Music for Abraham Lincoln: Campaign Songs, Civil War Tunes, Laments for a President [Audio CD]

Anne Enslow (Author), Ridley Enslow (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Music for Abraham Lincoln

Dozens of recordings have presented the stirring songs and sentimental ballads of the Civil War era. Several of these discs have even touted themselves as Abraham Lincoln s favorite music, often with little evidence to support the claims. Produced for the bicentennial of Lincoln s birth, this CD presents music that was specifically written for or about the nation s sixteenth president or that had a well-documented connection with him. The album includes 18 songs and tunes, most of them taken from the original sheet music, now part of the Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana at the Library of Congress from Washington and Lincoln and the Lincoln Quadrille to Farewell Father, Friend and Guardian. The musicians include Jacqueline Schwab, whose distinctive piano playing will be immediately recognizable to anyone who has seen Ken Burns s 1990 documentary on the Civil War; hammered dulcimer player Anne Enslow; violinists Ridley Enslow and John Kirk; cellist Abby Newton; flutist Christa Patton; singers Linda Russell, Margery Cohen and Dan Berggren. Extensive liner notes. Total program time: 59:37

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up—Produced for the 2009 bicentennial of Lincoln's birth, this collection presents 17 songs that were either written for or about Lincoln or have a documented connection with him. Many numbers are from the Library of Congress collection of 19th-century sheet music. The album features a variety of themes, including political and campaign songs ("Honest Old Abe"), dance tunes ("Rail Splitter's Polka" and a mazurka and waltz from the "Lincoln Quadrille"), war songs ("Dixie" and "Battle Cry of Freedom"), hymns ("President's Hymn"), and mourning songs ("Rest, Noble Chieftain"). Most are vocal selections that feature solos and/or multi-part harmonies; there are also five instrumentals. Among the vocalists are Anne and Ridley Enslow. Extensive album notes provide background and lyrics. Many of these piecess are less well known than the selections on Abraham Lincoln in Song (Gin Ridge Music, 2008), but this collection is more musically diverse and the vocal and instrumental arrangements are more complex. Pair the two albums in music classes to contrast the varying music styles of the period, in history classes to show students how period music reflected events, or for student project use. A good choice for middle level and secondary collections.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO
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From Booklist

This collection of 18 Civil War–era songs “written for or about Lincoln” arrives in time to celebrate the sixteenth president’s two-hundredth birthday. Most of the music is drawn from original sheet music, housed in the Library of Congress. The selections range from catchy campaign songs (“Washington and Lincoln” and “Vote for Abraham”) and spirited Civil War tunes (“Abraham’s Tea Party”) to dance music (“Lincoln Quadrille: Waltz”) and moving funeral laments (“Farewell Father, Friend and Guardian”). Clear-voiced vocalists, accompanied by dulcimer, violin, banjo, flute, piano, and harp, re-create the turbulent period when the nation was divided by war. The precise piano talents of Jacqueline Schwab (the accompanist on filmmaker Ken Burns’ classic Civil War series) shine. Extensive liner notes place the songs into historical context, and a teachers’ guide offers classroom connections. Like A Musical Journey in the Footsteps of Lewis and Clark (2008), from Enslow Publishing, this is an entertaining and educational classroom resource. Grades 5-9. --Candace Smith

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Audio CD
• Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc. (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0766036359
• ISBN-13: 978-0766036352
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #918,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Books on CD > Children's Fiction > Educational
  • #71 in Books > Books on CD > Children's Fiction > Music

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Lincoln era recordings, February 12, 2011

By 

R. Hall "tunesmith" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Music for Abraham Lincoln: Campaign Songs, Civil War Tunes, Laments for a President (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful, well documented collection of campaign songs ("Honest Old Abe", "Vote for Abraham"), Civil War tunes ("Dixie and "Battle Cry of Freedom" medley), and Laments for a Presdient ("Funeral March to the Memory of Abraham Lincoln", "Rest, Noble Chieftain") featuring a talented group of musicians: Anne Enslow (hammered dulcimer, piano, soprano vocals),Ridley Enslow (violin, tenor vocals), Jacqueline Schwab (piano), Linda Russell (mountain dulcimer, alto vocals), John Kirk (violin. banjo, tenor vocals), Margery Cohen (soprano vocals), Christa Patton (flute, harp, alto vocals), Abby Newton (cello), Dan Berggren (bass vocals), Mark Dunn (bass).

Among the selections I especially liked were the opening and closing song, "Washington and Lincoln" by Henry Clay Work; the popular 1860 campaign song, "Lincoln and Liberty"; the instrumental "Lincoln Quadrille: Polka Mazurka"; and most especially "Farewell Father, Friend and Guardian," (words: L.M. Dean/ music: George F. Root), sung at Lincoln's funeral in Chicago and Springfield, Illinois and one of the most poignant songs ever written for a fallen U.S. President. Though most of the selections are vocal there are also some fine instrumentals by Jacqueline Schwab, the pianist featured on many Ken Burns series on PBS, and other musicians in this group. The accompanying booklet includes helpful notes for each title and full texts of the songs.

Unlike some CDs of Lincoln's time or the Civil War era which are overally arranged and provide little background on the songs, this one presents the music in straightforward, highly enjoyable performances. If you're looking for a good collection of less familiar music from Lincoln's time, this is the CD to get.

5.0 out of 5 stars Music for Abraham Lincoln, March 18, 2009

By 

J. D. Ward - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Music for Abraham Lincoln: Campaign Songs, Civil War Tunes, Laments for a President (Audio CD)

Music for Abraham Lincoln: Campaign Songs, Civil War Tunes,Laments for a President is a terrific cd. Wonderful songs and music. Anyone interested in Abraham Lincoln will cherish this music.