A COLLECTION OF 53 MOSTLY ANTEBELLUM PIECES OF SHEET MUSIC, PLUS ONE TRANSCRIBED MANUSCRIPT COMPOSITION, BOUND TOGETHER, FOR Louise Morris Corcoran (1838-1867), daughter of W.W. Corcoran (1798-1888), Washington, D.C., businessman, banker, and philanthropist, founder of the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

Washington, DC: nd [bound circa 1857]. 4to. 53 pieces of sheet music, printed in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C., 1842-1856. The 4-page manuscript piece, music and lyrics, is entitled "'When Too Cruel Death!' / Romance / from Mehuls 'Joseph & His Brethren' / Transcribed, & Translated, / For his accomplished Pupil / Miss Corcoran / by / F.N. Crouch." [Signed again at end: "F.N. Crouch / Washington DC, Jan 1857"]. Frederick Nicholls Crouch (1808-1896) was a composer and cellist who emigrated from England to the United States in the early 1850s. The music consists primarily of romantic songs and opera arias, with three nice chromolithographic title pages (one of Jenny Lind), several other illustrated title pages, and "Miss Corcoran" written in pencil at the head of a number of pieces. A descriptive list of the sheet music is available on request. Corners and joints rubbed, front blank endpapers and title leaf to the first piece of sheet music lacking, some light foxing, very good otherwise. Contemporary red half-morocco and floral-patterned cloth, gilt rules and title on spine (darkened and repaired, some erosion), gilt-stamped red morocco owner's label on the upper cover: "L.M. Corcoran" within an ornamental border. (#6437). Item #58858

In addition to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Corcoran used his fortune, gained primarily through astute bond trading, to found, in Washington, the Louise Home, named for his daughter, "an institution for the support and maintenance of a limited number of gentlewomen who have been reduced by misfortune" (DAB), to support George Washington University, the University of Virginia, William & Mary College, Virginia Military Institute, Washington and Lee University, numerous religious organizations, and southerners impoverished by the Civil War, and he was responsible for the return of the remains of John Howard Payne, author of "Home, Sweet Home," from Tunis, where he had died while serving as American consul, here interred in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown.

A listing of the tunes follows: Rosier, F.W. (words); C.M.V. Weber. ALL IS OVER. [NP,np,nd] 4pp., last blank. Gill, Ed. J. (words); Crouch, F.N. ART THOU IN TEARS! [Phila: A. Fiot; NY: W. Dubois, nd] 6pp., last blank. "A SOLDIER'S LIFE," The Popular Song in Balfe's celebrated Opera, of the "Bohemian Girl," as performed at the Park Theatre. [NY: Atwill, 1844]. Second edition. 6pp., last blank. Rossini. ASSISA AL PIE D'UN SALICE. Romance Scena e Cavatina from Rossini's Opera of Othello, sung by Sigra. Adelaide V. Pedrotti. [NY: Atwill's, nd]. 8pp., last blank. Power, Thos. (words); F. Nicholls Crouch. BEAUTIFUL ROSE. Sung by Mr. Arthurson. [Phila: John Marsh, 1856]. 6pp. Crouch, F. Nicholls. SELECT DRAWINGROOM SONGS. [Phila: John Marsh, 1856] Litho. title page by L.N. Rosenthal's, Phila. Followed by the composition, "BE TRUE TO ME!" Arietta Espangniola. 12pp., last blank. Crouch, F. Nicholls. SELECT DRAWINGROOM SONGS. [Phila: John Marsh, 1856] Litho. title page by L.N. Rosenthal's, Phila. Followed by the composition, "DEAREST! I THINK OF THEE!" 6pp., last blank. "DEAREST SPOT OF EARTH TO ME IS HOME." Arranged for piano and sung by Miss Adelaide Phillips at her debut concert in Boston. [Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1855] 6pp., last blank. GEMS OF GERMAN SONG...FOR THE PIANO-FORTE. Second series. (Title page) [Boston: Geo. P. Reed, nd]. Followed by the Haydn composition, "FIDELITY a CANZONET." 8pp., last blank. GEMS OF GERMAN SONG WITH ENGLISH WORDS. (Title page) [Boston: G.P. Reed & Co., nd] Followed by the F. Kucken composition, "GOOD NIGHT, FAREWELL." 8pp., last blank. Ryan, Desmond (words); F. Nicholls Crouch, inscribed to Mrs. James Rush. GRA CIAL MACHREE, AN IRISH BALLAD. [Phila: John Marsh, nd]. 8pp., last blank. GEMS OF GERMAN SONG...FOR THE PIANO FORTE. Fourth series. (Title page) [NY: Firth & Hall, nd]. Follwed by the Schubert composition, "HARK! HARK! THE LARK AT HEAV'N'S GATE SINGS." 6pp., last blank. Root, Geo. F.; Wurzel. THE HAZEL DELL, SONG AND CHORUS. Sung by Wood's Minstrels, of New York. Eighteenth edition. [NY: William Hall & Son, 1853]. 6pp., last blank. Crouch, F. Nichols. HER I LOVE. Song as sung by Mr. Arthurson. [Boston: Geo. P. Reed & Co., 1854]. 8pp., last blank. Cramer, C.; with words trans. from the German by J.F. Petri. HOW CAN I LEAVE THEE! A GERMAN MELODY. [Baltimore: F.D. Benteen; New Orleans: W.T. Mayo, nd]. 6pp., last blank. Fitzball, E. (words); W.V. Wallace. SELECTIONS FROM THE NEW GRAND OPERA MARITANA. (title page) [Baltimore: F.D. Benteen, nd]. Followed by the composition "IN HAPPY MOMENTS." 6pp., last blank. Selby, Charles (poetry); Alexander Lee. I'M A POOR SHEPHERD MAID. [Boston: Oliver Ditson, nd]. 6pp., last blank. Bayly, T. Haynes (poetry); Alexander Lee. I'VE LIV'D TO HEAR YOUR WEDDING BELLS. Sung by Madame Burkhardt. [Baltimore: F.D. Benteen, nd]. 6pp., last blank. Kozeluch (arr.) JOHN ANDERSON MY JO, A SCOTTISH AIR. Sung by Sinclair. [Baltimore: Geo. Willig Jr., nd]. Illustrated title page. 4pp., last blank. Mendelssohn Bartholdy, F. SELECTIONS FROM THE ORATORIO OF ST. PAUL. (Title page). [Boston: G.P. Reed & Co., nd]. Followed by the composition "JERUSALEM! THOU THAT KILLEST THE PROPHETS." 6pp., last blank. NATIONAL SONGS. Sung by Mad'lle. T. Parodi. (Color litho. title page by L.N. Rosenthal, Phila.) [Phila: R. Wittig, nd] Followed by the composition by Rouget de Lisle,"THE MARSEILLES HYMN." 6pp., last blank. SECOND SERIES OF GERMAN GEMS. SONGS OF SCHUBERT. With German & English text republished from the original. (Title page, in brown) [Washington City, DC: Hilbus & Hitz, nd]. Followed by the composition "LA SERENADE." 6pp., last blank. German, F.C. (words); J.H. Howard (arr.) THE FAVORITE NEGRO SONG MARY BLANE. Sung by the Ethiopian Serenaders, Christy's Minstrels, and Campbell's Minstrels. New edition. [NY: William Hall & Son; Phila: A. Fiot,nd]. 6pp., last blank. Burr, C. Chauncey (words); F. Nicholls Crouch (inscribed to Miss Louisa Howe). THE OLD ELM TREE. [Phila: Lee & Walker, 1856]. 6pp., last blank. Verdi. OVER THE SUMMER SEA. Barcarolle sung by Signor Mario in Verdi's opera Rigoletto. [Boston: E.H. Wade,nd]. 6pp., last blank. Miss Leslie (words); J.L.L. OH! NO, WE NEVER TALK IN FRENCH. [Phila: A. Fiot; NY: W. Dubois, 1843]. 3pp., last blank. Bishop, Henry R. SHOULD HE UPBRAID. [Baltimore: G. Willig Jr., nd]. 6pp. NATIONAL SONGS. Sung by Mad'lle. T. Parodi. (Color litho. title page by L.N. Rosenthal, Phila.) [Phila: R. Wittig, nd]. Followed by the composition "THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER." 6pp. (page 6 is a full page ad for the publications of Rudolp Wittig, Music Dealer and Publisher). GEMS OF GERMAN SONG. Third series. (Title page) [Boston: G.P. Reed, nd]. Followed by Spohr's composition, "THE SHEPHERD TO HIS FAIR ONE." 6pp., last blank. Crouch, F. Nicholls. THE TATLER. AN IRISH BALLAD. (Inscribed to his friend Mrs. D. Sharwood) [Phila: Lee & Walker, 1856]. 6pp., last blank. Linley, G. THOU ART GONE FROM MY GAZE. As sung by Jenny Lind. [NY: Cook & Brother, nd]. 6pp., last blank. ROBINSON & SON'S SELECTIONS FROM ENGLISH SONG. [Phila: nd]. Followed by the F. Nicholls Crouch composition "THE BLIND PIPER." 8pp., last blank. Lover, S. THE FOURLEAVED SHAMROCK. A POPULAR BALLAND. As sung by Mrs. Wood. [Phila: George Willig, nd]. 6pp., last blank. Crouch, F. Nicholls. THE SISTER'S PRAYER. [Boston: Oliver Ditson, nd]. 4pp., last blank. Enoch, F. (words); Stephen Glover. THE VALLEY OF CHAMOUNI. [NY: Firth, Pond & Co., nd]. 6pp., last blank. GEMS OF GERMAN SONGS. From the Original German editions. (title page) [Phila: Rudolph Witting, 1856]. Followed by the F. Kucken composition THE TYROLESE & HIS CHILD. 6pp., last blank. SECOND SERIES OF GERMAN GEMS. SONGS OF SCHUBERT. With German & English Text republished from the original. (title page in brown) [Washington City, DC: Hilbus & Hitz, nd]. Followed by the composition "THE WANDERER." 6pp., last blank. Crouch, F.N. THE WIDOW TO HER CHILD. [Boston: Oliver Ditson, nd]. 6pp., last blank. Crouch, F. Nicholls. SELECT DRAWINGROOM SONGS. [Phila: John Marsh, 1856] ILitho. title page by L.N. Rosenthal, Phila. Followed by the composition, "THE WAYSIDE SPRING." 8pp., last blank [one leaf lacking]. [In Manuscript] "WHEN TOO CRUEL DEATH!" / Romance / from Mehuls "Joseph & His Brethren." / Transcribed & Translated, / For his accomplished Pupil / Miss Corcoran / by / [F.M.?] Crouch. [dated Washington, DC, Jan. 1857] 4pp. Hon. Mrs. Norton (words); Crouch, F. Nicholls. WOULD I WERE WITH THEE. [Boston: Nathan Richardson, 1854]. 8pp., last blank. Crouch, F. Nicholls. SELECT DRAWINGROOM SONGS. [Phila: John Marsh, 1856] Litho. title page by L.N. Rosenthal, Phila. Followed by the composition, "WE PARTED IN SILENCE." 12pp. (page 12 is a full-page illustrated ad for the Marsh Music Store). Bishop, Henry R. AS IT FELL UPON A DAY. (words from Shakespeare's Sonnets) [Boston: Oliver Ditson, nd]. 6pp. GLEE. DRINK TO ME ONLY WITH THINE EYES. [Phila: G. Willig, nd]. 2pp. (page 2 is a full-page illustrated ad for the catalogue of music, musical instruments, & musical merchandise, on sale at Hilbus & Hitz Music Depot, Washington, DC). Fitzball, Edward (words); M.W. Balfe. LIST! DEAREST, LIST! Grand Romantic Opera Keolanthe. [Boston: Oliver Ditson, nd]. 10pp., last blank. Beames, Clare W. (arr.) IN THE GROVE WHERE FIRST I MET THEE. Donizetti's Opera of Linda De Chamounix. [NY: Firth, Pond & Co., 1847]. 16pp., last blank. Montgomery, J. (poetry); Henry R. Bishop. MEET AGAIN. [Boston: G.P. Reed, nd]. 4pp. Balfe, M.W. OH! SHE WAS GOOD AS SHE WAS FAIR. [Phila: J.E. Gould & Co., nd]. 10pp., last blank. Rossini. STABAT MATER. (title page) [Boston: Oliver Ditson, nd] Followed by the composition, "QUIS EST HOMO." 10pp., last blank. Jones, William (words); Louis Emanuel. THE SYREN & FRIAR. [NY: Firth, Pond & Co., 1847]. 12pp., last blank. Strauss, Johann. JUBEL QUADRILLE FUR DAS PIANO FORTE. [NY: Horace Waters, 1842]. 8pp., last blank. THE SONGS OF JENNY LIND. (color litho title page by J.H. Bufford's, Boston). [Boston: Oliver Ditson, nd]. Followed by the composition, "WE NOW MUST PART." 6pp., last blank. Verdi, G. SELECTIONS FROM THE OPERA OF IL TROVATORE. Translated from the Italian by Chas. J. Sprague. [Boston: G.P. Reed, 1854]. Followed by the composition, "THE NIGHT SWEETLY AND SILENTLY." 16pp., last blank. Donizetti. CHI MI FRENA. From the opera Lucia di Lammermoor. [Boston: G.P. Reed, nd]. 8pp., last blank.

Price: $850.00