Cassation (Music Tom Jefferson Knew)

Description

Oboe, Horn in F, Piano — Thomas Jefferson was an accomplished keyboard player and violinist.xa0 He owned an extensive collection of music.xa0 This suite is based on music that Jefferson either heard or played.xa0 At the time of Jefferson's inauguration as President, Philadelphia was the musical as well as the national capital of the United States.I.xa0 INAUGURATION DAY, 1801This is based on a piece called "JEFFERSON'S MARCH, PERFOMED AT THE GRAND PROCESSION AT PHILADELPHIA ON THE 4TH OF MARCH 1801."xa0 The sheet music lists no composer.xa0 In Philadelphia at that time, nearly every fire house and police station had its own band, and composers throughout the city wrote for them.xa0 This is probably one of those pieces, and it was performed as part of Jefferson's inauguration as president.II.xa0 FROM MR. REINAGLE'S SONATAAlexander Reinagle (1756-1809) was an English composer who emigrated to the United States in 1785.xa0 He was a close friend of C.P.E. Bach.xa0 He moved to Philadlephia in 1786 and helped revive the City Concerts at the City Tavern, an extremely active venue in its day, and one that still exists as a popular restaurant.xa0 Reinagle's PHILADELPHIA Sonatas may well be the earliest keyboard sonatas written in America.III.xa0 FROM MR. ARNOLD'S AIRSamuel Arnold (1740-1820) was an orgnist and composer who was the resident composer of the Vauxhall Gardens in London from 1774 to 1820.xa0 Although he never came to the U.S., Jeffersonknew his music well from performances in Philadelphia, as well as from his own collection of Arnold's music.xa0 Arnold was also well known for his critical edition of the music of Handel, one of the earliest critical editions produced.IV.xa0 FROM MR. MOLLER'S SONATAJohn Christopher Moller first appeared in Philadelphia in 1790.xa0 He appeared frequently at the City Concert series, and it is highly likely that Jefferson heard the first performance of this sonata.xa0 Jefferson did have his own collection of Moller's music.xa0 Moller, along with Henri Capron, established the first music publishing business in Philadelphia in 1793.