*NEW* Sheet Music Collection

Introduction

Over the years, the library has received several early sheet music collections from various local donors.  We have now made many of these works available digitally through our online catalogue, BORIS.

Primarily popular songs and international in scope, the collection reveals social history and public attitudes of the time with prominent themes such as the First World War, patriotism, exotic lands, and, of course, love (often unrequited!). 

American music heavily influenced popular tastes in Canada then as today, and there are many excerpts from early musicals represented here.  Works by Carrie Jacobs-Bond, one of the first popular American women composers to achieve international success, are included: one of her songs, written in 1910, sold 8 million copies of sheet music and 5 million recordings worldwide in 1910 (Fox, 2013).  Titled A perfect day, ironically it was the second selection from the official song book for performance on the doomed ocean liner Titanic (R.M.S. Titanic, 2013).

Local Connections

Some Canadian pieces with local connections can be found too: songs by bass singer Eugene Cowles, born in Stanstead, Quebec, who performed at the inauguration of the Haskell Opera House in 1904 (Potvin, 2013) and works by Albert Ham, recipient of an honorary DCL from Bishop's University in 1933.

Cover Art

Colourful cover art by illustrators such as Albert Barbelle (of French-Canadian descent), Oscar Brandstetter, and Lionel S. Reiss, helped sell early sheet music, and fine examples of their work and other artists can be viewed in the collection by clicking on the thumbnail images.

Access to the Collection

Click here to view the list alphabetically (the images may take a few seconds to appear). Narrow your search by subject, name, etc. (see right side of screen). The collection is also searchable (keyword or browse), by title, composer, lyricist, arranger, first line of text and chorus, and subject.  Using keyword, you may also search by illustrator and publisher. 

Images

• Click on the thumbnail images for enlarged displays of the cover art.

Full-text

• Much of this sheet music collection is in the public domain in Canada and can be downloaded online through the catalogue for educational and research purposes.  (If outside of Canada, please obey your own country's copyright laws. The Library assumes no responsibility or liability if these titles are downloaded illegally.)
• Click on the title for more information on each piece, then on the link beside "View sheet music" for full-text (if available).
• Works not in the public domain in Canada may be borrowed for use inside the library: inquire for these at the Circulation Desk.

Thanks to our many donors who have contributed to this collection over the years.

References