Fourth of July Celebration

Event Information

Venue(s):
Tammany Hall

Event Type:
Band, Chamber (includes Solo), Choral

Performance Forces:
Instrumental, Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
19 August 2010

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

04 Jul 1863, 11:30 AM

Program Details

Appears that Father Reed’s Old Folks were scheduled to sing “Flag of our union” early in the program (AN: NYS 07/04/63) and other songs later, but they must have arrived late, because R: NYH 07/06/63, p.2 says, “The Old Folk’s Quartette were expected to be on hand, as was announced in the bills, but through some mismanagement the favorite choir did not appear,” and a few paragraphs later, “Father Reed and his inimitable ‘Old Folks’ quartette choir then sang the ‘Red, White and Blue’ with much effect.”

The program started at 11:30am but music did not begin until 1pm

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Father Reed's Old Folks;  National Guard band, unidentified;  Gustavus Geary;  Charles F. Olney
2)
"Star-spangled banner, The"
aka Star spangled banned
Composer(s): Smith
Text Author: Key
Participants:  National Guard band, unidentified
3)
"Columbia, gem of the ocean"
aka Oh, Columbia, the gem of the ocean; Columbia, the land of the brave
Composer(s): Shaw
Text Author: Shaw
Participants:  Father Reed's Old Folks
4)
"Minstrel boy, The"
aka Minstrel boy to the war hath gone; Minstrel boy to the war is gone, The
Composer(s): Moore
Participants:  Gustavus Geary
5)
Song, unidentified
aka New song
Composer(s): Unknown composer
Participants:  Father Reed's Old Folks
6)
"Flag of our Union, The"
aka Flag of our Union forever
Composer(s): Wallace
Text Author: Morris
7)
"Bonnie old flag"
8)
Ballads
aka Favorite ballads ; Ballads and warblings; Beautiful ballads

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Sun, 03 July 1863.

2)
Announcement: New York Sun, 04 July 1863, 1.
“The arrangements for celebrating the 4th of July at the old Wigwarm are made complete, and the attendance doubtless will be very large.  The National Guard Band will perform national airs, and then that sterling old Democrat, Grand Sachem Purdy will deliver the opening address.  Father Reed’s Old Folks Quartette will sing ‘The Flag of our Union’ after which the Declaration of Independence will be read by Brother Thomas C. Field.  Drake’s address in the American Flag will be recited by Moses B. Perkins, Esq.  An original patriotic poem, entitled ‘Democracy and the Nation’ will be read by the author, Henry Murford, Esq.  Father Reed’s Quartette will then sing several other pieces, after which the lion, A.C. Murphy will deliver the oration for the day, and lastly the whole affair, which begins at 1 o’clock, will be wound up by the whole audience singing ‘The Star Spangled Banner.’”
3)
Announcement: New York Herald, 04 July 1863, 2.

4)
Review: New York Herald, 06 July 1863, 2.

“[T]he birthday of national independence was celebrated at the old Wigwam yesterday in the most enthusiastic manner.  The large hall in which so many celebrations have been held was crowded in every part. . . .

A fine band was in attendance, and several songs, with piano accompaniment, were sung by a choir engaged for the occasion.  The Old Folk’s Quartette were expected to be on hand, as was announced in the bills, but through some mismanagement the favorite choir did not appear. 

The order of exercises began with the playing of the ‘Star spangled banner’ by the National Guard Band. 

Grand Sachem Purdy then addressed the society. . . .

After music by the band, the Declaration of Independence was read by the Hon. Thos. C. Fields.  Father Reed and his inimitable ‘Old folks’ quartette choir then sang the ‘Red, White and Blue’ with much effect, and on being loudly encored sang another popular melody. . . .

. . . Gustavus Geary, the well known and accomplished singer, was then introduced and sung, with piano accompaniment, a new and stirring patriotic melody.  It was called ‘Mother, I am Come Home to Die,’ and was rendered so masterly that the house was fairly convulsed with delight.  It reminded us of the pathetic melody ‘Sweet Bingen on the Rhine.’  Mr. Geary, on being furiously encored, sung the Irish melody, ‘The Minstrel Boy to the War is Gone.’  After another song from the ‘Old Folks,’ in which the whole audience joined, the whole company adjourned [in] a rather tumultuous manner.”