This old photo from shows the site of Robert Capen's house,
at the corner of Park and Seaver Streets in Stoughton, Massachusetts.
The Capen house was where famed Boston composer
and singing-master,
William Billings,
taught his famous singing school in January of 1774.
Billings was the best known New England composer in 18th century America,
and his best known tune
was the patriotiuc song, CHESTER.
But he also wrote another tune about another town, titled STOUGHTON.
It was printed in his first music collection, The New-England Psalm-Singer,
published in 1770.
This tune was first performed with an edited text in 1986.
Most descriptions of early singing schools fail to provide a list of pupils.
But the one held in Stoughton does provide all the names. It is believed to be the only New England singing school with all the pupils listed. In previous books and articles, they have stated that there were 48 pupils in this singing school. There were actually 49 pupils in the Billings singing school,
consisting of 18 young males and 31 young females.
One of them, Jacob French (1754-1817), later became a composer himself. The names of all the pupils in this famous 1774 singing school are listed in the pamphlet, Music in Stoughton: A Brief Survey.
Twelve years later in the Robert Capen house,
twenty-five men met to formally organize the Stoughton Musical Society on November 7, 1786.
This group still survives and is now the oldest choral society in the United States.
The Town of Stoughton, 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."
Key Events in the 18th Century
1760: "Elijah Dunbar learned while going through Harvard College, in addition to his Greek and Latin, the art of reading music. Upon his graduation in 1760, he returned to his native town [of Stoughton] and at once organized a singing-school and gave to his neighbors the benefit of his knowledge." -- Daniel T.V. Huntoon [no proof of this early singing-school has been found].
1762-1763: First known singing meetings listed in Elijah Dunbar's diary but no musical organization had been formed at that time.
1774: Singing school taught by famed Boston composer, William Billings (1746-1800). One of the pupils in his singing school was Lucy Swan, who he married and they returned to Boston, where they both lived the remainder of their lives. [This Billings singing school was re-created in "A Stoughton Musicfest" ]
1786: Oldest choral society in America founded when 25 men were listed as members of The Stoughton Musical Society [TSMS]. At this time it was exclusively a men's chorus. There were nine "Rules and Regulations" for membership and the admission to the Society was 2 shillings.
1787: On October 8, the Stoughton Musical Society's first Constitution was approved. It was written just a few weeks after the U.S. Constitution had been written in Philadelphia.
1790: Believed to be the first singing contest held in America, between the First Parish Church Choir from Dorchester, Massachusetts and The Stoughton Musical Society Chorus of 20 "selected male voices." Here is what was written about this singing contest in the TSMS music collection from 1878:
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 perform Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" from memory and without any instrumental accompaniment was an incredible achievement for that time!
1797: Town of Canton incorporated on February 23 (formerly part of the Town of Stoughton). Canton resident Elijah Dunbar (1740-1814) was the First President of the Stoughton Musical Society, serving from 1786 to 1808.
1799: Early Christmas carol composed by Edward French (1761-1845), titled NEW BETHLEHEM. He would later serve as the Third President of the Stoughton Musical Society from 1818-1824.
The Two Musical Societies
1. Old Stoughton Musical Society
This is the oldest surviving choral society in the United States of America, organized on November 7, 1786.
It was originally known as The Stoughton Musical Society (TSMS) and consisted of only male singers.
It has the oldest constitution of any musical organization in America, written in October of 1787, just a few weeks after the U.S. Constitution.
This choral group added the prefix "Old" when they were officially incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1908 to designate that it originally included the towns of Canton, Sharon and Avon.
They accepted singers from all the surrounding Massachusetts towns, including Avon, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Canton, Randolph, Sharon and other locations.
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." Also performed was a tune titled "Stoughton" by William Billings (edited by R. Hall).
In 1994, thanks to the efforts of musicologist and composer Roger Hall, this choral society was listed in The Guinnes Book of Records.
Mr. Hall also sumitted the information to the Chase's Calendar of Events,
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."
For additional information, see the article on the
Stoughton Musical Society
2. The Musical Society in Stoughton
This choral society was organized on January 1, 1802. Only town residents could join that group, and many of them also belonged to the Stoughton Musical Society.
For many years they claimed to have been founded in 1762,
but there are no records to support that claim.
One of their later officers, Frank W. Reynolds, had the original signboard painted
with the date of 1802 over the original 1762 date,
bringing great dishonor to him for this tampering with history. This deed did not go unpunished.
After years of incorrectly claiming they were the "oldest choral society in America," the Musical Society in Stoughton continued to lose members until they finally dwindled down to only
a few members and were disbanded in 1982.
There are still traces of the wrong date for the MSIS, such as the illustration at Stoughton History, which may be "set in stone" but is still incorrect when it states that the Musical Society in Stoughton began in 1762, instead of 1802.
Actually both musical societies had singers who were attending singing meetings in 1762 in Stoughton, but there was no musical organization established at that time.
There were at least four early 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. These Stoughton-born composers are:
Portrait of Supply Belcher
(From: A History of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine)
- 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)
The 19th Century
Key Events in the 19th Century
1802: Second musical society founded on January 1 as: "The Musical Society in Stoughton" (MSIS).
1805: The Norfolk Harmony was published by Canton singer and composer,
Samuel Capen (1745-1809). His best known tune, "The Dove," was later included in the Stoughton Musical Society's second tunebook in 1878.
1829: Their first tunebook was published in Boston and titled, The Stoughton Collection of Church Music, with over 300 pages of music. It was reprinted several times.
1844: The Stoughton Musical Society consisted of men only until 1844, when women were invited to join, after the serving of alcohol during rehearsals had been abolished.
1872: E.A. Jones performs as a violinist in the orchestra of 1,500 musicians, led by the famous Viennese waltz composer, Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) at the World's Peace Jubilee and International Music Festival in Boston.
1878: Second tunebook published in Boston, The Stoughton Musical Society's Centennial Collection of Sacred Music. Reprinted with new introduction and index by Roger Hall, DaCapo Press, New York, 1980. This was one of the largest collections of music by early American composers published in the 19th century, including some music by English composers (Calcott, Tans'ur, Stephenson) and arranged tunes of European music by Haydn, Mozart, and Naumann.
1879: First concert using the 1878 tunebook presented on November 24 at High School Hall in North Easton, Massachusetts. The Stoughton Musical Society had 150 singers and performed these titles:
AMITY (D. Read)
TILDEN (B. Brown)
EMMANUEL (W. Billings)
AUSTRIA (N. Mitchell)
SWANWICK (Lucas)
THE DOVE (S. Capen)
NEW BETHLEHEM (E. French)
LORD'S DAY (N. Mitchell)
MAJESTY (W. Billings)
THE HEAVENLY VISION (J. French)
MOUNT VERNON (O. Holden)
ANTHEM FOR EASTER (W. Billings)
FLY (J. French)
OCEAN
CHILD OF MORTALITY (J. Bray)
HALLOWELL (A. Maxim)
BLESSING (Stanley)
1881: Completion of the cantata, Song of Our Saviour, by Edwin Arthur Jones (1853-1911). It was originally titled The Nativity Hymn and received an honorable mention in a national music competition in 1879, judged by the highly respected conductor Theodore Thomas. The cantata was apparently never performed during the lifetime of E.A. Jones and received its world premiere performance over one hundred years later in a Stoughton concert in May of 1992. An article about this concert appeared in The Boston Globe newspaper.
1886: Centennial observance of The Stoughton Musical Society on June 9, 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:
The program for the day:
Morning Excercises (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 - Haydn
Elene Buffington Kehew, soprano;
George J. Parker, tenor; Clarence E. Hay, bass.
Orchestra of the Society, E.A. Jones,
leader,
H.L. West, accompanist.
Conductor:
Mr. Hiram Wilde,
Assistant Conductor: George N. Spear.
Tickets to Concert, 50 and 75 cents.
Admission to the morning exercises alone -- 25 cents
1887: First oratorio by a local composer, Easter Concert, by Edwin Arthur Jones, was performed on April 11 in Town Hall. The oratorio was published in a piano-vocal score by White & Smith in Boston in 1890.
1893: In August of 1893, the Stoughton Musical Society was the only invited chorus to perform early American music at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago -- the setting for the best-selling book, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the the Fair That Changed America, by Erik Larson. The man mostly responsible for 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.
Composers born in Stoughton during the 19th century:
-
Alanson Belcher (born: 1810/died: Stoughton, 1900)
-
Edwin Arthur Jones (born: 1853/died: Stoughton, 1911)
The 20th Century
Forget New Kids on the Block and Motley Crue. On Thursday, about 75 residents listed to numbers like "Fly" a drinking song by Jacob French, and "Chester" a patriotic ballad by William Billings. Never heard of these artists? There's a good reason. Both of these men died before 1820. Nevertheless, French and Billings each contributed to the popular music of their day and took their turn among Stoughton's famous residents. Musicologist Roger Hall as always appreciated the music of these men, and shared his enthusiasm in a presentation at the library titled A Stoughton Musicfest.
-- The Brockton Enterprise, Friday, May 11, 1990
Harmony Revered:
Old Stoughton Singing vs. Sacred Harp Singing
Two of the oldest amateur singing traditions of religious or harmony music in the U.S. are the Stoughton Musical Society in the North in Massachusetts, and the Sacred Harp singing in the South, especially in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.
Of these, Stoughton is the oldest. But this is not just for hymn singing. It is choral music consisting of plain tunes, fuging tunes, set pieces and anthems. In the case of Stoughton, 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.
Not only did Stoughton have two musical societies but also there were two music collections published, 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 [his tune NEW BETHLEHEM is shown above].
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, but also some by English composers (Calcott, Stephenson, Tans'ur) and European composers ( Haydn, Mozart, Naumann). There are more New England tunes in this collection than in other tunebooks, includingThe Sacred Harp.
Just to give an example, here are the tunes by William Billings in these collections:
The Sacred Harp (1844/ revision, 1991) = 14 tunes
The Stoughton Centennial Collection (1878/ reprint, 1980) = 27 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 (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 in Massachusetts.
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 tunebooks, 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. Much more has happened in Stoughton since that important singing school.
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 its present state with fewer singers and a change of repertoire.
For two centuries, 18th century choral music was continued by the Stoughton Musical Society, and deserves to be remembered for that achievement.
-- Roger Hall
To hear examples of the Stoughton singing tradition, see the publications section.
Key Events in the 20th Century
1908: Stoughton Musical Society is incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as "The Old Stoughton Musical Society" (or OSMS).
The evening concert in 1908 consisted of 150 singers and an orchestra of 20 musicians led by violinist E. A. Jones. The concert included various instrumental and vocal solos and choral music by these early New England composers:
Description from the 1929 OSMS history:
"At the 122nd Annual Meeting, Jan. 1, 1908, at Randolph [Massachusetts], a meeting was called at 3 o'clock for the purpose of organizing the Society into a corporate body. Due notice was given the press and special notices and posters sent out. Mr. Edwin A. Jones reported for the committee, and read the Constitution and By-Laws as prepared. The articles were taken up separately...The Constitution and By-Laws were then adopted as a whole."
CONSTITUTION OF THE
OLD STOUGHTON MUSICAL SOCIETY
ADOPTED AT RANDOLPH, JAN. 1, 1908
PREAMBLE
We, the Members of the the Old Stoughton Musical Society, wishing to revise the original Constitution adopted Nov. 7, 1786 [see 1786 and 1787 above], in order that it may conform more nearly to the needs of the Society in its present environment, do hereby adopt the following as our Constitution and By-Laws to supercede all previous regulations, viz"
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 due to the lack of members to serve in various posts.
1926: Both musical societies perform in the Town of Stoughton's Bicentennial celebration. There were 150 singers and 35 musicians from MSIS and OSMS who performed on August 22 at the Pageant Grounds behind Stoughton High School.
1936: 150th Annual Meeting and Sing given at The First Congregational Church in Stoughton on January 1, 1936. The concert features soloists and chorus. George Sawyer Dunham is the Chorister (or Conductor) and Laura Shafer Gebhardt is Assistant Chorister and Accompanist. Laura Gebhardt's piece, "Flag of All Our Country" is performed (composed for the 100th anniversary of the Town of Stoughton).
1975: Release of LP album: An Appeal to Heaven (Old North Bridge Records) - featuring Musical Society of Stoughton and Old Stoughton Musical Society singers. This LP is now out-of-print.
1978: OSMS First Fall Music Festival held in Bridgewater on October 14 and 15. Organized by OSMS Vice President, Roger Hall, the theme was:
"Musick of Old New England." The festival concluded with a concert of music by early New England composers, such as Billings and Ingalls.
1980: OSMS Second Fall Music Festival held on November 22 and 23, also organized by Roger Hall. Festival Theme: "Musick in Old Boston." The final event was a concert of music by William Billings, E.A. Jones and other 18th and 19th century American composers. Among the songs performed was an original version of "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Hymn of Peace" from the 1869 Peace Jubilee, and a new a song by Roger Hall for Boston's Jubilee 350 celebration and titled: "O Boston!" This song is included in the songbook and CD titled: The Stoughton Songster .
1981: Concert given by the Old Stoughton Musical Society in celebration of the Stoughton Town Hall Centennial on November 22. Some of the pieces were by local composers, including the premiere of an anti-war song, set to a poem written in 1814 by a Stoughton teenage girl, Esther Talbot. The music was composed by Roger Hall, and is available on this CD:
Come, Gentle Peace
1982: Concert: "Musick of George Washington's Time" celebrating 250th anniversary of the birth of George Washington and also the birth of composer, Franz Joseph Haydn. The concert conducted by Earl Eyrich featurng soloists, chorus and instrumental works. Concert address given by OSMS Historian, Roger Hall.
1986: The Old Stoughton Musical Society Bicentennial Season included special exhibits at Harvard University, also in Lexington and Stoughton, compiled by Bicentennial Chairman, Roger Hall. There were four concerts given during this year...
.jpg)
The first one was given on April 20 in North Easton, Massachusetts, and featured the world premiere performance of the hymn tune, STOUGHTON, by William Billings [original copy shown above]. It originally had music without any words. It was edited by Roger Hall, who added a text by Dr. Isaac Watts popular in early America.
There were also two concerts given at the Museum of Our National Heritage in Lexington, Massachusetts. The first one was presented in October and titled: "Two Centuries of Piano Music in New England," featuring accomplished pianist David Hagan performing works by Charles Ives, Edwin Arthur Jones, Roger Hall and other composers. The following month a second concert was presented and titled: "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 had composed an 18th century style fuging tune titled DEDICATION, based on words found in the last tunebook 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. This was the same work that had been perfromed in the 1886 concert of the Old Stoughton Musical Society. The commemorative program booklet contains a 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,
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 with (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.
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 Concert Program.
For the bicentennial celebration, there was a plaque installed at the entrance of the Stoughton Historical Society Building in Stoughton Square. It 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."
1987: Bicentennial celebration of the U.S. Constitution and Stoughton Musical Society Constitution (both written several weeks apart in 1787) at the Stoughton Public Library on October 8. The program included a State Proclamation delivered by Sen. William R. Keating, readings from portions of the U.S. Constitution by school students and town officials, and a new play written and directed by Roger Hall about the Stoughton Musical Society titled: The Grand Constitution. The actors in the play were Bert Anderson (as Sam Capen) and Wayne Olem (as Elijah Dunbar). Songs were performed by eight singers from the Old Stoughton Musical Society, the pianist was Richard Hill. Copies of this special program are available upon request.
To hear two of the songs featured in The Grand Constitution,
click the links inside this box...
1990: A special musical program was given at the Stoughton Public Library, titled:
"A Stoughton Musicfest - A Celebration of Local Composers and Musicians"
This program featured a re-creation of an 18th century singing school, with actor Skip Maloney portraying William Billings, also music by Oliver Shaw, Jacob French, Edwin Arthur Jones, Frank W. Reynolds, F. William Kempf and Roger Hall. In addition, there was a combined Elementary School chorus singing two patriotic songs, also several instrumental ensembles from Stoughton High School, directed by Ronald Christianson. Some of this music is available in publications listed below. A videotape or DVD of this "Stoughton Musicfest" program is available.
Composers active in Stoughton during the 20th century:
- 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 Hall (born: 1942)
Father Kemp's Old Folks Concert Tunes
One of the most popular choral music collections in 19th century America was titled:
Father Kemp's Old Folks Concert Tunes
(3 editions: 1860/ 1874/ 1889)
Father Robert Kemp (1820-1897)
This collection was used by the Old Stoughton Musical Society for many years, especially during the 20th century.
Selections from this collection (3rd edition, 1889) are included on this CDR, performed by The Old Stoughton Musical Society Chorus, conducted by William J. Childs and Roger L. Hall, and organist Richard Hill:
Father Kemp's Concert Tunes
1.The Star Spangled Banner - words: Francis Scott Key (1814)
2. My Country 'Tis Of Thee - words: Samuel F. Smith (1831)
3. John Borwn (1861)/ Battle Hymn of the Republic - words: Julia Ward Howe (1862)
4. Chester - music by Williams Billings/ words: 1786
5. Boston - music by William Billings (1778)
6. David's Lamentation - music by William Billings (version I, 1778)
7. David's Lamentation - music by William Billings (version II)
8. Majesty - music by William Billings (1778)
9. Confidence - music by Oliver Holden (1797)
10. Coronation - music by Olivfer Holden (1793)
11. Northfield - music by Jeremiah Ingalls (1800)
12. New Jerusalem - music by Jeremiah Ingalls (1796)
13. Victory - music by Daniel Read (1793)
14. Ocean - composer unknown
15. Jerusalem, My Glorious Home - music by Lowell Mason (1849)
16. Jehovah's Praise - Edward White
17. Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims - Temperance Hymn (1870s)
18. Sons of Zion - Johann G. Naumann
19. Child of Mortality - John Bray (Marion Hollis and David Benjamin, soloists)
20. Auld Lang Syne - words: Albert Laighton (1855)
When this CD is ordered, you will receive a Free copy of the booklet,
Music in Stoughton: A Brief Survey.
To order the CDR:
Father Kemp's Old Folks Concert Tunes
(AMRA 11)
go to the
Store
Musicologist Makes Music
Thanks to the efforts of musicologist and composer Roger Hall,
the Old Stoughton Musical Society (OSMS) has been listed
as America's oldest choral society in
The Guinness Book of Records and
Chase's Calendar of Events.
For many years Mr. Hall was the Historian and Vice-President of the OSMS.
He was also the conductor for several years and
composed several commemorative pieces.
To read about his preservation efforts, click on this link:
Saving Local Music
Mr. Hall 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 lectures or workshops
for colleges, historical societies or any organization.
In 2009, Mr. Hall presented a program featuring
music by the Old Stoughton Musical Society as part of his lecture titled:
"Lincoln and Liberty: Music of Abraham Lincoln's Era"
For more information about Mr. Hall's programs,
click on this link:
Lectures and Workshops
With its long unbroken chain of amateur choral performance
of American music from the 18th century onward,
this small Massachusetts town
deserves the honor of being designated as...
Singing Stoughton!
The 60 member chorus of The Old Stoughton Musical Society on stage at
Stoughton High School for the Bicentennial Concert on November 7, 1986.
Bibliography
SOURCES for the above information:
Hall, Roger L. E.A. Jones: His Life and Music, 1984.
____________ MAJESTY: William Billings and The Stoughton Musical Society, Stoughton: PineTree Press, 2000.
____________ Music in Early Canton: Historical Notes and Music, 1997.
____________. Music in Stoughton: A Brief Survey, 1989.
____________. Singing Stoughton: Selected Highlights from America's Oldest Choral Society, 1985.
____________. The Stoughton Songster: Music Performed between 1980 and 1990. PineTree Press, 1991.
____________, editor. The Stoughton Musical Society's Centennial Collection of Sacred Music Boston: Ditson & Company, 1878/ Reprint, DaCapo Press, 1980. Introduction and 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
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.
Standish, Lemuel, editor.
The Old Stoughton Musical Society: An Historical and Informative Record of the Oldest Choral Society in America.
Stoughton, Massachusetts, 1929.
Stoughton Music Publications
MAJESTY: A discussion of FACTS and FICTION about William Billings and The STOUGHTON MUSICAL SOCIETY (PINETREE PRESS, 2000)
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)
Music Activities in Stoughton (1980-1999)
This monograph is in limited supply and must be specially ordered by writing to:
MAJESTY
Special Offer!
Learn about one of the oldest singing traditions
in the United States.
Order this pamphlet and receive
The Stoughton Songster
at no extra price!
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 teenager in 1814 during the War of 1812.
Also included with this pamphlet is an accompanying CD titled,
The Stoughton Harmony
Here are the track titles for this CD:
1. +The Star Spangled Banner - words: Francis Scott Key
2. Stoughton (1770) - music by William Billings (ed. by Roger Hall) -- FIRST PERFORMANCE
3. Sharon (1778) - William Billings (ed. by Roger Hall) -- FIRST PERFORMANCE
4. +Boston (1778) - William Billings
5. +Chester (1778/ 1786) - William Billings/ includes the ringing of a Paul Revere bell
6. +Majesty (1778) - William Billings
7.+David's Lamentation (1778) - William Billings
8. Thanksgiving Hymn - tune: Kittery by William Billings (edited by Roger Hall)-FIRST PERFORMANCE
9. Yankee Song (1788) - tune: Yankee Doodle (arranged by Roger Hall)
10. Ode To President George Washington (1789) - edited by Roger Hall - FIRST PERFORMANCE
11. Mount Vernon (1800) - Oliver Holden
12. +Coronation (1792) - Oliver Holden
13. +Victory (1793) - Daniel Read
14. +New Jerusalem (1796) - Jeremiah Ingalls
15. +Northfield (1799) - Jeremiah Ingalls
16. New Bethlehem (1799) - Edward French from Sharon
17. The Dove (1805) - Samuel Capen from Canton (edited by Roger Hall) - FIRST PERFORMANCE
18. +John Brown & Battle Hymn of the Republic (1861-62)(Father Kemp's music collection)
19. Give Us This Day (1863) - Stephen Foster
20. +Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims (1870s) - Temperance Hymn
21. Old Stoughton (1886) - Edwin A. Jones from Stoughton
22. The Lord is King (1883) - Edwin A. Jones (ed. by Roger Hall) - FIRST PERFORMANCE
23. Easter Carol (1892) - Charles Ives
24. O Boston (1980) - arranged by Roger Hall - FIRST PERFORMANCE
25. Dedication (1986) - Roger Hall -- FIRST PERFORMANCE
26. Peace (1990) - Roger Hall -- FIRST PERFORMANCE
27. +Song of the Old Folks (1855) - tune: Auld Lang Syne/ words: Albert Laighton
+ = Father Kemp's Old Folks Concert Tunes (3rd edition, 1889)
Some of the pieces on the CD are also included in this tunebook:
The Stoughton Musical Society's Centennial Collection of Sacred Music (1878 / reprinted, 1980)
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 versions of "Yankee Doodle" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
All the songs are included on the accompanying CD, 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. Songs of George Washington's Time:
2. "Stoughton" (music by William Billings, 1770/ edited by Roger Hall) -- written for the Bicentennial of the Old Stoughton Musical Society in 1986.
3. "Father and I Went Down to Camp" (tune: YANKEE DOODLE, 1776)
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 Innauguration of
the First U.S. President in 1789.
III. Songs of 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. "Peace"(anti-war poem by Esther Talbot, 1814 / music by Roger Hall, 1981)
For a limited time, when youorder
Music in Stoughton: A Brief Survey
you will also receive,
The Stoughton Songster,
at no extra price
at the
Store
CDs
These historical recordings and programs
are available from PINETREE MUSIC
CD 1: Music in Old New England, 1778 - 1878 (21 tracks)
Radio broadcast with commentary 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, Batholomew 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: Ten Town Tunes: Music from Stoughton, 1770 - 1990 (21 tracks)
Tunes by William Billings, Jacob French, Edwin A. Jones, Roger Hall, F. William Kempf, Frank W. Reynolds, and Oliver Shaw. Also additional choral music by Roger Hall.
Each CD is available for $16.00,
or both of them for $30.00,
including U.S. First Class shipping.
To order these CD-Rs,
write to:
Stoughton Recordings
DVDs
NEW!
A series of video programs on Stoughton history and music,
including two original plays
NOW AND THEN: Stoughton History and Music
Three programs on one DVD+R
1: A Centennial Salute to Stoughton Square (1986)
Produced and Hosted byy Roger Hall
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Stoughton Square, including interviews with Selectman Roy Cohen and Town Historian Howard Hansen, plus rare black & white movies from the 1920s, and music from the 19th and 20th centuries.
2: A Centennial Salute to E.A. Jones (1987)
Produced and Hosted byy Roger Hall
Program honoring the centennial of several world premiere music pieces by Edwin Arthur Jones, Stoughton's most accomplished composer from the past. The program includes a brief biographical sketch of his life, interviews with Earl Eyrich, Richard Hill and Paul Larivee of the Old Stoughton Musical Society, Howard Hansen of the Stoughton Historical Society, and an interview with Mr. Jones himself (played by actor Wayne Olem). Also selected music from concerts by the Old Stoughton Musical Society.
3. Old Stoughton and The Grand Constitution (1987)
Written and Produced byy 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 anonymous tunes, including an "Ode to George Washington."
To order this 90 minute DVD+R of Stoughton History and Music,
go to the
Store
NOW AND THEN: Two Plays
Written and Directed byy Roger Hall
1. Old Stoughton and The Grand Constitution (October 1987)
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.
Performed by members of the Old Stoughton Musical Society, there is music by William Brown, Francis Hopkinson, Alexander Reinagle, William Billings, and songs such as "Yankee Doodle" and "Ode to George Washington." The actors in the play are: Bert Anderson (Samuel Capen) and Wayne Olem (Elijah Dunbar).
Videotaped at first performance at the Stoughton Public Library, October 10, 1987.
2. The Musical Telephone (September 1988)
A play based on Edward Bellamy's 1888 utopian novel, "Looking Backward," concerning a man who falls asleep in Boston in 1887 and wakes up in the year 2000. The actors are: Dorothy Yanish and Greg Bazaz. Music includes music by E.A Jones and Roger Hall.
Videotaped at the First Performance at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts (September 29, 1988)
To order this 90 minute DVD+R for $19.95 including postage,
write to:
Two Plays
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 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.
To order this one hour DVD+R for $13.95 including postage,
write to:
Stoughton Musicfest
Links
American Music Preservation
Early American Music Timeline
American Music Recordings Archive [AMRA]
New England Music
New England Music Archive [NEMA]
New England Composer Series No. 1: E. A. Jones
Society for Earlier American Music [SEAM]
Other Local Links
Canton Historical Sociey
Stoughton Historical Society
Lori McKenna (National Recording Artist)
Snyder's Stoughton (Local News)
Stoughton History (David Lambert)
The Stoughton Musical Society (Wikipedia)
If you have any comments or questions,
write to:
Stoughton Music
Help support the mission of this website
Use this handy Search Box for your purchases...
Return to top of page
.jpg)
