?, J.M. McNaughton [piano]
18--, ? [19th Bat. Virginia Heavy Artillery Band]
18--, Joseph Ascher (1829-1869) (1831 – 1853) [Squire's Cornet Band Olio, Set #2, 1872]
Ascher, a Dutch pianist and composer, studied with Moscheles and later went to Paris, where in 1849 was court pianist to Empress Eugénie. He wrote many “salon” pieces (études, nocturnes and gallops)
? , J.R. Thomas (1829 – 1896) [Brass Band Journal, 1854]
The trio of this march is taken from the tune Far Away. Several settings and variations of the tune, with different words, were published, but only one has been found to match the melody, exactly. J.R. Thomas published a version dedicated “To The Misses Seixas of New York, Far Away, a Romance as sung by Mr. Percival at Buckley’s Opera House.” Mr. Thomas also published a variation of the melody with new words by George Cooper, Stephen Foster’s collaborator, titled Loved Ones Far Away. Other references have mentioned Harrison Millard’s Thou Art Far Away as being similar.
1851, Stephen Collins Foster (1826 – 1864) [Brass Band Journal, 1854]
This was Foster’s big follow-up to Old Folks at Home. The singer has been sent to roam the world, by his master, and is attempting to console his love, which he must leave behind.
?, Josef Gung’l [Stratton Military Band Journal]
1859, Charles François Gounod (1818 – 1893) / Coon [3rd NH (2nd Brigade- Port Royal) Band Books]
Gounod was born into an artistic family. His father was a painter and his mother a pianist, both well-known in Paris, France. By the age of 20, Charles had won the Prix de Rome, followed the next year by the Grand Prix de Rome for his cantatas “Marie Stuart” and “Fernand”, respectively. The opera based on Goethe's masterpiece, brought Gounod the fame he richly deserved. However, many doubted the lyrical composer could have created such a work and years of accusations of forgery followed. Act IV begins with this resounding march and chorus of soldiers. . It was said that “Faust” was Abraham Lincoln’s favorite opera and that he attended no less than three performances of it during his presidency. Francis Scala, leader of the U.S. Marine band performed “the Soldier’s Chorus” quite often for the President, who often requested its playing. When serenading the president, the “Soldiers Chorus” often followed “Hail to the Chief,” as the spirited music would always bring Mr. Lincoln to his feet. This arrangement is by Oscar Coon.
1859, Gounod / Downing [3rd NH (2nd Brigade- Port Royal) Band Books]
Here is another arrangement of the Gloire Immortelle or “Soldiers' Chorus” from Faust. David Downing was the bandmaster of the 4th NH (Manchester Cornet) Band. His arrangement begins with the drinking song from Act II followed by the Soldier Chorus.
Fifres de le Garde, Les (2nd Military Polka)
1861 Joseph Ascher (1829 – 1869) [Squire's Cornet Band Olio, Set #2, 1872]
Ascher dedicated this to General P.G.T. Beauregard and subtitled it “General Beauregard’s Grand Polka Militaire.”
?, song: “Pulling Hard Against the Stream,” (1867) by John Rogers Thomas [Hosea Ripley Collection]
Some books list Harry Clifton as the composer of the song. With the inclusion of the chorus from Thomas’ “Pulling Hard Against the Stream,” the selection is post-war, though very popular with today’s “Civil War bands.”
18--, ?, [1st Brigade Band Books]
patriotic medley [4th NH, Manchester Cornet Band Books]
This wonderful patriotic medley includes Red, White & Blue (Columbia, Gem of the Ocean), Washington's March (an almost forgotten national air), The Star-Spangled Banner, Hail Columbia, and Yankee Doodle. This one selection will satisfy any occasion's needs for flag-waving music.
Free America (or British Grenadiers)
manuscript based on Gen. John Reid’s Sett of Marches, 1778
Other lyric titles include “Washington”, “The New Massachusetts Liberty Song” and “Great Joy to the Day”, celebrating the defeat of Cornwallis, at Yorktown. As the name implies, grenadiers were soldiers assigned with the task of throwing grenades. The grenade of the time was a hollow iron ball, filled with gunpowder and sealed with a wooden plug, which contained the fuse.
various /arr: David L. Downing [4th NH, Manchester Cornet Band Books]
The medley consists of six tunes: Free and Easy, a tune so popular that almost everyone recognized it. Winslow Homer mentions it in an 1861 Harper’s Weekly panorama where the title is listed as We'll be Free and Easy Still. The tune appears to be based on the chorus of Gay and Happy, composed by Louis Winters. The tune inspired several parodies including one by Miss Fanny Forrest with the opening line changed from “I'm the girl that's gay and happy” to “I'm the girl that's free and easy.” The second tune, Neapolitan, was composed by George Alexander Lee (1802-1851), an English composer and singer. The earliest American edition (1850) bears the title I Am Dreaming of Thee, Napolitaine. The third tune is the popular Get Out of the Wilderness in a wildly syncopated arrangement that foreshadows the cakewalk and ragtime styles of the late 19th Century. The word to Wake Up Mose appears in Charles White's Serenader's Song Book (1851). The tune's composer is unknown. John Rogers Thomas (1829 – 1896) composed Good Bye, Farewell; Farewell Is Often Heard after emigrating to America in 1849. The last title, Crow Out Shanghai, suggests a rooster, though the tune resembles Cluck Old Hen, one of several related fiddle tunes.
1821, Carl Maria von Weber (1786 – 1826) [3rd NH “Port Royal” Band Books]
Der Freischütz established the national school of German opera. The plot concerns a forest demon that buys the souls of hunters with magic bullets. Kaspar has sold out to the demon Zamiel and will lose his soul unless he can find a substitute. Max hopes to wed the daughter of the retiring chief huntsman by proving himself worthy of her father's soon to be vacated position. Kaspar tricks max into using Zamiel's magic bullets that will assure a perfect score in the competition. Max's bride-to-be, Agatha, dons a wreath given to her by a holy hermit when a funeral (instead of bridal) wreath is mistakenly delivered. Max wins the contest and at the prince's request shoots once more. This time the magic bullet pulls his aim to his bride, but since she is wearing the hermit's wreath, the bullet is deflected and pierces Kaspars' heart, whereupon Zamiel claims his victim and Max, his bride. The quickstep, brilliantly incorporates the drinking song where Kaspar drugs Max, the bridesmaids' song and the chorus of the Prince's huntsmen, who are gathered for a banquet before the “trial shot.”