George Washington: Music for First President

David & Ginger Hildebrand | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 30, 2000)
• Label: The Orchard
• ASIN: B00000K3JN
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,279 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. White Cockade

2. Toast

3. There Was a Jolly Miller/Sweet Richard

4. General Washington

5. Of All the Simple Things/Durang's Hornpipe

6. Death of General Wolfe

7. He Comes, the Hero Comes!

8. President's March

9. Drum

10. Fancy Minuet Daned Before General Washington

11. Lady Washington

12. Good Morrow to Your Night Cap

13. Funeral Dirge

14. Stony Point/March to Boston

15. Minuet by the Reverend Mr. BAcon

16. Orpheus and Euridice

17. Lord Howe's Jig

18. Funeral Dirge on the Death of General Washington

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like Listening Through A Time Machine!, September 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: George Washington: Music for First President (Audio CD)

Here is a nice collection of songs and instrumentals from the earliest days of the United States. Great for listening on the way to a place like Mount Vernon (as we did) or Monticello. But just as great to hear sitting at home, or driving the daily commute. These pieces give you an idea of what early Americans would have heard (the Hildebrands used reproductions of 18th century instruments), and offer a fascinating look into the past, as these songs, and the sentiments they express, are authentic from that time period.

Some of my favorites on this CD:

2) A Toast - This one, a tribute to George Washington, gives an idea of the esteem most Americans felt for their leader.

4) General Washington - A rather blunt "in your face" statement to the Mother Country --- but undoubtedly many Americans felt this way during and soon after the Revolution.

6) The Death of General Wolfe -- A chant-like number which tells the story of how the French lost Quebec in 1759. A really cool song!

7) He Comes, the Hero Comes! - Another tribute to "Hero, Guardian, Father, Friend" Washington. Hard to believe Americans could feel this way about a president!

8) The President's March - Sort of an 18TH Century version of "Hail to the Chief" ... rather catchy.

9) The Drum - Gives an idea of how Continental soldiers or Minutemen might have felt.

11) Lady Washington - A touching little piece that evokes thoughts of Martha Washington desperately seeking news of her "hero George" and praying for his safe return from the war.

12) Good Morrow to Your Nightcap - A cute little "bar-room [tavern?] ballad."

13) Funeral Dirge (Decker) - Surprisingly cheerful, really!

18) Funeral Dirge (von Hagen) - This one sounds more like "funeral music." Very solemn and haunting. No doubt expresses the sadness most Americans felt when their first president left them in 1799.

This is truly an enjoyable collection of music that even my kids like. If you can find the companion music book get it --- it contains music and words and will enhance your enjoyment of these songs.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rare Early American Music., July 23, 2008

By 

Jordan Faust "CommanderRyalis" (Dana Point, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: George Washington: Music for the First President (MP3 Download)

I found this album serendipitously. I was in Colonial Williamsburg's DeWitt-Wallace Decorative Arts Museum Viewing an exhibit titled "The Art of Death in 18th Century America" (or something close to that), in which there were many scenes of 18th century graveyards, memorial portraits, etc. The one thing I noticed most however was this hauntingly beautiful "Funeral Dirge [Von Hagen]", I noted the title from a card on the wall listing what was being played. When I got home I immediately went to iTunes and searched for album and behold I found "George Washington: Music for the First President".

This album is wonderful; it has music of early America played in a very realistic manner using period instruments, if I am correct in remembering all the compositions are of American origin, something of a rarity to find, in relation to the vast library of European Classical Music.