The Early Music Show - Music for the Founding Fathers

Lucie Skeaping explores music that was being performed during the time of the Founding Fathers, in 18th-century colonial America. With the appearance of the Bay Psalter by the Pilgrim Fathers - the first book to be published in America - through to the popular melodies of the War of Independence, it is sometimes thought that early American music is little more than Puritan hymns and marches for fife and drum. But Lucie argues that the music of early America was rich and varied, an interesting composite spawned by the many disenfranchised immigrants that arrived on the country's shores. The programme looks back on the music of characters such as William Billings, one of the country's important homegrown composers; the important role that the Moravian people made in shaping the nation's music; and the significant musical role that some of the Founding Fathers themselves played - in particular Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Francis Hopkinson. Lucie also looks back on the origin of tunes such as Yankee Doodle and Stars and Stripes Forever. With the appearance of the Bay Psalter by the 17th Century Pilgrim Fathers - the first book to be published in America - through to the popular melodies of the War of Independence, it is sometimes thought that early American music is little more than Puritan hymns and marches for fife and drum. As Lucie Skeaping argues though , the music of early America was rich and varied, a wonderful composite spawned by the many disenfranchised immigrants that arrived on America's shores. In a Fourth of July edition of the programme Lucie looks back on the music of characters such as William Billings, one of the country's first important home grown composers; the important role that the Moravian people made in shaping the nation's music; and the significant musical role that some of the Founding Fathers themselves played - in particular Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Francis Hopkinson. She also looks back on the origin of tunes such as "Yankee Doodle" and "Stars and Stripes Foreever". James Hewitt: Yankee Doodle (last variation only) Olivier Baumont (harpsichord) ELATUS 2564615712 Tr 6 Trad., harmonised by Dowland: Old Hundredth BBC Singers Nicholas Chalmers (conductor) (specially made recording) William Billings: Chesterfield Oregon State University Choir Ron Jeffers (conductor) New World 802552 Tr 2 William Billings: The Dying Christian's Last Farewell Oregon State University Choir Ron Jeffers (conductor) New World 802552 Tr 9 Alexander Reinagle: Lee Rigg - a Scots tune with three variations and a gigg Olivier Baumont (harpsichord) ELATUS 2564 615712 Tr 3 Francis Hopkinson: See, my days have been so wondrous free Rosalind Rees (soprano) James Riesman (harpsichord) VOXBOX CDX 5080 Tr 18 Aon.: Jesus Makes My Heart Rejoice (for trombones) - hymn Boston Baroque Martin Pearlman (conductor) TELARC CD 80482 Tr 31 John Antes: Trio No 2 in D minor (1st mvt) Members of the Fine Arts Quartet COLUMBIA ML 6141 Side 1 Band 4 Johann Friedrich Peter: Ich Will Dir Ein Freudenopfer Thun Boston Baroque Martin Pearlman (conductor) TELARC CD 80482 Tr 28 Trad. American song, arr. Lucie Skeaping: Anacreon in Heaven The City Waites (not commercially recorded) James Hewitt: The Battle of Trenton Olivier Baumont (harpsichord) Matthew Kowles (narrator) ELATUS 2564615712 Tr 10 Gaetano Franceschini: Sonata V in D (1st mvt) Accademia della Magnifica Comunita TACTUS TC 730601 Tr 13.