Published in Newport - Historic Music of Newport

Music Published In Newport

The Music of the Civil War and the T.W. Wood Music Store

Thomas W. Wood owned a music store on Thames Street in the middle of the 19th century. The address was listed as 83 Thames Street. During the Civil War, the T.W. Wood music store published a number of songs dedicated to popular Rhode Islanders fighting for the Union Army.

The advertisement shown here from the August 4, 1859, Newport Daily News shows that even though the original Germania Musical Society had been disbanded, their manager F.B. Helmsmuller continued to perform with his own Germania Orchestra during Newport’s summer season.

General Burnside's Grand March

Dedicated to General A. E. Burnside.

Burnside served briefly as the Commanding General of the Army of the Potomac, and later served as the Governor of RI and later one of the state’s Senators.

Governor Sprague's Grand March

Composed by William D. Lake in 1861.

Dedicated to “His Excellency William Sprague, Governor of Rhode Island.

Hurrah for Rhode Island

Composed by E.A. Payne in 1861.

The text of this song is based on a poetry of General Van Zandt and is dedicated to the Rhode Island Volunteers

This song will be sung soon!

The Conscript Mother's Song

Composed by Henry Bedlow and arranged for piano by Philip Pfeiffer in 1863.

Philip Pfeiffer was a member of the United States Naval Academy Band.

This song will be sung soon!

The Music of the Great War

Archie MacDonald

Archie MacDonald owned the City Music Store at 116a Broadway. As you can see by this ad, he ran a full service music store selling everything from sheet music to player piano rolls.