| Stephen Foster, the Cable, and the German Lied |
Stephen Foster was born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania on July 4,1826, on the
same day that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died, the ninth child of
a prosperous family. His father was a Pittsburgh businessman and politician, his
brother a builder of the Pennsylvania canal system and the Pennsylvania
Railroad, and his sister the wife of President James Buchanan's brother. He was
largely self taught until he received some formal musical training from a friend,
German immigrant Henry Kleber.
same day that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died, the ninth child of
a prosperous family. His father was a Pittsburgh businessman and politician, his
brother a builder of the Pennsylvania canal system and the Pennsylvania
Railroad, and his sister the wife of President James Buchanan's brother. He was
largely self taught until he received some formal musical training from a friend,
German immigrant Henry Kleber.
Although he was popular, Foster suffered great poverty, and combined with domestic problems, the
death of his parents in 1855, and his journey into alcoholism, his life fell apart. From 1861, Foster
lived alone in New York City, and in 1864 he died in the charity ward of Bellevue Hospital in New
York City from complications after a fall from his bed. Shortly thereafter, his renamed publishing
company, William A. Pond Co., published the last song he wrote a few days before his death,
"Beautiful Dreamer." During his lifetime he earned only $15,091.08 in royalties from his sheet music.
He died with 38 cents in his pocket. He is probably the most underrated composer in history.
death of his parents in 1855, and his journey into alcoholism, his life fell apart. From 1861, Foster
lived alone in New York City, and in 1864 he died in the charity ward of Bellevue Hospital in New
York City from complications after a fall from his bed. Shortly thereafter, his renamed publishing
company, William A. Pond Co., published the last song he wrote a few days before his death,
"Beautiful Dreamer." During his lifetime he earned only $15,091.08 in royalties from his sheet music.
He died with 38 cents in his pocket. He is probably the most underrated composer in history.
Kleber, left, an immigrant from Darmstadt, Germany was quite well known in his
own right and composed light operas popular in the era. He composed one
especially for the great event of the first transatlantic cable being laid. Until the
cable was laid, the fastest communication between Europe and North America
took at least a week. The idea of a transatlantic cable was first proposed in 1845,
and took years to complete. A massive project, it took Cyrus W. Field on the
American side and Charles Bright and brothers John and Jacob Bretton on the
British side of the Atlantic much hard work and financial maneuvering to do it.
own right and composed light operas popular in the era. He composed one
especially for the great event of the first transatlantic cable being laid. Until the
cable was laid, the fastest communication between Europe and North America
took at least a week. The idea of a transatlantic cable was first proposed in 1845,
and took years to complete. A massive project, it took Cyrus W. Field on the
American side and Charles Bright and brothers John and Jacob Bretton on the
British side of the Atlantic much hard work and financial maneuvering to do it.
The manufacture of the cable started in early 1857, and by the end of July it was stowed both on the
American ship Niagara and the British ship Agamemnon. On August 5,1858, after five attempts, both
ships met and the two continents were joined. On August 16, communication was established with
the message "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will to men." But damage
inflicted on the cable by the high voltages caused it to fail soon after and it took until July 27,1866 for
the final, successful, cable to be laid with virtually no problems. The first message sent on this, the
final and successful cable, was: "A treaty of peace has been signed between Austria and Prussia".
American ship Niagara and the British ship Agamemnon. On August 5,1858, after five attempts, both
ships met and the two continents were joined. On August 16, communication was established with
the message "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will to men." But damage
inflicted on the cable by the high voltages caused it to fail soon after and it took until July 27,1866 for
the final, successful, cable to be laid with virtually no problems. The first message sent on this, the
final and successful cable, was: "A treaty of peace has been signed between Austria and Prussia".
On a German piano purchased by Kleber, an accomplished musician who was a music merchant,
performer, composer, impresario and teacher, Foster composed many great songs before he married
Jane MacDowell and became a professional songwriter. Foster's first hit was “Oh! Susanna.” His
early minstrel songs became widely popular,and between 1850 and 1860 Foster wrote many of his
best songs, for most of which he wrote the lyrics, including “Camptown Races,” “Old Folks at
Home,” “Massa's in de Cold Ground,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Jeanie with the Light Brown
Hair,” and “Old Black Joe,” a total of 285 songs, hymns, arrangements, and instrumental works. His
unhappy marriage led to several separations.
performer, composer, impresario and teacher, Foster composed many great songs before he married
Jane MacDowell and became a professional songwriter. Foster's first hit was “Oh! Susanna.” His
early minstrel songs became widely popular,and between 1850 and 1860 Foster wrote many of his
best songs, for most of which he wrote the lyrics, including “Camptown Races,” “Old Folks at
Home,” “Massa's in de Cold Ground,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Jeanie with the Light Brown
Hair,” and “Old Black Joe,” a total of 285 songs, hymns, arrangements, and instrumental works. His
unhappy marriage led to several separations.
There were thousands of miles of undersea cables linking all parts of the world within 20 years. The
original two cables stopped working in 1872 and 1877 but four other cables were in operation by
then. It was not until the 1960's that the first communication satellites offered a serious alternative.
original two cables stopped working in 1872 and 1877 but four other cables were in operation by
then. It was not until the 1960's that the first communication satellites offered a serious alternative.
Lied is a German art song for solo voice and piano. The earliest basic forms of lied come from the
15th century. In the 17th century, a new kind of lied arose, the general bass or continuo lied, mainly
for upper classes and students, and they were simpler than the formal solo songs of other countries.
After 1750, the lieder was set to folk type melodies with simple harmony and independent
accompaniment. It was Schubert's setting of Goethe's Gretchen am Spinnrade (1814) and Erlkönig
(1815) that first embodied the close identification with poet, scene, singer, and character, as well as
the concentration of lyric, dramatic and graphic ideas into a single unit which characterize the finest
19th-century romantic lieder. Schubert's 610 songs became personal and corresponding to nature and
emotion. Wagner, Liszt, Schumann, Brahms and Strauss all cultivated the lied.
15th century. In the 17th century, a new kind of lied arose, the general bass or continuo lied, mainly
for upper classes and students, and they were simpler than the formal solo songs of other countries.
After 1750, the lieder was set to folk type melodies with simple harmony and independent
accompaniment. It was Schubert's setting of Goethe's Gretchen am Spinnrade (1814) and Erlkönig
(1815) that first embodied the close identification with poet, scene, singer, and character, as well as
the concentration of lyric, dramatic and graphic ideas into a single unit which characterize the finest
19th-century romantic lieder. Schubert's 610 songs became personal and corresponding to nature and
emotion. Wagner, Liszt, Schumann, Brahms and Strauss all cultivated the lied.
| The German Lieder in America |
During the pre-Civil War period, a taste for the German lied crept into America, in part due to
concerts by the likes of Jenny Lind, who introduced German song to American audiences. It spread
even more rapidly because of Foster's influence. After the Civil War, interest and admiration for
German culture even more steadily increased and Liederkranz societies formed in nearly every city.
concerts by the likes of Jenny Lind, who introduced German song to American audiences. It spread
even more rapidly because of Foster's influence. After the Civil War, interest and admiration for
German culture even more steadily increased and Liederkranz societies formed in nearly every city.
With the blossoming of interest in German music and international admiration of German culture at
its height, many American composers went to Germany for study. They came home with a genuine
appreciation and fresh approach to American popular music. German American singing groups sprang
up all over America, preserving German musical tradition and keeping the culture alive. By the time a
New York Sangerfest was held in Brooklyn, New York in 1900, over 6,000 singers from 174
German American singing societies flowed into the city. A mere few years later it was dead. With the
Anti-German hysteria of World War I, America freed itself from the "bonds" of German music.
its height, many American composers went to Germany for study. They came home with a genuine
appreciation and fresh approach to American popular music. German American singing groups sprang
up all over America, preserving German musical tradition and keeping the culture alive. By the time a
New York Sangerfest was held in Brooklyn, New York in 1900, over 6,000 singers from 174
German American singing societies flowed into the city. A mere few years later it was dead. With the
Anti-German hysteria of World War I, America freed itself from the "bonds" of German music.
Stephen Foster's songs are deeply associated with the Civil War. Not many people realize what an
admirer of German music Foster was, or that he spoke German fluently and translated German songs
into English and even cooperate with German composers, making their songs popular in America.
admirer of German music Foster was, or that he spoke German fluently and translated German songs
into English and even cooperate with German composers, making their songs popular in America.