Proof that Lincoln was a music-lover?

[Amy L.]

Via the World Wide Internets, came across a very interesting topic –

'What can we learn about Abraham Lincoln from his taste in music?'
https://www.kennedy-center.org/education...and-music/

Not too lengthy, researched content, insightful, etc. (I think organized by Tamara Keith from NPR)

[Gene C]

Thanks for posting

[LincolnMan]

Good article. I remember he attended a performance of The Magic Flute near the end of his life.

[Amy L.]

(12-08-2021 09:15 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Good article. I remember he attended a performance of The Magic Flute near the end of his life.

Ahhh, Mozart. I did not know the Zauberflöte was among the theater performances offered in DC while the Lincolns lived there. Good to know!!
Was Lincoln's German good enough to follow the plot? (Rhetorical, of course it was not.)

[RJNorton]

I checked Tom Bogar's American Presidents Attend The Theatre, and Lincoln attended the performance of The Magic Flute on March 15, 1865, at Grover's Theatre. He was not feeling well, but he was able to make it to the show. Along with wife Mary, the others in the party were Clara Harris and Col. James G. Wilson.

Tom writes that Mary wanted to leave before the show was over, but Lincoln insisted on staying. He said, "Oh no, I want to see it out. It's best when you undertake a job, to finish it."

[David Lockmiller]

(12-09-2021 07:08 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  I checked Tom Bogar's American Presidents Attend The Theatre, and Lincoln attended the performance of The Magic Flute on March 15, 1865, at Grover's Theatre. He was not feeling well, but he was able to make it to the show. Along with wife Mary, the others in the party were Clara Harris and Col. James G. Wilson.

Tom writes that Mary wanted to leave before the show was over, but Lincoln insisted on staying. He said, "Oh no, I want to see it out. It's best when you undertake a job, to finish it."

Now, that sounds like an authentic President Abraham Lincoln quote.

[Gene C]

In the first episode is a story about Lincoln and the song "Dixie"
It seems that in 1860 when Lincoln was campaigning in Chicago he attended a comedy show and heard the brand new song "Dixie". He became so enthusiastic about it, he stood up and he shouted "let's hear it again". The show stopped and they performed the song again.
(story starts at the 4:20 mark)

I've never heard that story before. Has any one else?
I wonder what the source is.

[RJNorton]

Gene, here is what I have on "Dixie." Lincoln asked the band to play "Dixie" twice in the days before the assassination. On the evening of April 8, while aboard the River Queen, Lincoln asked the band director to play "Dixie" and remarked "That tune is now federal property." He went on to say, "it's good to show the rebels that, with us in power, they will be free to hear it again." A couple of days later, in Washington, Lincoln again asked the band to play "Dixie." This time Lincoln said it's "one of the best tunes I have ever heard" and he joked that he had a legal opinion from the Attorney General that the song was "a lawful prize since we fairly captured it."