The Bulletin
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I will speed up my story by following the philosophy that “brevity is godliness.” Citizens and cultural organizations in the state of New Jersey turned out by the thousands in 1976 to participate in the year-long Bicentennial Celebration of the Declaration of Independence. The Bulletin One of my contributions to the cele- bration took place on the evening of June 11, 1976, when I sang Francis OF THE S OCIETY FOR A MERICAN M USIC Hopkinson’s Seven Songs for Harpsichord or FOUNDED IN HONOR OF O SCAR G. T. SONNECK Forte Piano in the parlor of his house, which is still standing and in use a few miles south of Trenton, in Bordentown, Vol. XXVIII, No. 1 Spring 2002 New Jersey. I made my own edition of Mr. Hopkinson’s seven songs and arranged for three excellent musicians to accompany It’s a Long, Long Way from me on a harpsichord, recorders and a viola Bordentown to Japan! da gamba. An excellent tape recording was made Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791) that evening, and I had several hundred LP records pressed up and made available—at —Gordon Myers cost—to historical groups and interested individuals in the area. My singing teacher at Cornell At a New York Pro Musica concert given Some fourteen years later, on July 30, College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, Mr. Francis at Dumbarton Oaks in the Washington, 1990, I received a letter from CBS Special German—a fellow in singing from the D.C. area, Noah introduced me to his long- Products. They were making CD record- Juilliard Graduate School in New York time friend, Irving Lowens. Irving and I ings for a book company who was pub- City—gave me a song, My Days Have Been became friends, and later, when I applied to lishing The Development of Western So Wond’rous Free by Francis Hopkinson. the Rockefeller Foundation for a grant to do Music, An Anthology—Volume 2, and He mentioned that it was composed in research for performance in the area of they were seeking permission to include 1759 and that Mr. Hopkinson was America’s 18th Century Vocal Music, Irving my recording of Hopkinson’s My Gen’rous America’s first native-born composer. He wrote a wonderful letter in my behalf to Heart Disdains, song No. VII from the also gave me O’er the Hills Far Away, Norman Lloyd at the foundation. Two recording we made in 1976. The author of another song composed by Francis grants came through for the summers of the series is a Dr. Stolba, whom I’ve never Hopkinson. He said they would go well 1969 and 1970. Other letters were fur- met. Nor do I know how she came across together in a program of American Art nished, but I am under the impression that our recording of Francis Hopkinson’s Songs. perhaps Irving’s recommendation was the songs. The second World War and a num- most important. Legalities in such matters as licensing ber of years later, I became a member of As any beginning searcher should do in and permissions can be tedious and time the Margaret Dodd Singers. We made some the area of America’s early music, I consuming. By the time the long process recordings of early American music, and obtained a copy of A Bibliography of Early was completed in 1999, CBS had been an LP called Early American Psalmody for Secular American Music [18th Century] by purchased by SONY. And I was dealing New Records. I was the Presentor on that Oscar G. Sonneck, revised and enlarged by with SONY Music Special Products/ recording—the voice that “lined out” the William Treat Upton, (The Library of McGraw-Hill Stolba: Development of Psalms for the congregation to sing. Congress, Music Division, Washington, Western Music, Volume II. Later, I found myself baritone soloist D.C. 1945). And in leafing through its In dedicating his Seven Songs for with Noah Greenberg’s The New York Pro pages, I found My Days Have Been So Harpsichord or Forte Piano to his friend, Musica. I spent six years with them (1957- Wond’rous Free by Francis Hopkinson list- George Washington, Francis Hopkinson 1963), toured the United States, Canada, ed on page 282. His O’er the Hills Far included in his letter, “I cannot, I believe be England and Europe and made LP record- Away is listed on page 317, and informing refused the Credit of being the first Native of ings with them for Decca. I played the me that it was part of Mr. Hopkinson’s the United States who has produced a part of King Darius in their revival of the Seven Songs for Harpsichord or Forte Piano, Musical Composition.” 12th Century, The Play of Daniel. which can be found on page 403! I would like to steal from Mr. It was February, 1958, I stood at the Early in the 20th Century, Harold V. Hopkinson’s letter: I cannot, I believe, be window of our Riverside Drive apartment, Milligan had “edited and augmented” Mr. refused the Credit of being the first Native of looking out over the Hudson River when Hopkinson’s song with a full piano accom- the United States who has represented the the thought came to me, “If Noah paniment and they were published by Honorable Francis Hopkinson in getting Greenberg can research early European Arthur P. Schmidt Co. (Boston, New York one of his songs recorded by Japan’s world- music for performance, why can’t I c. 1918). These were the editions that Mr. embracing company, SONY! research early American music for perfor- German got for me back at Cornell mance?” College—1937-1941. Call for Papers L ETTER F ROM T HE P RESIDENT Society for American Music Dear Colleagues, times!—and since I managed to come away SAM will hold its twenty-ninth national Memories of our 28th conference in with only a single trophy for myself I know conference in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Lexington, Kentucky, are fresh in my mind that prices were high enough to have earned Arizona State University as I write – and what a fine conference it was! a tidy sum that will go to support student 26 February - 2 March 2003 Ron Pen and the other members his travel to our conferences. Seeking to present a stimulating meeting local arrangements committee—Lance Hearty and heart-felt thanks to all who that reflects the rich variety of research and Brunner, Kathy Bullock, Bonnie Cutsforth- contributed their time and talents to making performance interests within the Society, the Huber, Dennis Davis, Jon Glixon, Angela the conference a success! program committee welcomes proposals for Hammond, Tedrin Lindsay, Jennifer King, Many Society members are already look- papers, sessions, and performances involving Larry Nelson, and Eric Strother—put on a ing ahead to our 2003 conference in Tempe, any aspect of music in Canada, the United smooth and well-run event. This involved Arizona, hosted by Arizona State University. States, and the Americas. Although all top- not only keeping things on track at the Karen Bryan of ASU will serve as Chair of ics will be considered, the program commit- Radisson, but also managing the logistics of the Local Arrangements Committee, and tee especially encourages submissions in numerous jaunts to the University of Catherine Parsons Smith (University of these categories: Kentucky and a couple of Friday afternoon Nevada-Reno, emerita) will chair the • Submissions that deal with the diverse his- tours. Program Committee. Late February is a ter- torical and contemporary musical tradi- Susan Cook and her Program rific time to visit the Valley of the Sun and tions and cultures of the Southwest. Committee—Lisa Barg, Esther Rothenbusch we can look forward to numerous tours, • Submissions that address American music, Crookshank, Tammy L. Kernodle, Thomas concerts, and other special events. broadly defined, in an interdisciplinary Riis, and Joanne Swenson-Eldridge—assem- As I begin the second year of my presi- bled an outstanding program. Although my dency, I am very pleased with the current context, and in all the formats, locations own schedule prevented me from hearing state of our Society. Veteran members con- and genres in which it occurs. very many papers, I heard numerous raves tinue to form the backbone of the organiza- • Submissions in alternative formats such as from colleagues about the high quality of the tion in terms of doing the work necessary to panels, roundtables, position papers with presentations. It was especially exciting and keep us moving toward our goals. The num- respondents, workshops, mixed perfor- gratifying to see so many new faces at the ber of new folks at Lexington is a great sign mance / discussion sessions, and complete conference, both among the presenters and that our future is in good hands. But being sessions involving particular themes or among those who came to listen. There are pleased is not the same as being complacent! issues. some bright young scholars coming along There is much work to be done on many General Guidelines. who will help ensure that we can look for- fronts. I look forward to the honor and plea- ward to lively and stimulating scholarship in sure of working for another year to keep the Individual or joint papers should be no American music for many years to come. Society for American Music moving forward. longer than twenty minutes. Performances This was one of our largest conferences, should be no longer than thirty minutes and with nearly 300 registrants. Although I do Best regards, may include a short lecture component. not have final figures at hand, judging from Presenters do not need to be members of the the number of items on display this surely Society, but are required to register for the was one of our largest Silent Auctions ever, as Paul F.