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An exhibit of material from the collection of Lewis Becker, Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law. March 13, 2006 – April 28, 2006 Falvey Memorial Library Villanova University
American Songsters in General (Exhibit Case 4)
Songsters published in the United States in the first half of the 19th century were a combination of the traditional, popular, and newly composed. However, the Forget Me Not Songster seems to have been unusually focused on the traditional.
Forget Me Not Songster. Containing a Choice Collection of old Ballad Songs, as sung by Our Grandmothers. Embellished with Numerous Engravings.
New York: Nafish & Cornish; Philadelphia: J. B. Perry, 1842
This case includes samples of other American songsters that were more typically a mixture of the traditional and the popular.
Hadaway, T.H. Hadaway’s Select Songster: being a Collection of the Most Approved New and Fashionable Sentimental and Comic Songs, Many of which have been Contributed by Our most Able and Distinguished Vocalists.
Philadelphia: Gihon & Kucher, 1840
Souvenir Minstrel, or Singer’s Remember Me: a Choice Collection of
the most admired Songs, Duets, Glees, Choruses, etc…with all the new Songs.
Philadelphia: J. B. Perry, 1842
New York Songster: being a Choice Collection of the Most New and Popular American, English, Irish, Scotch Comic, Hunting, Love, Bacchanalian, and Sea Songs, for 1836.
New York: Liddle, [1836]
Samples of more focused songsters:
The Forecastle Songster.
New York: Marsh, 1847
This songster was unusual for its time. Instead of being general in nature it was devoted to a single topic – songs of the sea.
The Sailor Boy’s Songster.
Philadelphia: Fisher and Brother, n.d.
Littell, John S. Clay Minstrel; or National Songster, to Which is Prefixed a Sketch of the Life, Public Services, and Character of Henry Clay.
Philadelphia: Thomas, Cowperthwait and co., 1844
The Touch the Elbow Songster. In: Encyclopaedia of Popular Songs: a Choice Collection of Sentimental, Patriotic, Irish, Ethiopian, and Comic Songs …..
New York: Dick & Fitzgerald, 1864
Books were sometimes published that contained a number of songsters that had previously been issued separately. An example is this volume that also reprints four other songsters: Frank Converse’s Old Cremona Songster, The Charley O’Malley Irish Songster, The Love and Sentimental Sonster, and The Heart and Home Songster
In the latter half of the 19th century, songsters began to frequently be printed on cheap paper and bound in colored pictorial covers. Usually, these songsters presented the work of one author or composer, or they featured reprints of songs previously published.
The Blonde of the Period Songster. Containing nearly 200 Popular Songs of which 20 are Set to Music Expressly for this Work.
New York: Rob’t M. De Witt, 1869
Beauty of the Blonde’s Songster. Containing about 200 Choice Songs of which 20 are set to Music expressly for this Work.
New York: Rob’t M. De Witt, 1870
Canadian Boat Songster.
New York: Rob’t M. De Witt, 1872
Champagne Charlie and Coal Oil Tommy Songster.
San Francisco: D. B. Appleton, [1868]
The Daisy Deane Songster.
New York: Rob’t M. De Witt, 1869
Sam Devere’s Jumbo Songster.
New York: Popular Pub. Co., n.d.
Devere and Allen’s Across the Continent Songster.
New York: Popular Publishing Company, n.d.
Firemen’s Songster. Guzzlin Jim Songster.
Philadelphia: A. Winch, [1868] New York: Rob’t M. De Witt, 1871
(Sol Smith Russell’s) Jeremy Jolly Boy Comic Boy Songster.
New York: Rob’t M. De Witt, 1867
Parisian Can Can Songster.
New York: Fisher and Denison, [1869]