Collection Items

  •
    Biography
    Amy Beach Amy Marcy Cheney Beach, 1867-1944Amy Marcy Cheney was born on September 5, 1867 in Henniker, New Hampshire, to a prominent New England family. Her mother, Clara Imogene (Marcy) Cheney, was a talented amateur singer and pianist. Young Amy was a true prodigy who memorized forty songs at the age of one and taught herself to … Continue reading Amy Beach →
  • Biography
    Gena Branscombe Gena Branscombe, 1909. From Stella Reid Crothers, “Women Composers of America – 28: A Versatile and Productive Muse is Gena Branscombe’s, Whose Songs Celebrities Sing.” Musical America 11 (11 December 1909): 23. Music Division, Library of Congress.Gena Branscombe was born in Picton, Ontario, Canada in 1881. She entered the Chicago Musical College in 1897 to … Continue reading Gena Branscombe →
  • Biography
    Dudley Buck Dudley Buck was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on March 19, 1839. His father discouraged Buck’s early interest in music, preferring that his son enter the family’s successful shipping business. At age sixteen, Buck took his first piano lessons, and his rapid progress convinced his father to allow the boy to pursue a musical career. In … Continue reading Dudley Buck →
  • Biography
    H. T. Burleigh [Harry Thacker Burleigh, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right] / photographer, Thos. Coke Knight.Harry Thacker Burleigh played a significant role in the development of American art song, having composed over two hundred works in the genre. He was the first African-American composer acclaimed for his concert songs as well as for his adaptations of African-American spirituals. In … Continue reading H. T. Burleigh →
  • Biography
    George W. Chadwick George W. Chadwick, head and shoulders, facing slightly right. Photoprint by Bain News Service, N.Y.C.George Whitefield Chadwick was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on November 13, 1854. His mother died shortly after his birth. His father remarried and George quickly learned to become self-reliant. As a youngster, he received brief musical instruction from his brother. Both … Continue reading George W. Chadwick →
  • Biography
    Mabel Daniels Mabel Wheeler Daniels was born on November 27, 1878, into a musical family in Swampscott, Massachusetts, near Boston. Both her grandfathers were church musicians. Her parents sang in Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society and her father also served that prominent musical institution as president. Mabel studied piano from an early age and began writing short … Continue reading Mabel Daniels →
  • Biography
    Arthur Farwell Arthur Farwell, half-length portrait between 1910 and 1920Although Arthur Farwell did not intend to pursue a professional career in music, he became one of America’s most influential composers, with over 100 compositions to his name. He is best known for his works based on Native American themes; however, he also used cowboy tunes, African-American spirituals, … Continue reading Arthur Farwell →
  • Biography
    Arthur Foote Arthur Foote, 1904. From Louis C. Elsen, The History of American Music. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1904, p. 212, fig. 54. Music Division. Library of Congress. Call number: ML200.E46Arthur Foote was born in 1853 in Salem, Massachusetts, and grew up in Boston. After beginning his music education at age twelve, he studied harmony at … Continue reading Arthur Foote →
  • Biography
    Harvey Bartlett Gaul Harvey B. Gaul, 1881-1945. From “Department for Organists: Editor for July, Harvey B. Gaul.” The Etude 33 (July 1913): 512. Music Division, Library of Congress. Call number: ML1.E8Harvey Bartlett Gaul was born in New York City on April 11, 1881. Best known as an organist and composer, he began his musical studies with George LeJeune … Continue reading Harvey Bartlett Gaul →
  • Biography
    Henry F. Gilbert Henry F. Gilbert, 1868-1928. From Olin Downes, “An American Composer.” The Musical Quarterly 4 (January 1918): facing p. 23. Music Division, Library of Congress. Call number: ML1.M725Henry Franklin Belknap Gilbert was born in 1868 in Somerville, Massachusetts, to musical parents. He received early training on piano and violin, entering the New England Conservatory, where he … Continue reading Henry F. Gilbert →
  • Biography
    William W. Gilchrist William Wallace Gilchrist was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1846. His family moved to Philadelphia in 1857, and Gilchrist’s musical career centered on that city for the remainder of his life. His father’s merchant business was ruined at the outbreak of the Civil War, and the young Gilchrist had to rely on his … Continue reading William W. Gilchrist →
  • Biography
    Victor Herbert Victor HerbertVictor Herbert was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1859. His father died when Victor was an infant. His mother married a German physician, and the family moved to Stuttgart when Herbert was seven years old. In Stuttgart, he studied cello and entered the Stuttgart Conservatory in 1877 to study with Max Seifritz. He played … Continue reading Victor Herbert →
  • Notated Music
    Bethlehem : a Christmas hymn For SATB chorus with organ acc. Words by George C. Hugg. Caption title. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Hugg, George C. - Beach, Amy
    • Date: 1893

    Resource: View All Images | PDF

  • Notated Music
    Far awa' : (trio) : op. 43, no. 4 Originally for voice and piano; arr. by the composer for SSA chorus with piano acc. Caption title. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Burns, Robert - Beach, Amy
    • Date: 1918

    Resource: View All Images | PDF

  • Notated Music
    Peace on earth : Christmas anthem : op. 38 For SATB chorus with organ acc. Words by E.H. Sears. Caption title. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Sears, Edmund H. (Edmund Hamilton) - Beach, Amy
    • Date: 1897

    Resource: View All Images | PDF

  • Notated Music
    Through the house give glimmering light : op. 39, no. 3 For SSAA chorus with piano. Caption title. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Beach, Amy - Shakespeare, William
    • Date: 1897

    Resource: View All Images | PDF

  • Notated Music
    Five three-part songs. Bedtime For women's or boys' voices with piano acc. Words also printed as text: p. 2. Caption title. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Buck, Dudley - Johnson, Burges
    • Date: 1906

    Resource: View All Images | PDF

  • Notated Music
    Festival hymn For mixed voices with acc. arr. for piano. Caption title. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Buck, Dudley
    • Date: 1900

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  • Notated Music
    O how amiable For SATB chorus with organ. Caption title. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Buck, Dudley
    • Date: 1907

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  • Notated Music
    Elfin song For SSAA chorus with piano. Caption title. Orchestrated by the composer in 1913. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Drake, Joseph Rodman - Chadwick, G. W. (George Whitefield)
    • Date: 1910

    Resource: View All Images | PDF

  • Notated Music
    Inconstancy For SSAA chorus with piano. Caption title. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Chadwick, G. W. (George Whitefield) - Shakespeare, William
    • Date: 1910

    Resource: View All Images | PDF

  • Notated Music
    O holy child of Bethlehem : Christmas anthem for alto solo and chorus For alto solo and SATB chorus with organ. Caption title. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Brooks, Phillips - Chadwick, G. W. (George Whitefield)
    • Date: 1896

    Resource: View All Images | PDF

  • Notated Music
    While shepherds watched : Christmas carol For SATB chorus. Words by Nahum Tate. Caption title. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Chadwick, G. W. (George Whitefield) - Tate, Nahum
    • Date: 1889

    Resource: View All Images | PDF

  • Notated Music
    Enchantment : op. 17, no. 1 For SATB chorus with piano. Caption title. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Mackay, Isabel Ecclestone - Daniels, Mabel W. (Mabel Wheeler)
    • Date: 1908

    Resource: View All Images | PDF

  • Notated Music
    The voice of my beloved : op. 16, no. 2 For SAA chorus with piano and 2 violins. Caption title. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
    • Contributor: Daniels, Mabel W. (Mabel Wheeler)
    • Date: 1911