George Spaulding
George L. Spaulding (December 26, 1864 – June 1, 1921) was an American composer.
Spaulding was born in Newburgh, New York. After studying piano with local teachers, at the age of sixteen he moved to Brooklyn, where he studied harmony for a short time with an organist. After this he was entirely self-taught. He was in the music publishing and selling business for many years, first as a music clerk, and then later going into partnership with others.[1]
He began to develop a talent for writing lyrics and composing while working as an errand boy in a music store.[2] In 1883, one of Spaulding's composed songs appeared in a book, with lyrics by W. D. Spaulding. This song was called "Sail Ho! (A Sea Song)".[3] In 1891, under the pseudonym of Henry Lamb, he was the lyricist and composer of "My Mary Green".[4] Among his best known songs were "The Volunteer Organist", "Two Little Girls in Blue", "Take Back the Engagement Ring", and others that sold very well at the time.[2]
He also had a great talent for writing simple piano pieces with effective harmony and well defined melodies. Among the most popular examples of these were: "Sing, Robin", "Sing - Pretty Little Song Bird", "Airy Fairies", "Child's Good Night", "Dollie's Dream", "June Roses", "Just a Bunch of Flowers", "Mountain Pink" and "Dreaming Poppies".[1]
Spaulding's Tunes and Rhymes for the Playroom, Souvenirs of the Masters, and Well Known Fables Set to Music were among the most widely used collections of easy piano pieces in book form. A Day in Flowerdom and The Isle of Jewels, which were two little operettas for children, written by Spaulding, were also very popular. His easy piano pieces, and elementary technical books, played an important role in developing music education for children. His wife, Jessica Moore, who was a talented poet, wrote many of his verses.[1][a]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "George L. Spaulding 1864 - 1921". The Etude. Vol. XXXIX, no. 7. New York: Theodore Presser Company. July 1921. p. 446. Retrieved 30 September 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b "George L. Spaulding Dies". The Music Trades. Vol. LXI. New York. 11 June 1921. p. 50. Retrieved 30 September 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ Pond, William A (1883). Naval Songs: A Collection of Original, Selected, and Traditional Sea Songs. New York: Wm. A Pond & Co. pp. 50–51. Retrieved 30 September 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ Digital Collections, The New York Public Library. "(notated music) My Mary Green, (1891)". The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Digital Collections, The New York Public Library. "(notated music) Pretty Jessie Moore, (1900)". The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
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