Lincoln Sheet Music

This database comprises sheet music from the McLellan Lincoln Collection at the Hay Library written between 1859 and 1923. Music about Lincoln ranges from popular song to compositions for orchestral performance. Popular music about Abraham Lincoln proliferated between 1859 and 1865, and Lincoln songs are an important source for understanding attitudes of the day towards the Illinois candidate, later the 16th President, and his policy agenda. Lincoln appeared in a wide variety of music, including campaign pieces, patriotic war and memorial numbers, emancipation songs, and minstrel music. Music written about Lincoln since 1865 has tended to emphasize the epic character of Lincoln’s presidency during the national crisis of a civil war, American folk mythology surrounding Lincoln, and the use of Lincoln’s image in contemporary popular culture. Some pieces set Lincoln’s own writings to music, while others memorialize the events of his life or offer a reinterpretation for recent times.
This collection is part of Brown University Library, hosted by Brown University.

This collection is part of:

Items in this collection

Funeral march to the memory of Abraham Lincoln, the martyr president

Funeral march to the memory of Abraham Lincoln, the martyr president

Brown University

Composed and arranged for four voices by Alfred Delaney; words by J.G. Percival For piano "To the memory of Abraham Lincoln, the Martyr President of the United States of America, who died April 15th, 1865, in the 57th year of his age"--Caption. Advertisement: Select catalogue of new music, no. 1, 1865 on p. [6]. Title page illustration: lithographed port. of Lincoln. "Lith. of Major & Knapp, 449 Broadway, N.Y."

Funeral march to the memory of Abraham Lincoln, the martyr president

Funeral march to the memory of Abraham Lincoln, the martyr president

Brown University

Music by Mrs. E.A. Parkhurst For piano. At head of title: The nation mourns. "To the memory of Abraham Lincoln, the Martyr President of the United States of America, who died April 15th, 1865, in the 57th year of his age"--Caption. Advertisement: Select catalogue of new music, no. 1, 1865 on p. [6] Title page illustration: lithographed port. of Lincoln. "Lith. of Major & Knapp, 449 Broadway, N.Y."

Enjolras: the song of the patriot

Enjolras: the song of the patriot

Brown University

"To the immortal memory of the people's president, Abraham Lincoln, is mournfully dedicated this song by a soldier of the republic"--Cover Written & composed by Edmundus Scotus, R.Q.S.; arranged for the piano by George Zoeller "Before everything but the republic he chastely dropped his eyes. He was the marble lover of liberty--Les Misérables"--Cover

Emancipation march

Emancipation march

Brown University

Cover features lithograph by Harrell of soldier on horse Composed and arranged for piano and respectfully dedicated to his excellency Abraham Lincoln by Thomas J. Martin.

Emancipation march

Emancipation march

Brown University

"To his Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States"--T.p.

Douglass grand march

Douglass grand march

Brown University

For piano Includes full length lithographed portrait of Lincoln by L.N. Rosenthal, Philadelphia. "Composed and respectfully dedicated to Hon. Stephen A. Douglas"--Cover.

Dirge. Our deeply lamented martyred president!

Dirge. Our deeply lamented martyred president!

Brown University

Words written by O. Wheelock, music composed by E. Mack. For SATB and piano "Very respectfully inscribed to Mrs. Lincoln, widow of the late President of the United States, by the Author ... with the assurance that he shares the Nations' condolence"--Cover

De darkie's rally: song & chorus

De darkie's rally: song & chorus

Brown University

Cover illustration: lithograph of African American men with sign "Colored recruts wanted" For voice and piano Caption title "T. Sinclair's lith, Phila"--Cover