The Billings Singing School
This old picture shows the site of Robert Capen's house, at the corner of Park and Seaver Streets in Stoughton, Massachusetts. It was in this Capen house where famed Boston composer and singing-master, William Billings, was reported to have taught his famous singing school in January of 1774. In the picture, seated in front of this house, are: Stoughton violinist and composer, Edwin Arthur Jones, and his musician brother, Henry Jones, with their wives seated next to them. This house has been moved to Seaver Street and is today privately owned. A plaque has been placed at the entrance of the Stoughton Historical Society building in Stoughton Square which mentions this location.
The First Singing Contest
Long before "American Idol" or other television contests, the first singing contest held in the U.S. was held about 1790. Here is the description from the Stoughton Musical Society's Centennial Collection:
"Confident in their ability and ready to test it, they challenged the Stoughton singers to a trial. The challenge was accepted; a meeting arranged. It was held in a large hall in Dorchester, and, says a narrator who was one of the singers, 'The hall was filled with prominent singers, far and near, including many notables from Boston.' The Dorchester contestants had a 'bass viol' and female singers. The Stoughton party consisted of twenty selected male voices, without instruments, and led by Squire Elijah Dunbar, the president of the Stoughton Musical Society, who was not only one of the most accomplished singers of his day, but distinguished for his commanding presence and dignified bearing. The Dorchester party sang an anthem, recently published, executing it with grace and precision. The Stoughton party followed with Jacob French's new anthem, 'The Heavenly Vision,' rendered without book or notes. The applause was unbounded as they took their seats. Again the Dorchester choir sang; then, to close the tournament, the Stoughton choir sang, without book, Handel's grand 'Hallelujah Chorus,' recently published in the country by Isaiah Thomas. The Dorchester singers acknowledged defeat... So endeth this incident of the olden time."
To sing Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" from memory and without any instrumental accompaniment was an impressive achievement for its time and would be today as well.
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. The Centennial Celebration of the Stoughton Musical Society was held on June 9, 1886 with an evening concert at Stoughton Town Hall:
The program for 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 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
Also in 1886, E.A. Jones composed a special commemorative piece for the Musical Society in Stoughton and he titled it, "OLD STOUGHTON." It was written as a fuging tune in the 18th century New England style of William Billings and his contemporaries. This tune is included in the pamphlet, E.A. Jones: His Life and Music and a recording this piece is on the CD, A Centennial Collection: Music by E.A. Jones.
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, Edwin Arthur Jones. Two concerts were given on August 14 and 15, with several thousand people in the audience, far more than attended the symphony concerts. For a complete list of the music performed by the Stoughton Musical Society, go to:
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.
The Stoughton Town Hall Centennial Concert
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. 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 E.A. Jones and the World Premiere of an anti-war song, Peace, set to a poem written in 1814 by a Stoughton teenage girl, Esther Talbot. The music was composed by Roger Hall. Read more about this song at Peace Poem of 1814. The first performance of this song is available on this CD:
Come, Gentle Peace - Music by Roger Hall
Read about this concert and the CD with highlights from this 1981 Stoughton Town Hall Centennial Concert.
The 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 ]
This plaque was placed 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 the 200th anniversary in 1986."
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.
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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 [original 1770 printed copy shown above]. It originally had music only without any words. The Billings tune was 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.
In honor of this celebration, Roger Hall wrote a special Bicentennial Hymn based on the familiar psalm tune, "Old Hundred." This hymn text was included in the Bicentennial 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 memory of a respected past Old Stoughton Musical Society music director,
Earl E. Eyrich, 1944-2001
In memory of two past Old Stoughton singers and officials,
Sally (MacKerron) Worthen, 1947-2011(soloist and Bicentennial Committee Member)
David M. Benjamin, 1921-2008 (soloist and Past OSMS President)
The Musical Society in Stoughton, 1802-1982
This second choral society was organized on January 1, 1802. The only difference between the two societies was that only Stoughton residents could join this group. Many of them also belonged to the older Stoughton Musical Society.
For many years the Musical Society in Stoughton officers claimed to have been founded in 1762, but there are no documents to support that claim.
The first president of the Musical Society in Stoughton was Capt. Samuel Talbot, who was also President of the Stoughton Musical Society from 1808 to 1818.
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, which was the oldest.
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 is correct for the Old Stoughton Musical Society. Actually both musical societies had singers who were attending informal singing meetings in 1762 in Stoughton, but there was no formal musical society at that time.
Father Kemp and Old Folks Concert Tunes
One of the most popular choral music collections in late 19th century America was titled: Father Kemp's Old Folks Concert Tunes (3 editions:
1860/ 1874/ 1889, reprinted in 1917 and 1934).
This collection was used extensively by the Old Stoughton Musical Society during the late 19th century and throughout the 20th century.
One of the songs featured in all three editions, sung for many years at Old Stoughton Musical Society concerts in memory of those who had passed on, is discussed at this link:
"Song of the Old Folks"
Father Kemp and Auld Lang Syne
Harmony Revered:
Old Stoughton vs. Sacred Harp Singing
by Roger Lee Hall
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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 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
There are approximately 48 early New England tunes in The Sacred Harp and 33 of these tunes are also found in The Stoughton Centennial Collection -- which is not a shape-note tunebook.
Thus, contrary to common belief, 18th century tunes did not disappear during the 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, these 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 two centuries, 18th century choral music was continued by the Stoughton Musical Society, and deserves to be remembered for that achievement.
Most Performed Early New England Tunes
As compiled by 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
No. 2:
CHESTER - William Billings, 1746-1800
No. 3: MAJESTY - William Billings
No. 4: VICTORY - Daniel Read, 1757-1836
No. 5: TURNER - Abraham Maxim, 1773-1829
No. 6: INVITATION - Jacob Kimball, 1761-1826
No. 7: ANTHEM FOR EASTER - William Billings
No. 8: CONFIDENCE - Oliver Holden, 1765-1844
No. 9: ODE ON SCIENCE - Jezaniah Sumner, 1754-1836
No. 10: NEW BETHLEHEM - Edward French, 1761-1845
Source: SINGING STOUGHTON: Selected Highlights from America's Oldest Choral Society(1984)
Stoughton Composers
[Portrait of Supply Belcher
from: A History of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine,
and Music in Early Canton]
A research article written by Roger Lee Hall titled,
"The Handel of Maine: The Musical Life of Supply Belcher"
is included as a document on the multimedia DVD
titled,
"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 Maine and French taught singing in Connecticut. Both produced music collections (or "tunebooks" as they are now known).
Belcher published only one tunebook, The Harmony of Maine (Boston, 1794), whch may have tunes he composed while living in Canton, Massachusetts.
Jacob French published three tunesbooks: 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)
Aerial view of Stoughton Square in the 1970s
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 Lee Hall (born: 1942)
Stoughton Music Programs
2011
E.A. Jones: Stoughton's Past Music Man
This year marks 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, 2011 at the Stoughton Historical Society, musicologist and Jones biographer, Roger Hall [shown at left], presented several of his DVDs to Dwight MacKerron, Historical Society President. Roger also gave a 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 to: 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 -- Jaco Kimball
VICTORY -- Daniel Read
MAJESTY -- William Billings
NEW BETHLEHEM -- Edward French
NEW JERUSALEM -- Jeremiah Ingalls
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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.
OLD STOUGHTON: Singing Meetings and Concerts, 1760-1910
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," Wicked Local online, October 28, 2011, and Stoughton Journal.
The Stoughton Songster: Music Performed between 1980 and 1990.
Stoughton: PineTree Press, 1991.
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."
--from a review by David P. McKay, The Hymn, 1982
Ten Town Tunes - Music From Stoughton, 1770-1990.
Stoughton: PineTree Music, 1998.
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.
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)
This monograph is in very limited supply and single copies may be ordered by writing to:
MAJESTY
Special Offer!
Learn about one of the oldest singing traditions
in the United States.
Music in Stoughton: A Brief Survey
This pamphlet covers the years from the first recorded singing meetings in 1762 to the Bicentennial of the Old Stoughton Musical Society's Constitution in 1987. It also includes other major music events such as: Oldest choral society in America organized (1786); Second musical society organized (1802); First oratorio by a local composer (1887); Only musical group representing early American music at World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1893); George Washington Bicentennial Concert (1932), Old Stoughton Musical Society Bicentennial (1986).
At the back of the pamphlet are lists of Most Performed American Tunes (1879-1979) and Most Performed American Composers (1976-1986).
Also included is a new song, "Peace," composed by Roger Hall in 1981 for the Centennial of Stoughton Town Hall. This song is based on an anti-war poem written by a Stoughton teenage girl in 1814 during the War of 1812.
Also included with this pamphlet is an accompanying CD, "Music In Stoughton":
1. ++INVITATION (1793) - Jacob Kimball
2. ++CHESTER (1778/1786) - William Billings
3. ++MAJESTY (1778) - William Billings
4. +DAVID'S LAMENTATION (1778) - William Billings
5. +CHARITY ANTHEM - William Billings (FIRST RECORDING)
6. +THE DOVE (1805)- Samuel Capen (FIRST RECORDING)
7. + THE HEAVENLY VISION (1786) - Jacob French
8. ++NEW BETHLEHEM (1799) - Edward French (FIRST RECORDING)
9. +CORONATION (1793) - Oliver Holden
10. ++CONFIDENCE - Oliver Holden
11. +MOUNT VERNON (1800) - Oliver Holden
12. +NORTHFIELD (1800) - Jeremiah Ingalls
13. ++NEW JERUSALEM (1796) - Jeremiah Ingalls
14. ++VICTORY (1793) - Daniel Read (FIRST RECORDING)
15. +SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE PILGRIMS (1870s)- Temperance Hymn
16. +JEHOVAH'S PRAISE (1850s) - Edward L. White (FIRST RECORDING)
17. THE LORD IS KING (1883)- Edward Arthur Jones (FIRST RECORDING)
18. EASTER CAROL (1892) - Charles E. Ives (FIRST RECORDING)
19. PEACE (1981) - Roger L. Hall (FIRST RECORDING)
20. CONSTITUTION SONG (1788, arr. R.L. Hall, 1987)
21. ODE TO GEORGE WASINGTON (1789, arr. R.L. Hall, 1987)
+ = The Stoughton Musical Society's Centennial Collection of Sacred Music (1878/reprint, 1980)
++ = Ten Most Performed American Tunes in Stoughton Musical Society Concerts (1879-1979).
The Stoughton Songster
A collection compiled and edited by Roger L. Hall and featuring lyrics for 12 songs performed in Stoughton concerts between 1980 and 1990.
Included are songs by Stoughton composers:
Edwin A. Jones, Frank W. Reynolds, F.William Kempf, and Roger Hall. Also there are original lyrics to "Yankee Doodle" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
All the songs are available on the accompanying CD (PTM 1015), along with a radio special about the 200th anniversary of the Old Stoughton Musical Society in 1986.
The 12 songs and hymns included in The Stoughton Songster:
I. Pilgrim Poet:
1. "O Boston!" (poem: William Bradford/ tune: OLD HUNDRED) -- edited and arranged by Roger Hall for the 350th anniversary of the City of Boston in 1980.
II. George Washington's Time:
2. "Stoughton" (music by William Billings, 1770/ edited by Roger Hall) -- for the Bicentennial of the Old Stoughton Musical Society in 1986.
3. "Father and I Went Down to Camp" (tune: YANKEE DOODLE, ca. 1775)
4. "The 'Vention did in Boston meet" (tune: YANKEE DOODLE, 1788)
5. "Ode to George Washington" (text: Samuel Low/ tune: GOD SAVE THE KING, edited by Roger Hall,1982) -- sung at the Inauguration of the First U.S. President in 1789.
III. Abraham Lincoln's Time:
6. "My Country 'Tis of Thee" (text: Samuel Francis Smith, 1831/ tune: GOD SAVE THE KING)
7. "John Brown's body lies a-mould'ring in the grave " (text printed by C.S. Hall, 1861/ tune: GLORY, HALLELUJAH,1861)
8. "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (text: Julia Ward Howe, 1862/ tune: GLORY, HALLELUJAH)
IV. Stoughton Songs:
9. "Old Stoughton" (Edwin Arthur Jones, 1886)
10. "Lullaby" (Frank W. Reynolds, 1922)
11. "Barbara Allen" (folk song arranged by F. William Kempf, 1942)
12. "Come, Gentle Peace"(poem by Esther Talbot, 1814 / music by Roger Hall, 1981)
Both Music in Stoughton and The Stoughton Songster,
are available together for a donation to help keep this music preservation site online.
For a donation of $20 you will receive both booklets plus a CD with accompanying music.
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Stoughton Music Booklets with CD
CDs
CD 1: Music in Old New England, 1778 - 1878 (21 tracks)
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.
CD 2: Old Stoughton Music Sampler (24 tracks - mp3 only)
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.
Each of these CDs are available for a donation of $20 per copy to help support this website.
You will also receive a Free copy of Music in Stoughton: A Brief Survey.
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Stoughton Music CDs
No. 3: Choral Music In Stoughton (25 tracks)
A selection of choral music by New England composers from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, including: William Billings, Jacob Kimball, Daniel Read, Jeremiah Ingalls, Edward French, Supply Belcher, Edwin Arthur Jones, and Roger Hall. These are the track titles:
Music by William Billings (1746-1800)
1. STOUGHTON - 1770 (ed. by Roger Hall) - First Performance, 1986
2. BOSTON - 1778
3. MAJESTY - 1778
4. CHESTER - 1778
5. CHESTER - 1786 (with Paul Revere bell)
6. DAVID'S LAMENTATION - 1778
7. CLAREMONT - 1781
8. ANTHEM FROM SUNDRY SOURCES - 1781
9. EUROCLYDON: ANTHEM FOR MARINERS - 1781
10. MODERN MUSIC - 1781
11. THANKSGIVING ANTHEM - 1794
Four Most Performed New England Tunes
12. INVITATION - Jacob Kimball, 1793 (No. 3)
13. VICTORY - Daniel Read, 1793 (No. 4)
14. NEW JEREUSALEM - Jeremiah Ingalls, 1796 (No. 1)
15. NEW BETHLEHEM - Edward French, 1799 (No. 10)
18th and 19th Century Stoughton Composers
16. Anthem: THE HEAVENLY VISION - Jacob French, 1786
17. 195th anniversary concert announcement on WGBH radio in Boston, 1981
18. Anthem of Praise - Supply Belcher, 1794
19. Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us - Edwin Arthur Jones, 1890
20. The Lord is King - Edwin Arthur Jones, 1890
Two New Stoughton Tunes
21. PEACE (or Come, Gentle Peace) - Roger Lee Hall - First Performance, 1981
22. Commentary on DEDICATION from a 1986 concert
23. DEDICATION - Roger Lee Hall, 1986 - First Performance, 1986
24. Radio Tribute: Old Stoughton Musical Society 200th Anniversary Concert
25. The Farewell Waltzes - Edwin Arthur Jones, 1874 - First Performance, 1986
Would you like to schedule a lecture or workshop about this oldest choral society and its music?
Go to:
Lectures and Workshops
Multimedia DVDs
No. 1: "HOW BEAUTIFUL UPON THE MOUNTAINS"
Music by E.A. Jones (1853-1911)
A commemorative tribute to Stoughton's most accomplished 19th century composer with documents about his music, two music albums, and a video program of a special 150th birth anniversary party complete with a birthday cake!
Read how to get this DVD at this link: Edwin Arthur Jones
No. 2: "LAND OF OUR HEARTS" -
A New England Music Miscellany
This large collection contains information about music by New England composers and concerts, and includes a section on Singing Stoughton with bonus music files and a one hour video program titled:
A Stoughton Musicfest:
A Celebration of Local Composers and Musicians
Written and produced by Roger Hall
A program honoring the 200th anniversary of what is believed to be the first singing contest held in America in 1790 between the Stoughton Musical Society and
First Parish Choir in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
This program was videotaped on May 10, 1990 at the Stoughton Public Library and includes local musicians performing music by local composers.
Narrator: Marion Wroble.
Actor Skip Maloney portrayed Boston composer, William Billings, teaching a singing school for the students. 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.
Two songs arranged by Roger Hall: "Yankee Doodle" and "Ode to President George Washington" - performed by the 30 voice chorus from all six Stoughton elementary schools, directed by Carol Mezzanotte.
Two Stoughton High School student instrumental ensembles, directed by Ronald Christianson.
A Stoughton Musicfest is included on the DVD titled,
"LAND OF OUR HEARTS" -
A New England Music Miscellany
No. 3: OLD STOUGHTON -
Singing Meetings and Concerts, 1760-1910
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of what is believed to be the First Singing School in New England in 1760, a new multimedia DVD has been prepared with rare historical information about Old Stoughton music for researchers, historians, teachers, students and anyone interested in American cultural history.
The DVD title is based on a fuging tune, OLD STOUGHTON, composed by E. A. Jones in 1886.
This unique DVD is playable on computer contains descriptions of singing meetings and concerts by the oldest choral society in the U.S.A.
Also included is the scholarly paper by Roger Hall delivered at a conference in Maine about Stoughton-born composer, Supply Belcher.
Also included are these additional music and video files:
+Father Kemp and Old Folks Concerts with music album (20 tracks)
+Two music albums (48 music tracks) with examples of New England music performed by The Old Stoughton Musical Society.
+Video program: Old Stoughton and The Grand Constitution (1987) produced by Roger Hall
In celebration of the 200th anniversaries of the U.S. Constitution and The Stoughton Musical Society Constitution, both written in 1787. Featuring readings from the U.S. Constitution, a State Proclamation presented by Sen. William R. Keating, and a short historical play.
The play concerns the writing of the Stoughton Musical Society's Constitution, written two weeks after the U.S. Constitution, and now the OLDEST CONSTITUTION OF ANY MUSICAL ORGANIZATION IN THE U.S.
Music in the play by William Brown, Francis Hopkinson, Alexander Reinagle, William Billings, and several broadside ballads arranged by Roger Hall: "The Grand Constitution" and "Ode to President George Washington."
All of this material on one DVD is available
for a donation of $20 or more and
includes shipping too.
Your donation can be made by credit card
payable to PineTree Productions
though safe and secure PayPal.
Just click on this button to:
After you made your donation,
please send your
mailing address to:
OLD STOUGHTON DVD
Read how to get the three valuable collections:
No. 1: "HOW BEAUTIFUL UPON THE MOUNTAINS" - Music by E.A. Jones
No. 2: "LAND OF OUR HEARTS" -
A New England Music Miscellany
No. 3: "OLD STOUGHTON" - Singing Meetings and Concerts
Get all on one DVD at a reduced price.
Click on this link:
New England Music Sampler
Also available is this multimedia DVD...
Singing in Earlier America
From The Pilgrims to The Shakers
Musicologist Makes Music
Thanks to the efforts of musicologist and composer Roger Hall, the Old Stoughton Musical Society (OSMS) was listed as America's oldest choral society in The Guinness Book of Records and in Chase's Calendar of Events.
Roger has long been involved with arts preservation and served as the first Chairman of the Stoughton Arts Council from 1980 to 1984, and also was a member of the Massachusetts Arts Advisory Committee.
Between 1979 and 1987, he served as the Historian and Vice-President of the Old Stoughton Musical Society. He was also the conductor for several seasons and composed two commemorative works:
"Dedication" and "Peace."
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
American Music Recordings Archive [AMRA] and New England Music Archive [NEMA].
He is available to present his entertaining and educational programs for colleges, schools, historical societies or other organizations.
For the Lincoln Bicentennial in 2009, Roger presented a program featuring recorded music by Stoughton singers as part of his lecture titled:
"Lincoln and Liberty: Music of Abraham Lincoln's Era"
For more information about Roger Hall's programs, click on this link:
Lectures and Workshops
Links
American Music Preservation -
American Music Timeline, 1640-1890
American Music Recordings Collection
Multimedia Music Series
Musick in Old Boston Concert
Music Concert for Town Hall Centennial
New England Music Archive [NEMA]
New England Music Sampler [NEMS]
New England Composer Series No. 1: E. A. Jones
New England Composer Series No. 2: G.W. Chadwick
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 Choral Society turns 225 (online article by Roger Hall)
Stoughton Musical Society (Wikipedia article by Roger Hall)
Local History and Music -
Canton Historical Society
Sharon Historical Society
Stoughton Historical Society
Stoughton History Chronology
Snyder's Stoughton (Local News)
Stoughton Public School Music Department
