Sigmund Spaeth (1885–1965)
Author of A Guide to Great Orchestral Music
About the Author
Works by Sigmund Spaeth
The facts of life in popular song 6 copies
55 art songs 1 copy
Music for everybody 1 copy
Art of Enjoying Music 1 copy
55 Art Songs 1 copy
Who is Who in Music 1 copy
Maxims to Music 1 copy
Barbershop Classics 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1885-04-10
- Date of death
- 1965-11-12
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
Members
Reviews
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 43
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 268
- Popularity
- #86,166
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 1
- ISBNs
- 16
Consider the case of "The Star-Spangled Banner." You've heard about where the words came from. You may even have heard that the melody "To Anacreon in Heaven" was a drinking song. But did you know that there was an intermediate stage, "Adams and Liberty," which was a campaign song for John Adams written by a hack who was horribly overpaid for an abominable text? This book gives you both the text of the song and the history.
This whole book is a collection of historically important songs, with history and (frequently) snarky comments about their sources. It's of the greatest use if you are a musician and can play the songs, but it can be fun just to read, especially if you have interest in older songs. And Spaeth is a genuine authority, one of the greatest song scholars of the early twentieth century. So you can have fun and learn at the same time.
You don't have to believe me. Spaeth would go on to produce a sequel, Weep Some More, My Lady. Clearly, the idea of this book was one that did very well.… (more)