Abstract
The Music Division of the Library of Congress recently digitized its collection of sheet music published in the United States before 1820. The collection contains more than 2,000 pieces of sheet music, including the work of many important, though often forgotten, American composers. There are also examples of popular European music of the period, such as songs by Franz Schubert and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in English translation. It is a window into the musical life and taste of the people of the United States during its formative years.
Each piece of sheet music contains clues that can help to tell multiple stories. Even without the benefit of the musical skill to play the piece itself, those who visit the collection discover that the history of musical life in America can be illuminated by asking questions about these pieces, such as “Who is the composer?” “Where was the piece performed?” “Who might have been the performer?” and “Was it written for a special occasion?” If the piece was written for or in honor of an occasion of historical significance, it can add new depth to one’s understanding of that event.
Federal March by Alexander Reinagle.
One particularly interesting example to share with students and your social studies colleagues is the Faederale March (Federal March) by Alexander Reinagle (you can link to this piece and others in the collection via the “Links to the Sources” list at the end of this article). The march is a single page of music, arranged for the piano, with the subtitle “As performed in the Grand Procession in Philadelphia The 4th of July 1788, composed and adapted for the Piano Forte, Violin or German Flute by Alex. Reinagle.” Looking at the music itself, there are a few curious markings that may spark questions. The first is “rr” above certain notes, which indicates a trill on the corresponding note. The second is the word trumpets, indicating where trumpets would have been played in the original orchestration. Because the work has been adapted for the pianoforte, the composer includes this to tell the pianist that those lines should be played in the style of a trumpet fanfare to emulate the original character of the piece.
Although he is not often discussed in twenty-first-century music classes, Alexander Reinagle (1756–1809) was an important figure in early American musical life. Born in Portsmouth, England, Reinagle came to the United States at age thirty and settled in Philadelphia. There, he performed in many public concerts, a rarity in early American life, and gave piano lessons. His most significant pupil was Nelly Custis, the step-granddaughter of George Washington, who spent her childhood at Mount Vernon. A widely respected pianist and composer, Reinagle created what were called “Four Piano Sonatas” (1790)—the first works by an American written for solo piano.
The Federal March of Alexander Reinagle was written for a parade in Philadelphia in honor of the establishment of the U.S. Constitution on July 4, 1788. The parade itself was a spectacular affair, evidenced by the “Order of Procession” (see the link in the source list); this document has also been digitized by the Library of Congress. The chairman of the “committee of arrangement” was Francis Hopkinson, a politician as well as a well-known musician and composer of the era. It is significant that Reinagle was chosen to write a piece for this grand occasion, since Hopkinson could have easily written the music himself. It speaks to Reinagle’s reputation as one of the most respected musicians of his time. Perusing the elaborate procession, one finds “band of music” in the twelfth place. Although there was no set instrumentation for a marching band of this period, we know from the sheet music that it included trumpets. It is safe to assume, based on historical practice, that it also included some combination of fifes, drums, oboes, bassoons, and French horns. For a parade of this magnitude, it is likely that the band used as many musicians as possible to fill the streets with music.
Exploring the context of this one-page piece of sheet music gives one a sense of what it might have been like for a young Philadelphian in 1788 who saw what was, by any standard, a grand procession along the city streets celebrating the new constitution. It brings to life the patriotic pride that they felt as they stood in awe while the parade passed by, and they perhaps bought a copy of the Federal March from a street vendor, or in a local music shop, so they could relive that feeling whenever they played the tune at home. Just as a favorite song from our past can help us relive significant moments in our lives, all music can transport us to a different place and time, adding emotional depth to any learning experience.
Links to the Sources
Federal March by Alexander Reinagle: https://www.loc.gov/item/2015562338/
The “Order of Procession,” in honor of the establishment of the Constitution of the United States, July 4, 1788: https://www.loc.gov/resource/bdsdcc.c1501/?sp=1
Early American sheet music collection: https://www.loc.gov/collections/early-american-sheet-music/?st=gallery
Footnotes
James Wintle is a reference specialist in the Music Division at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. He can be contacted at