Society in New York City, and Anthony DiLorenzo (1985-2017) - an award-winning composer.

In the 1980s, he discovered the manuscript music of E.A. Jones at the Stoughton Historical Society and especially his major work, the 1881 cantata for soloists, chorus and orchestra titled, Song of Our Saviour, which received its World Premiere performance in Stoughton in 1992 and was written about in the Boston Globe newspaper.

Roger was the OSMS conductor for several seasons (1980-81). He also composed two choral compositions:

"Dedication" (premiered in 1977/revised version in 1986)

"Peace" (premiered in 1981/ revised version in 1990)

To read about his preservation efforts, click on this link:

Saving Local Music

Roger is an authority on music from earlier America and is currently Director of the Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP) and the New England Music Archive [NEMA].

List of his programs presented at the Stoughton Public Library::

"The Lore and Legends of Christmas Carols" (1982)

'E.A. Jones: His Life and Music" (1984)

"Old Stoughton and The Grand Constitution" (including original play, 1987)

"A Stoughton Musicfest" - A Celebration of Local Composers and Musicians (1990)

"Lincoln and Liberty" (2009)

"Running Wild: Molasses and Music Merriment" (2009)

 

He is available to present his entertaining and educational programs for colleges, schools, libraries, historical societies or other organizations.

See Roger Hall's programs listed at this link -- Lectures and Workshops

 

 

Do you have any questions about the choral singing tradition in Stoughton?

Send your questions to:
Singing Stoughton

 

 

 

Additional Links

 

 

American Music Preservation Website

American Music Timeline

American Music Resource Editions [AMRE]

New England Music Archive [NEMA] 

New England Choral Archive [NECA]

New England Composer Series No. 1: William Billings

New England Composer Series No. 2: Supply Belcher

New England Composer Series No. 3: Edwin A. Jones

New England Harmony: Six Early New England Composers

Old Stoughton Musical Society

Old Stoughton Musical Society Official Site

Old Stoughton Musical Society (1929 History)

Stoughton Musical Society (Wikipedia)

Local History and Music

Canton Historical Society

Sharon Historical Society

Stoughton Historical Society

 

 

 

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