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George Spaulding

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For the American architect, see George W. Spaulding.

George L. Spaulding (December 26, 1864 – June 1, 1921) was an American composer, songwriter, and a successful publisher of music.[1] He also composed operettas for children, and easy piano pieces and technical books for elementary level students.[2]

Family and early life

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Spaulding was born in Newburgh, New York.[3] His full name was George Lawson Spaulding.[4] Spaulding's mother was Mary Spaulding, née Lee.[5][6][7] William Douglas Spaulding, his father, was a pattern maker by trade and also a well known singer in the local area who appeared in amateur comic opera productions.[8][a] George was a paternal grandson of John D. Spaulding, the founder of the Newburgh Gazette, and the Newburgh Journal.[10][1] At around the age of eleven, he used to create rhymes to songs known by his father.[11] Spaulding studied piano with local teachers,[2] and became proficient enough to accompany his father's singing. When he became old enough to leave school, Spaulding worked in the local music store at Newburgh.[11]

Career

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At the age of sixteen he moved to Brooklyn, where he worked in the music store of the Oliver Ditson Company,[11] and studied harmony for a short time with an organist.[2]

He began to develop a talent for writing lyrics and composing.[12] Spaulding composed the song "Home would be lonely without thee mother", in 1883, with Mary Lee as the lyricist.[13] Also in 1883, one of Spaulding's composed songs appeared in a book, with lyrics by his father. This song was called "Sail Ho! (A Sea Song)".[14] Between 1884 and 1885, several other songs were published with George Spaulding as the composer and his father as the lyricist.[15][16][17][18][19] A piano piece by Spaulding was published in 1884, titled "Jim Blaine's Galop". On the front cover of the sheet music was written "Jim Blaine of Maine. His Galop To The White House". It referred to James G. Blaine, who ended up being narrowly defeated in the 1884 United States presidential election.[20] His piano pieces "Rapido Polka", and "Ocean Beauties: Waltzes", were published in 1884 and 1885 respectively.[21][22] George Spaulding was the composer and lyricist of "Her Parting Words To Me", in 1885.[23] Also in 1885, he composed the song "He's English And So Sweet", with words by J. W. Turner, and was the composer of a separate piano arrangement of it.[24][25]

He left the Oliver Ditson Company, and opened a music shop in Brooklyn with George A. kornder[26] under the firm name of Spaulding & Kornder.[11] The store was located at 487 Fulton Street.[27] By 1888, Spaulding & Kornder had also become music publishers operating from that address.[28] They had success with the publishing of the song "Down Went McGinty", in 1889.[29][30]

In 1891, under the pseudonym of Henry Lamb, he was the lyricist and composer of "My Mary Green".[31] George sold all the rights of this song to a music publisher named Frank Harding for only $15. It was very popular all over the United States, and also in England.[11][3]

In 1893 George Spaulding formed a music publishing partnership with William B. Gray.[32] The address of the business was at 16 West 27th Street, New York.[33] Their first success came with the song "Two Little Girls In Blue". Gray purchased the rights of the song from its composer Charles Graham, for just ten dollars, changed the music and words of the original song, but still credited Graham with being the author.[34] Spaulding and Gray published it in 1893 and the song made $35,000.[b] In the same year, Gray bought the rights to the song "The Fatal Wedding" from Gussie Davis, for just $25 and rewrote it. Spaulding and Gray published it, crediting Davis as the composer and the money generated from the sales of that song, was also extremely high.[32][36] Among songs that they each composed together and were popular included "The Volunteer Organist",[3][c] "Carrie (That's My Darling Carrie)",[11][33] "Take Back the Engagement Ring", and "When You Know The Girl You Love, Loves You".[12][38]

At Gilsey House on 11 June 1895, at the inaugural meeting of the Music Publishers' Association of the United States, he was elected as their vice-president.[39] He was elected again to that position on 9 June 1896.[40]

By 1897, Spaulding had set up a business as a music publisher under his own name at 29 East 20th Street, New York.[41] Songs that were written, composed, and published by himself from that address between 1897 and 1900, included "Somebody Has My Heart",[42] "In An Old New England Village By The Sea",[43] and "Pretty Jessie Moore".[44]

George Spaulding also had a great talent for writing simple piano pieces with effective harmony and well defined melodies. Some of 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".[2]

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.[2]

Marriage and personal life

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He married Eva Bronson Wood, on 2 July 1889 in New York.[45][4][3] They were introduced via his business partner, Kornder, as she was a friend of Kornder's sister. Spaulding and his wife had two children.[11]

Death

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George Spaulding died at Roselle Park, New Jersey.[38]

Notes

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  1. ^ In 1882 William had a song published called "My Mother's Own Refrain", which he composed and had written the lyrics to.[9]
  2. ^ This song had also been published by Spaulding & Kornder in 1893.[35]
  3. ^ This was published in 1893 under the firm name of W.B. Gray & Co. The sheet music does credit Spaulding as the composer, and Gray as the lyricist.[37]

References

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  1. ^ a b "George Spaulding Visits His Old Home. The Great Success of "Henry Lamb"". Newburgh Daily Journal. Vol. XXXII, no. 9620. 21 October 1893. p. 2. Retrieved 2 October 2024 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c d e "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.
  3. ^ a b c d Spalding, Charles Warren (1897). The Spalding Memorial: A Genealogical History Of Edward Spalding Of Virginia And Massachusetts Bay And His Descendants. With A Record Of Their Military Services In The Colonial, Revolutionary And Civil Wars: Together With Information Concerning Various Other Branches Of The Spalding Family. Chicago: American Publishers' Association. p. 848. Retrieved 7 October 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ a b "A Schermerhorn Street Wedding. The Marriage of Mr. George L. Spaulding and Miss Eva B. Wood". Brooklyn Eagle. 7 July 1889. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Old Newburgh. Men And Events of Forty Years Ago". The Newburgh Telegram. 14 May 1910. p. 3. Retrieved 5 October 2024 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "George Spaulding in United States Census, 1870, database". 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024 – via FamilySearch.
  7. ^ "George Spaulding in New York State Census, 1875, database". 8 March 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024 – via FamilySearch.
  8. ^ "Obituary. William Douglass Spaulding". Newburgh Daily Journal. Vol. XXXIII, no. 9882. 29 August 1894. p. 4. Retrieved 2 October 2024 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) My Mother's Own Refrain, (1882)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Headley, Russel, ed. (1908). The History of Orange County, New York. New York: Van Deusen And Elms. p. 689. Retrieved 6 October 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "A Famous Song Writer. He Is A Newburgh Boy". Newburgh Daily Journal. Vol. XXXIII, no. 10031. 23 February 1895. p. 3. Retrieved 3 October 2024 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) Home Would Be Lonely Without Thee Mother, (1883)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Pond, William A (1883). Naval Songs: A Collection of Original, Selected, and Traditional Sea Songs. New York: Wm. A Pond & Co. pp. 50–52. Retrieved 30 September 2024 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) Down By The Turn In The Lane, (1884)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) There she Blows! (Sea Song), (1884)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) I Cawn't 'Elp It, You Know, (1885)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) Always Do Your Duty, Boy, (1885)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) When Bennie Sailed Away, (1885)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) Jim Blaine's Galop, (1884)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) Rapido Polka, (1884)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) Ocean Beauties: Waltzes, (1885)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) Her Parting Words To Me, (1885)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) He's English And So Sweet, (1885)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 Collection. "(Notated Music) He's English And So Sweet: Schottische, (1885)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "Obituary". The Musical Age. Vol. XVIII, no. 7. New York: Harry E. Freund. 24 June 1897. p. 19. Retrieved 5 October 2024 – via Google Books.
  27. ^ Lain, George. T; Healy, Charles. J, eds. (1890). Lain's Business Directory of Brooklyn, Kings County, Long Island City, Jamaica, Far Rockaway, Flushing, College Point, Hempstead, Newton and Whitestone For 1890 - 1891. Brooklyn: Lain & Company. p. 249. Retrieved 5 October 2024 – via Google Books.
  28. ^ Baseball Sheet Music Collection. "(Notated Music) Cuban Giants: Schottische, (1888)". Library of Congress, Music Division. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  29. ^ "Musical Echoes. "C. Minor" Mentions Some Phases of Life's Fleeting Show". Newburgh Sunday Telegram. Vol. I, no. 46. 2 February 1890. p. 1. Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via Google Books.
  30. ^ The Lester S. Levy Sheet Music Collection. "(Notated Music) Box 136, Item 067: Down Went McGinty, (1889)". Sheridan Libraries, Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ a b "Untitled". Baltimore Sunday Herald. No. 2009. 13 October 1901. p. 30. Retrieved 3 October 2024 – via Google Books.
  33. ^ a b Frances G. Spencer Collection of American Popular Sheet Music. "(Notated Music) Carrie (That's My Darling Carrie), (1893)". Baylor University Libraries Digital Collections. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  34. ^ Digital Collections, The New York Public Library. "(Notated Music) Two Little Girls In Blue, (1893)". The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  35. ^ The Lester S. Levy Sheet Music Collection. "(Notated Music) Box 144, Item 085: Two Little Girls In Blue, (1893)". Sheridan Libraries, Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  36. ^ Digital Collections, The New York Public Library. "(Notated Music) The Fatal Wedding, (1893)". The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  37. ^ The Lester S. Levy Sheet Music Collection. "(Notated Music) Box 144, Item 099: The Volunteer Organist, (1893)". Sheridan Libraries, Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  38. ^ a b "George L. Spaulding". The Reading Eagle. No. 128. 4 June 1921. p. 3. Retrieved 3 October 2024 – via Google Books.
  39. ^ "The Music Publishers' Association Of The United States". American Art Journal. 65 (11): 171. 22 June 1895. Retrieved 8 October 2024 – via Google Books.
  40. ^ "Meeting Of The Music Publishers Of The United States". The Musical Age. Vol. XIV, no. 6. New York: Harry E. Freund. 17 June 1896. p. 15. Retrieved 5 October 2024 – via Google Books.
  41. ^ Frances G. Spencer Collection of American Popular Sheet Music. "(Notated Music) Dora Brown: She's A Picture On A Wheel, (1897)". Baylor University Libraries Digital Collections. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  42. ^ Digital Collections, The New York Public Library. "(Notated Music) Somebody Has My Heart, (1897)". The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  43. ^ Digital Collections, The New York Public Library. "(Notated Music) In An Old New England Village By The Sea, (1899)". The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  44. ^ 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.
  45. ^ "George Spaulding and Eva Wood, 2 July 1889 in New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938, database". 11 March 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024 – via FamilySearch.
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