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Parlor music wasn't just popular in the USA, so hope this is a good spot to support SharonC's Party and maybe get even more people interested in playing this genre of music!
SharonC said:
A few years ago, I read a book entitled, This is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession, by Daniel J. Levitin.
In the beginning of the book, Levitin talks about how a few of generations ago, before television, families would play music together for entertainment—without the emphasis on whether your technique was good enough to play for others.
This was not the focus of the book, but I remember reading that and thinking about the popular music of the late 19th & early 20th century, played in the parlors (or family rooms, living rooms, etc.,) of many homes.
Lots of tunes in this category:
https://www.loc.gov/collection.....lor-music/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.....lour_music
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Mark said:
If your thinking what sings are parlor song, as I was clueless, here is a list of some songs to look at.
Parlorsongs.com
@Mark -
GREAT SITE!
Full of songs you can hear & GREAT Music History, too!
Also, appears you can print some sheet music if you sign up with Sibelius Scorch Player(?)
But, seems the site may be taken down, soon - it's up for sale.
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Some of these can be found in "The Lester S. Levy" Sheet Music Collection at the Johns Hopkins University Libraries, here: https://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.....on/181/007
Stephen Foster Songs:
Stephen Foster Songs (Kim Y - Video Playlist)
Stephen Foster Lesser Known Civil War Songs (SZABO Music Video Playlist)
I mentioned that the "Our Gang" (The Little Rascals) TV series had the Kids singing old Parlor songs - especially starting in 1935 when Alfalfa (Carl Switzer) joined the cast. Many scenes can be seen on YouTube - great inspiration!
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@SharonC -
"Parlor Music" was popular at a time of Broadway, Tin Pan Alley Sheet Music Publishing, Vaudeville and Barbershop Quartets - personally, I think there might've been a bit of cross-over.
So, was "Parlor Music" just serenades and ballads, or did it also include some of the more lively & boisterous songs?
Tell me what you think?
Tin Pan Alley arose from the increase in piano sales after the Civil War.
From Study.com:
Tin Pan Alley Music Style
The Tin Pan Alley music style combines many previously existing genres. Before the late 1800s, many people who played print music as amateurs or in their homes were limited to Christian hymns or parlor ballads like Stephen Foster. After music publishing increased, music released by artists from Tin Pan Alley was heavily influenced by vaudeville, jazz, blues, and other older song forms, including:
Ragtime: A musical style predating jazz with a syncopated or ragged rhythm. Popular ragtime songs include "Hello My Baby" (1899) and "Maple Leaf Rag" (1899)
Parlor Music: Leisurely songs or ballads are meant to be played in the home or casual settings. Popular parlor music includes "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" (1909) and "A Bird in a Gilded Cage" (1900)
Dance music: Dance tempo songs were written to accompany dancers, such as soft shoes or song-and-dance. Popular dance-music includes "Give My Regards to Broadway" (1904) and "The Band Played On" (1895)
Comic Novelty Songs: A type of song created to be a gimmick, joke, or recreation of popular culture. Popular novelty songs include "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (1908) and "The Teddy Bears Picnic" (1932)
Fabulous Collection of SHEET MUSIC at the University of South Carolina Libraries:
Tin Pan Alley Digital Sheet Music Collection - South Carolina University
List of Songs of the Gay 90's, from the Stanford Libraries:
Audio - a few Gay 90's Songs sung by Johnny O'Tolle (Apple Music):
Gay 90's Songs - Johnny O'Tolle
GREAT lists of Top 100 Songs from Dave's Database:
Once we hit the "Roaring Twenties", the "Age of Jazz" - this is when Radio & Phonograph came into popular use.
- Emily
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@ELCBK Yes, I agree, there is overlap. I think of Parlor music in broad terms--as the popular music of the time being played in the home by family members who were amateur musicians.
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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"Let Me Call You Sweetheart" (1910)
VIOLIN - easy play-along Sheet Music (Peter Edvinsson):
CELLO - easy play-along Sheet Music (Peter Edvinsson):
"Daisy Bell" (aka. "Bicycle Built For Two") by Harry Dacre (1892).
VIOLA - easy play-along Sheet Music (Peter Edvinsson):
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"Old Folks At Home" ( aka. Swanee River), Stephen Foster (1851).
VIOLA - easy play-along Sheet Music (Peter Edvinsson):
VIOLIN - easy play-along Sheet Music (Zabinski Music Studio):
CELLO - easy play-along Sheet Music (Peter Edvinsson):
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MORE PARLOR SHEET MUSIC VIDEOS!
For "Parlor Music", Peter Edvinsson has more EASY play-along Sheet Music videos for VIOLIN, VIOLA & CELLO - many are on SharonC's Party list and tunes also listed in previous posts of this thread.
Find them amongst tunes (they are NOT all Parlor tunes), here:
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I think good literature (like good music), is timeless. One of the parlor songs I put on my list is Annabelle Lee.
Annabelle Lee is a poem written by Edgar Allan Poe in 1849 (entitled “Annabel Lee”), & was set as a ballet for piano & voice by English composer Henry Leslie (1822-1896).
Since then, there have been multiple versions of the ballad, including this one by Sarah Jarosz, that I really like (released in 2011):
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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That is an awesome tune and well above my abilities! But one can dream, can't one?
The old curmudgeon!
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@SharonC -
Thanx for posting that fabulous version of Annabelle Lee!
Definitely worth learning to play. 🤗
There's video sheet music for an absolutely horrid 1858 version of "Annabelle Lee", by E.F. Falconnet available on Youtube - I couldn't bring myself to post it, but beauty is in the ear of the beholder. (lol)
I'm a huge fan of EAP literature, also films that have touched on his works and the music he has inspired.
- Emily
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Aura Lee was published in 1861. The melody was used in Elvis Presley’s song Love Me Tender.
Also, a version in Musescore:
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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Grandfather’s Clock was published in 1871.
Free sheet music* with online viewing/play-along:
https://www.8notes.com/scores/11564.asp
*To print out free version in 8notes, you have to click on the individual page (so that it is in view) to print it (i.e., you can only print one page at a time).
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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A fun version of Oh, Susanna
Some sheet music of basic tune:
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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A video fiddle lesson for Red Wing:
Some sheet music of basic tune:
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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@SharonC -
Thanx, for the great examples & tutorial!
Here's a 'Violaman' (🤣 sorry, I just can't get used to that) Tutorial for "Redwing" on VIOLA!
...one forum is plenty for me. 😁
- Emily
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A play-along video for My Bonnie:
Sheet music that matches video:
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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The Library of Congress has a Collection titled, "Home Sweet Home: Life in Nineteenth-Century Ohio".
There's an article on "Parlor Music" - here's an excerpt:
In Ohio, as elsewhere, parlor music -- that genre of music created primarily for music-making in the home -- became very fashionable as increased importance was placed on musical proficiency as a hallmark of good taste and moral reputability. Musical prowess, particularly keyboard playing, was highly prized, and a commonly-held value was that a proper education was incomplete without the study of music. Parlor music repertoire frequently included sentimental songs about romantic and maternal love, odes and tributes to historical figures and leaders of the day, and patriotic songs.
Some sheet music is available, but I had to report a broken link for:
"...The Drennon Polka Quadrilles, to which "The Frankfurt Belle" belongs. Other pieces in that set include "The Madison Belle," "The Cincinnati Belle," "The Louisville Belle," "The Nachitoches Belle," and "The Medical Student."
https://www.loc.gov/collection.....lor-music/
It appears the Stephen Foster Songs were still considered the most popular of the time.
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SharonC said
A fun version of Oh, Susanna
Some sheet music of basic tune:
https://fiddlerman.com/wp-cont.....usanna.pdf
we had a dinner cruise one night on that boat... saw tina turner, elvis, and elton john.. ( i believe was the lineup ) ... I told my wife very quietly so as not to spoil the entertainment for others.. " I dont believe thats really elvis.."
I like that version Hillary is playing...the rhythm she is doing is awesome! great voice too! theres a video out there where she explains how she started doing the dance routines with fiddle. side money for college i think but..Id hate to mess the story up so ill post if i find it again.
EDITED LATER
note the opening Stephen Foster tune!
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@ABitRusty Wow, that must have been a fun dinner cruise! Hillary Klug says street performing is what developed her style—great story! Thanks for posting this 
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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