Dating Songs and Lyrics

[pipthelimey]

Greetings all,
I was wondering if anyone knew of a good reference or website where I could determine if certain songs were pre or post war. I know a good number of pre-1900 songs that we are all fond of singing around campfires, but I want to phase out any that are post-war if I can find out the dates they came around.

Kind Regards,

[Bluegoose]

Re: Dating Songs and Lyrics

Andrew,

Here is one source that we have used and find it a very good, reliable source for much 19th century music.

http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/sheetmusic/

[LindaTrent]

Re: Dating Songs and Lyrics

Andrew,

Here is one source that we have used and find it a very good, reliable source for much 19th century music.

http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/sheetmusic/

Lester Levy has a lot of the sheet music with composer and publication date, and the original sheet music.

http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/

Linda.

[Bluegoose]

Re: Dating Songs and Lyrics

Linda,
Thanks for including that site, I overlooked it from my favorites folder. Another good one that gives sequenced recordings and lyrics is http://pdmusic.org/civilwar.html.

[Drygoods]

Re: Dating Songs and Lyrics

Hello Forum folks,

Oddly enough, I think that many folks overlook searching antique or used bookstores for music. I have about a dozen or fifteen original music books that I've bought rather cheaply. For example;

Odes, Hymns and Songs For The GAR, Post Meetings, Camp-Fires Re-Unions 1880. I paid $25.

Songs For Our Soldiers and Sailors. 1864. $30.

Book of Popular Songs 1864. $20

South Songs: From the Lays of Later Days. To The Women of Richmond, whose noble sacrifices and untiring exertions for the sick during the whole war, have written them in letters of love, veritable sisters of mercy. $20

Our National War Songs. S. Brainard & sons for piano or organ. $7.50

War Songs & Poems of the Southern Confederacy 1861-1865. By an ex-confederate. 1904 $40

I am sure that if you try ABEbooks.com you'll find similar music books. Just because the books are old or used, don't give up on them because of age, they still have plenty to offer.;)

[celtfiddler]

Re: Dating Songs and Lyrics

A couple of additional sites worth searching:

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/S?ammem/collections:@field(FLD003+@band(origf+Sheet+Music)):heading=Original+Format%3a+Sheet+Music

http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/ballads/ballads.htm

http://www.letrs.indiana.edu/s/sheetmusic/

You also might want to take a look at google books also.