Parlor Music

Eulalie

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1851

“Eulalie” was entered for copyright deposit on December 6, 1851, by Firth, Pond & Co.

The song was arranged for guitar accompaniment and submitted for copyright deposit on January 11, 1853.

According to Evelyn Foster Morneweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family:

Fairy-Belle

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1859

On June 13, 1859, Stephen C. Foster wrote a letter to his brother informing him that he “sent off a first-rate song the other day to Firth, Pond & Co.” This song was probably “Fairy Belle,” which Firth, Pond & Co. deposited for copyright on August 19, 1859.

According to Evelyn Foster Morneweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family: 

Farewell Mother Dear

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1861

“Farewell Mother Dear” was submitted for copyright deposit on September 9, 1861, by John J. Daly of New York.

Farewell! Old Cottage

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1851

“Farewell Old Cottage” was entered for copyright deposit on March 22, 1851, by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York. 

According to Evelyn Foster Mornweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family:

For the Dear Old Flag I Die!

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1863

There is no record of copyright entry or deposit for “For the Dear Old Flag I Die,” but according to page three of the earliest known edition it was copyrighted in 1863.

Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)

Date of Birth: 
July 4, 1826
Date of Death: 
January 13, 1864

Stephen Foster (b. July 4, 1826, Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania; d. January 13, 1864, New York) was one of the first American songwriters to earn a living through composition alone. Many of his songs, most of which were for the parlor or minstrel stage, achieved great popularity during his lifetime and continue to be popular today. His songs depicting African Americans, however, have been controversial since they were written.

Gentle Annie

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1856

The title page of “Gentle Annie” was deposited for copyright on April 24, 1856. It was originally published by Firth, Pond & Co.

The first score listed below is the edition that was used in the Foster Hall Reproductions and The Music of Stephen C. Foster: A Critical Edition. 

According to Evelyn Foster Mornweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster's Family:

Gentle Lena Clare

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1862

“Gentle Lena Clare” was submitted for copyright deposit on December 31, 1862, by S. T. Gordon of New York.

Give the Stranger Happy Cheer

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1851

“Give the Stranger Happy Cheer” was entered for copyright deposit on January 6, 1851, by F. D. Benteen of Baltimore.

Give This to Mother

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1864

“Give This to Mother” was submitted for copyright deposit on May 7, 1864, by P. A. Wundermann of New York. The author of the lyrics is not listed on the earliest copies, but a caption title on a later copy of the song, printed by Horace Waters from Wundermann’s plates, reads “Words by S. W. Hardings.” A later copy gives his name as S. W. Harding, without the final “s.”

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