Historic Music Programs

Historic Music Programs by Rick Spencer

Rick Spencer has nearly 30 years of experience in the history industry. He is currently the Executive Director of the Dr. Ashbel Woodward Museum in Franklin, CT. Rick is recognized internationally as a scholar, researcher and presenter of music programs based on historic themes. These programs are well-researched concert/lectures with a strong focus on entertainment. They have been enthusiastically received at historical societies, museums, libraries and other academic settings from New England to California. Songs are presented a capella or accompanied on guitar and 5-string banjo. These programs are designed to run for one hour, but can be adapted for longer or shorter presentations. Time is always allotted for questions and discussions.

Songs from the War of 1812 is a program which gives background information and insight into the causes and the incidents of this conflict, which pitted a rather young United States of America against our "mother country" and most bitter enemy, Great Britain. In response to British actions and policy the halls of Congress echoed with the cries of "Free Trade and No Impressment." There was also great concern about the British arming our Native-American enemies on the frontier. In June of 1812 Congress declared War in an effort to enforce our sovereignty. The conflict lasted until the until January of 1815. Some remarkable music was popular during the War of 1812. This program presents songs from both the British and American sides. Recruiting songs, ballads, songs of the hardship of those who the soldiers left behind, patriotic songs and songs which described major battles are all presented in this very entertaining and informative program. View a video of the song "How Happy the Soldier" here.

Freemen for Fremont: Music of the Presidential Campaign of 1856.
Before the days of radio or television it was common for campaign promoters to distribute songbooks to those gathered at political rallies. In between the speeches and other activities the crowd would be prompted to open the book and sing the songs about the virtues of our candidates and platforms and the failings of the opposition. In 1856 the “Freeman’s Glee Book” was published to promote the Presidential aspirations of John C. Fremont, the first man to receive the nomination from the young Republican Party. “Freemen for Fremont” presents ten songs from the book along with background information on the issues and personalities of the campaign. Fremont, James Buchanan, Millard Fillmore, “Bully” Brooks, the Kansas-Nebraska Act are all discussed along with the “tabloid” issues of the day. The songs are insightful, humorous, patriotic and inflammatory. This program promotes an understanding of the United States on the brink of Civil War. View a video of the song "Hurrah For Fremont" here.

The Greatest Hits of the Civil War: America’s First Professional Songwriters is a program of compositions by four of the nation’s earliest popular songwriters. Songs by Dan Emmett, Stephen Foster, George F. Root and Henry Clay Work were known and loved by Americans on both sides of the War. These songs give remarkable insight into the character of the American people at the time of our country’s greatest and most divisive conflict. This program includes a discussion of the phenomenon of the American minstrel show and its cultural impact, both positive and negative, on our culture. View a video of the song "The Glendy Burke" here.

A Songwriter from Connecticut: The Civil War Era Music of Henry Clay Work presents some of the most interesting and engaging songs of one of the most popular songwriters of the Civil War era. Henry Clay Work, along with Stephen Foster, Daniel Emmett and a handful of others, wrote melodies that continue to be familiar today. They were the great "pop" hits of the '50s, '60s and ''70s (1850s '60s and '70s that is!). Work was born, received much of his education and died in Connecticut. Songs he wrote, including "Marching Through Georgia," "Grandfather's Clock," "The Ship That Never Returned" formed the soundtrack of the period. Ten of H.C. Work’s songs are presented, along with biographical information on his life and a discussion of the challenges of presenting music of the 1860s in a culture that understandably requires “political correctness.” View a video of the song "The Days When We Were Young" here.

The Maritime Civil War in Song. America has always been a seafaring nation, and from our earliest days we’ve documented our maritime activities in song. This program presents some of the best and most interesting of the period songs which tell the stories of the seafaring side of the Civil War. View a video of the song "The Glendy Burke" here.

The Boys of the Battlefield: The Civil War as told by its Popular Songwriters. The images that the general public had of life at war during our greatest conflict came from a number of sources. Those sources included the lyrics of songs that were popular during the period. American songwriters composed many songs about the War, giving their own impressions (some accurate, others romantic or melodramatic) of the soldiers’ lives. This program presents images of the War as told in the words and music of the songwriters of the day. View a video of the song "The Girls at Home" here.

Historical Songs of Outlaws, Villains and Rogues is a program (again with extensive and well researched background information) which addresses the human obsession with and documentation of misdeeds using songs as the informational medium. Ballads collected by Francis James Child in the late 1800s (some going back hundreds of years), penny broadsides and popular songs from the 1700s to the mid 20th century are presented to tell the stories of Captain Kidd, Jesse James, Stagger Lee, Pretty Boy Floyd and a number of others. This program includes a discussion of why we as a culture are so fascinated by misdeeds, violence and mayhem. View a video of the song "Duncan and Brady" here.

The Days When We Were Young is a companion piece to Rick Spencer’s most recent CD recording, which includes selections from four of his most popular historic music programs. This presentation is more geared toward entertainment and less toward academics. Historic details are presented to a lesser degree. The program can include material from any of Rick’s presentations in a mix and match musical adventure through American history. View a video of the song "The Days When We Were Young" here.

Sweet Sorrow: Historic Songs of Love, Pursuit, Connecting and Parting is an entertaining, amusing and light-hearted musical journey through the adventures and misadventures of lovers. View a video of the song "Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy" here.

In Their Own Words: Songs of the Seafaring Traditions is a program of music from the English-speaking maritime world during the period from the 1790s to the 1930s. Mariners developed sea chanteys to coordinate shipboard work and composed songs to sing at leisure. In doing so they described their lives and expressed their thoughts and opinions. This program gives insight into the lives of deep-water sailors, fishermen, whalers and others who made their living at sea. It can be adapted as a children’s program and includes instrumental accompaniment on the concertina (a squeezebox that was often taken to sea) as well as the guitar and banjo. View a video of the song "Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy" here.

Occupational Songs: Historic Songs of American Work and Trades. Occupational songs have been around for as long as people have been proud of the work that they’ve done. Our ancestors described their working lives in songs about their trades. This program includes songs about farmers, sailors, lumberjacks, cowboys, housewives, railroaders, soldiers, and others. This presentation includes a discussion of the labor movement in America and the modern use of songs which describe work. View a video of the song "The Connecticut Peddler" here.

Forging a National Identity: The Irish-American Musical Experience is a collaborative program with the Irish duo “Ask Your Father.” A musical journey through the history of the songs of Irish America.

SeaLore is a program developed by Susan McGuire and Rick Spencer and is specifically geared toward students and youngsters. Stories, legends and songs of the sea are combined in a fast-paced, informative, entertaining audience participation program.

Rick Spencer will develop a program specifically suited to the needs of your historical or entertainment setting. References are available on request. For more information please email rick@catfeather.com