Lincoln and Songs

[Anita]

In speaking of Lincoln it is said that no song "touched his great heart as did ..." What is the name of the song?

[Gene C]

Dixie ?

or Twenty Years Ago
http://balladofamerica.bandcamp.com/trac...-years-ago

[Anita]

That was fast Gene! According to Ward Hill Lamon and Noah Brooks, 'Twenty Years Ago' was a song that touched Lincoln's heart and moved him to tears. He knew the words by heart. After listening to it on the site you found http://balladofamerica.bandcamp.com/trac...-years-ago, I can imagine Lincoln being moved by it.

Cigar box instruments were popular in the civil war. Your prize is an e-trip to the Cigar Box Guitar Museum http://www.bellyjellymusic.com/cigar-box...useum.html and a cigar box. There are many free plans on the web for making your own instrument.

   

[RJNorton]

Have fun, Gene!

In one source I read that Abraham Lincoln once played an instrument. Because I feel the author sometimes accepted doubtful stories as true, I don't know about the veracity of this.

During the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Lincoln decided to mock the brass band which accompanied Douglas. Lincoln took out harmonica and played upon it. "This is my brass band" he said.

SOURCE: page 151 of Lincoln Talks: A Biography in Anecdote
compiled, collated, and edited by Emanuel Hertz (Halcyon House, New York, 1941).

[Joe Di Cola]

(10-05-2013 04:14 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Have fun, Gene!

In one source I read that Abraham Lincoln once played an instrument. Because I feel the author sometimes accepted doubtful stories as true, I don't know about the veracity of this.

During the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Lincoln decided to mock the brass band which accompanied Douglas. Lincoln took out harmonica and played upon it. "This is my brass band" he said.

SOURCE: page 151 of Lincoln Talks: A Biography in Anecdote
compiled, collated, and edited by Emanuel Hertz (Halcyon House, New York, 1941).

Roger,

There have been a few references to his pkaying the Jew's Harp. If I had the time I would try to tell you which ones made that reference, but I am pressed for time in getting ready for Springfield. Lincoln was also very fond of the song "Blue-tailed Fly."

Joe

[Gene C]

(10-04-2013 10:07 PM)Anita Wrote:  Your prize is an e-trip to the Cigar Box Guitar Museum http://www.bellyjellymusic.com/cigar-box...useum.html and a cigar box. There are many free plans on the web for making your own instrument.

Just got back from the museum. Quite interesting. Learned how to make a cigar box guitar. Since I don't smoke, I'm going to try and make a Whitman Sampler box guitar. If it doesn't work I can at least eat the candy.

[Anita]

(10-05-2013 12:00 PM)Gene C Wrote:  

(10-04-2013 10:07 PM)Anita Wrote:  Your prize is an e-trip to the Cigar Box Guitar Museum http://www.bellyjellymusic.com/cigar-box...useum.html and a cigar box. There are many free plans on the web for making your own instrument.

Just got back from the museum. Quite interesting. Learned how to make a cigar box guitar. Since I don't smoke, I'm going to try and make a Whitman Sampler box guitar. If it doesn't work I can at least eat the candy.

Why didn't I think of that! I didn't know Whitman's has been around since 1842! Whitman's first newspaper advertisement, a novelty during the era, appeared on December 29th, 1860. You can buy a collectors box for your guitar on eBay(sans candy).

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[Anita]

This is a good article on Lincoln and music and includes many of the songs he enjoyed.
http://www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/...9&CRLI=109

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(10-05-2013 10:05 AM)Joe Di Cola Wrote:  

(10-05-2013 04:14 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Have fun, Gene!

In one source I read that Abraham Lincoln once played an instrument. Because I feel the author sometimes accepted doubtful stories as true, I don't know about the veracity of this.

During the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Lincoln decided to mock the brass band which accompanied Douglas. Lincoln took out harmonica and played upon it. "This is my brass band" he said.

SOURCE: page 151 of Lincoln Talks: A Biography in Anecdote
compiled, collated, and edited by Emanuel Hertz (Halcyon House, New York, 1941).

Roger,

There have been a few references to his pkaying the Jew's Harp. If I had the time I would try to tell you which ones made that reference, but I am pressed for time in getting ready for Springfield. Lincoln was also very fond of the song "Blue-tailed Fly."

Joe

I also have found references to Lincoln playing a Jew's Harp but none have citations to the original source.

[Eva Elisabeth]

(10-05-2013 10:05 AM)Joe Di Cola Wrote:  

(10-05-2013 04:14 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Have fun, Gene!

In one source I read that Abraham Lincoln once played an instrument. Because I feel the author sometimes accepted doubtful stories as true, I don't know about the veracity of this.

During the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Lincoln decided to mock the brass band which accompanied Douglas. Lincoln took out harmonica and played upon it. "This is my brass band" he said.

SOURCE: page 151 of Lincoln Talks: A Biography in Anecdote
compiled, collated, and edited by Emanuel Hertz (Halcyon House, New York, 1941).

Roger,

There have been a few references to his pkaying the Jew's Harp. If I had the time I would try to tell you which ones made that reference, but I am pressed for time in getting ready for Springfield. Lincoln was also very fond of the song "Blue-tailed Fly."

Joe

Joe, if you ever (after returning from Springfield) have time to look up a source for Lincoln playing the Jew's harp I'd be most grateful! I recently asked if anyone knows of such. I've sometimes read this, but never with a source given.

Anita, what a cool link, thanks!