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Stephen
Foster
1826-1864
Composer
Stephen Foster is by far America's most
well-known composer. His lyrics and melodies are still in
the mainstream tod ay
140 years after his death. Stephen Foster's great grandfather
Alexander Foster had come to the States from Co. Londonderry,
Ireland about the year 1725. They settled in an area of Pennsylvania
that was mostly Scotch-Irish. The family associated with other
Irish families such as the O'Hara's, the Butler's, the Collins's,
the Nevilles and the Kirkpatricks. He was born Stephen Collins
Foster, the ninth of ten children on July 4, 1826. Since both
sides of his family had been in the states for over 100 years
they were truly Americans. Stephen had many family members
that had made a name for themselves in the Revolutionary War.
Since the Fosters were a middle-class family
Stephen was privately tutored and then sent to private academies.
He was an avid reader and it was clear early on that he had
some musical talent. One of his childhood past-times was singing
in an all-male secret club that met at his home. Stephen would
be the song-leader and composer during these meetings. It
is thought that Oh! Susanna may have been written
for this group. His first published song was in 1844. In 1850
Oh! Susanna became a hit and Stephen launched his
career as a professional songwriter. He also married Jane
Denny MacDowell in 1850 and moved to Pittsburgh where he would
call home for the rest of his life.
At first he wrote parlor songs and ballads
and dances. After The Christy Minstrels had such a huge success
with Oh! Susanna he decided to write for the minstrels
which was by then the most popular form of entertainment in
America. He wrote exclusively for fellow Irish-American E.
P. Christy who in the 1850's was the most popular entertainer
in America. Ethiopian songs were the most popular hits in
the 1850's. Prior to this partnership the Christy Minstrels
music was demeaning to African-Americans (Ethiopians)by being
coarse and using buffoonery. Foster found this offensive and
his songs reveal a sensitivity to the subject. He humanized
the characters and was never trashy or offensive. He eventually
dropped the "negro" dialects in his songs all-together.
Old Folks at Home and Nelly Bly reflect
his advanced thoughts on the subject well.
Stephen worked very hard at crafting songs
and he often labored over the smallest details. He studied
various poetic and musical styles to fit his songs. His intention
was to write the people's music. He wanted his music to be
understood by all groups of people. He was a pioneer. In 1850
there was no music industry in America and Stephen Foster
would pay the price. He would only receive a small amount
of the royalties from his songs that sold millions. During
his lifetime he averaged only $1,371 a year, while many publishers,
entertainers and others made a living off of his work. It
is also not uncommon to find some of Foster's music published
with other names listed as the composer. He only received
$100 for writing Oh! Susanna.
The list of great songs written by Foster
goes on and on. Beautiful Dreamer; My Old Kentucky
Home, Goodnight; Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair; and
Hard Times Come Again No More are but a few. Like
so many musical genuis's his life was not easy. He had sold
of his future rights to his songs to pay off debts. His wife
and child had left him and he was drinking heavily. Because
he was not a performer he was still not very well-known to
the public. Even during his lifetime his songs were thought
to be old American folk songs and were not credited to him.
After moving to New York he became ill and trying to get out
of bed he hit his head on a washbasin. He died three days
later with only 38 cents in his pocket and to his name. He
was only 37 years old.
Stephen Foster's honest expression of real
emotion in his songs is the life blood of art. His songs are
uniquely American yet have a universal appeal. He was courageous
in the fact that there was no such thing as a song-writer
during his lifetime. His songs will be with us for generations
to come.
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