Musick in Old Boston
The Old Stoughton Musical Society's
Second Fall Music Festival
Old West Church, Boston, Massachusetts
November 22-23, 1980
The Old Stoughton Musical Society (OSMS) is the oldest choral society in the U.S.
Their Second Fall Music Festival, organized by OSMS Historian Roger Hall, featured a series of lectures and concerts
held as one of the special events for Jubilee 350 -- celebrating the 350th anniversary of the City of Boston
These are the highlights...
Saturday, November 22
Lectures:
"Old Stoughton in Old Boston" - Roger L. Hall, Musicologist and
Old Stoughton Musical Society Historian
"Colonial Opera in Boston" - David P. McKay, Musicologist & Guest Singers
"George W. Chadwick and the Choral Festivals" - Steven Ledbetter,
Director of Publications, Boston Symphony Orchestra
"Organs and Organists in Old Boston" - Barbara Owen,
Organist and Musicologist
"Violin Making in the Boston Area" - Douglas W. Anderson,
Violinist and Conductor
Evening Concert:
"Music of the Baroque Era" - Music by J.S. Bach, Corelli, Dall'Abaco, Handel, Telemann - Easton Chamber Orchestra, Richard W. Hill, organist; Douglas W. Anderson, conductor
Sunday, November 23
194th Annual Concert of The Old Stoughton Musical Society:
"Musick in Old Boston"
Music by William Billings, Dudley Buck, George W. Chadwick, Edwin Arthur Jones, Horatio Parker, William Selby, and other composers --
Barbara Owen, Guest Organist; Old Stoughton Musical Society Chorus, Richard W. Hill, Organist;
Roger L. Hall, Music Director.
Among the highlights were performances of rare original versions of "John Brown" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" both published in Boston in the 1860s, and "Hymn of Peace" the words written by Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes for the Grand National Peace Jubilee in Boston.
The concert finale featured the First Performance of a special Jubilee 350 Song, which was both festive and fearless in its hopeful promise for the future of Boston:
"O Boston!"
words: Pilgrim Gov. William Bradford (1590-1657)
music: "Old Hundredth" - harmonized by William Tans'ur,
edited and arranged by Roger Hall.
And the final song sung was in remembrance of those who had passed away during the year and set to the familiar tune of "Auld Lang Syne" (For Old Times Sake),
arranged by Robert Kemp and titled "Song of the Old Folks."
Here are the texts for these two songs...
© PineTree Productions
Some of the music from this "Musick in Old Boston" concert available on the CD
The Stoughton Harmony listed below.
To inquire about any of the music from this concert, write to:
Boston Jubilee Concert
Stoughton Music Publications, CDs, and DVDs
Compiled by Roger L. Hall
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, Edited by Roger Hall)
Music Activities in Stoughton (1980-1999)
This monograph is in limited supply and may be 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 teenage girl 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 RECORDING
3. Sharon (1778) - William Billings (ed. by Roger Hall) -- FIRST RECORDING
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 RECORDING
9. Yankee Song (1788) - tune: Yankee Doodle (arranged by Roger Hall)
10. Ode To President George Washington (1789) - edited by Roger Hall - FIRST RECORDING
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 RECORDING
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 RECORDING
23. Easter Carol (1892) - Charles Ives
24. O Boston! (1980) - ed. and arr. by Roger Hall - FIRST RECORDING
25. Dedication (1986) - Roger Hall -- FIRST RECORDING
26. Peace (1990) - Roger Hall -- FIRST RECORDING
27. +Song of the Old Folks (1855) - tune: Auld Lang Syne/ words: Albert Laighton/arr. R. Kemp .
+ = Father Kemp's Old Folks Concert Tunes (3rd edition, 1889)
Some of the pieces on the CD are also included in this reprinted 19th century 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) -- commermorative song 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) -- 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 Inauguration 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 you order
Music in Stoughton: A Brief Survey
you will also receive,
The Stoughton Songster,
at no extra price.
To order, go to 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 narration 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, Bartholomew 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: Old Stoughton Music Sampler (24 tracks - mp3 only)
A survey of music covering two centuries from the 1770s to 1980s, performed by the Old Stoughton Musical Society. Including music by: Supply Belcher, William Billings, Samuel Capen, Stephen Foster, Edward and Jacob French, Roger Hall, Oliver Holden, Jeremiah Ingalls, Charles Ives, Edwin Arthur Jones, and Daniel Read.
CD 3: Ten Town Tunes: Music from Stoughton, 1770 - 1990 (21 tracks)
Selection of tunes associated with the Town of Stoughton by William Billings, Jacob French, Edwin Arthur Jones, Roger Hall, F. William Kempf, Frank W. Reynolds, and Oliver Shaw. Also additional choral music by Roger Hall.
Each CD is available for making a donation to help support
this website.
Just pay by credit card through safe and secure PayPal,
payable to PineTree Productions,
at $20.00 for one CD, $35 for any two CDs, $50 for all three CDs,
and each one includes shipping.
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DVDs
A series of video programs on Stoughton history and music,
including two original plays
NOW AND THEN: Stoughton History and Music
Three half hour programs on one DVD:
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 several broadside tunes: "The Grand Constitution" and "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 first performance, Emerson College, Boston, Massachusetts (September 29, 1988).
To order this DVD+R for $19.95 including shipping,
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 $15.00 including shipping,
write to:
Stoughton Musicfest
If you have any comments or questions, write to:
