Oliver Shaw: His Music and Contribution to American Society

Includes Catalog of music by Oliver Shaw (p. 185-224) and bibliographical references (p. 225-230). --- Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Rochester, 1971.The activities of early 19-century American composers have been relatively neglected in ocmparions with those of the pre-1800 and post-1850 eras. Passing attention has been given them by John Tasker Howard, Gilbert Chase, and H. Wiley Hitchcock within general historical surveys; W. Thomas Marrocco and Harold Gleason have provided a musical sampling of the half century in the anthology, "Music in America"; Richard J. Wolfe, following the example of Sonneck, has cataloged "Secular Music in America, 1801-1825." Broad topical studies have been conducted by Roger Paul Phelps (chamber music), Byron Adams Wolverton (keyboard music), Charles Edward Wunderlich (musical periodicals), and Grave Helen Yerbury (art song). Research specifically illuminating the numerous New England composers from 1800 to 1850, excepting Lowell Mason, has been sparse. James William Thompson's dissertation, "Music and Musical Activities in New England, 1800-1838," is an isolated, broadly-oriented example. In the belief that individual composers made noteworthy contributions to our cultural heritage and music education, and that their music is a valuable medium for transmitting the spirit of their day to present generations, this study of Oliver Shaw was initiated. The music of Shaw, miscellaneous documents, and contemporary newspaper accounts and notices were invaluable primary resources. Helpful secondary materials included the published reports of research into Providence church music conducted by William Dinneen and Joyce Ellen Mangler Carlson; the bibliography by Carlson (published under her maiden name), "Rhode Island Music and Musicians, 1733-1850"; and "A Directory of Printing, Publishing, Bookselling & Allied Trades in Rhode Island to 1865," compiled by H. Glenn Brown and Maude O. Brown. The brief "Discourse on the Life and Death of Oliver Shaw" by Thomas Williams; the "Memorial of Oliver Shaw," edited by Frederic Denison, Albert A. Stanley, and Edward K. Glezen; and the arrangements by Roger Smith from "For the Gentlemen" were influential motivating forces