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Lee Schreiner Sheet Music Collection
Lee Schreiner donated a large portion of his sheet music collection--several thousand pieces--to Rare Books and Special Collections in 2014. Music in the collection covers much of the early 20th century, with coverage especially strong during World War I (1914-1918). Because most Americans either had access to pianos or watched performers at music halls, sheet music is an ideal medium for studying popular and visual culture. Pieces in the collection reflect popular opinion about the war, as well as the changing status of women and minorities. The first phase to digitize the Schreiner collection concluded in 2017 to coincide with the centennial of World War I, with future plans to digitize more of the collection later in the year.
Browse by first line of chorus | first line of lyrics | cover illustration
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- America we love thee
- words & music by H. A. Tuckett., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., View of the U.S. Capitol building on the horizon flanked by American flags. An eagle statue stands on top of each of the flag poles., Staff notation.
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- Alter Jägermarsch von 1813
- bearbeitet von Josef Wattke., piano, Title from cover., March for piano., Military commanders on horseback lead soldiers through the countryside. A soldier with a rifle and bayonet looks on., Staff notation.
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- Hail to the gorget
- by Lloyd Elliott Appleton., piano, Title from cover., March for piano., Within an art deco blue and white frame, a black and white photograph of Capt. Francis Hawks Appleton, who is wearing a gorget., "Respectfully dedicated to Capt. Francis Hawks Appleton, Commander of Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co. of Massachusetts"--Cover., NIU copy: Inscribed by the composer., Staff notation.
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- Everybody loves a soldier boy
- words & music by J.W. Dick., piano, voice, "Sample copy.", Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Arranged by Harry Collins., Newspaper boy shouting and running with a pile of newspapers under one arm and holding out a newspaper with the other that has "Extra! WAR!" on the front page. The shadow of the boy and the newspaper fills the background., Down the street there comes a weird cry., Ev'rybody loves a soldier boy., NIU copy., Staff notation.
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- The best old flag on earth
- words and music by Charles F. Harrison., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., British flag forms the cover., Though England's foes may assail her, though the war clouds hang around., Then give three cheers, three British cheers for the old red, white and blue., "Dedicated to the Canadian overseas contingents.", NIU copy., Staff notation.
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- The banner of the stars
- words by Col. John Sim ; music by Duncan J. Muir., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Military encampment on a star-filled night on the edge of the ocean. Soldiers rest around a campfire. A large American flag and tree make up the scene. A large ship is anchored offshore., As standing 'round our campfire., The banner of the stars, dear friends., NIU copy., Staff notation.
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- The dove of peace
- words by Vincent Bryan ; music by Harry von Tilzer., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Uncle Sam is standing on the North American continent holding a peace dove up in front of him and is about to release it. On the continent of Europe behind him fires are raging as a battle is fought by infantry soldiers., Hark! I hear voices calling., Many poor hearts are aching over the sea., NIU copy., Staff notation.
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- The assembly
- by Fred. W. Hager, composer of "The wild flower dance suite" etc., piano, Title from cover., For piano., "Dedicated to the boys and girls of the public schools of America.", Shield with the stars and stripes surrounded by three circles with pictures of a small house, a boy dressed in a sailor suit blowing a trumpet and the front of a school building with a sign "Public School no. 57" / E.H. Pfeiffer., Staff notation.
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- Hurrah for the heroes of the sea
- words and music Violet E. Lunkley., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Arranged by Gallur., "Dedicated to the Navy boys.", Photo of a Navy warship. Below is a photo of the composer between two crossed American flags. Stars are sprinkled around the photos. Printed in red, white and blue., Out upon the ocean blue., Then hurrah for the brave sailor lads., Staff notation.
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- My Alsace Lorraine
- words by L. Wolfe Gilbert ; music by Lewis F. Muir., piano, voice, Title from caption., For voice and piano., Two Flags crossed, one of France (Mother's Land) and Third Reich (Father's Land) with a young man looking at the two and scratching his head. Bust of young woman above the two flags labeled "Alsace Lorraine" / De Takacs., Publisher's advertisements include portions of: I had a gal, I had a pal (He stole my gal away) / Lewis F. Muir and L. Wolfe Gilbert. Heavy on the catsup : rag / by Lewis F. Muir. Camp meeting band / Lewis F. Muir and L. Wolfe Gilbert., There's a big bound'ry line in my heart., Alsace Lorraine on to Paris or Berlin., Staff notation.
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- Brothers-in-arms
- by Theo Bonheur., piano, Title from cover., For piano., Three soldiers wearing different uniforms standing in a semi-circle shoulder to shoulder holding their rifles with bayonets., Staff notation.
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- When I hear a gun I'm going to run back home to Tennesee
- lyrics by Carter De Haven ; music by Carter De Haven and Dave Stamper., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Blackface entertainer running from a cannon being fired by a soldier behind him., Talk about the war., For when I hear a gun I'm going to run back home to Tennessee., Staff notation.
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- England's daughter and a scrap of paper
- words by Rich. L. Werry ; music by G. Harold Brown, A.R.C.O., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Inset photo of men at war front with the chrous of the song printed underneath it. Above the photo is the caption: "A tribute to our defenders on the firing line.", Old England has a daughter fair., Twas a little scrap of paper., "One half of the profits of this song will be donated to patriotic and charitable funds.", Staff notation.
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- Across the Rio Grande
- words by Dave Reed and George Graff, Jr. ; music by Ernest R. Ball., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Commanding officer on horseback raises his sword to lead his troops into battle. Behind him another soldier on horseback carries a large American Flag. Inset photo of Ernest R. Ball of Lambert & Ball with caption: "Sung with great success by.", Our Uncle Sam is mild., It's just the same old story., Staff notation.
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- Drauf und d'ran!
- komponiert von Oscar Fetrás., piano, voice, "Nach bekannten Soldaten-Liedern für Klavier mit überlegtem Text"--Cover., Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Oak tree with composer and publisher information incorporated into the motif., Publication date inferred from title., Was blasen die Trompeten Husaren heraus., Staff notation.
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- Betty's basting belly bands for Belgians
- words by Chas. Roy Cox ; music by Dick Lerch., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Young woman sitting in a whicker armchair with sewing on her lap. Inset photo of Steve Berrian., Now ev'rybody's heard about the war across the sea., For Betty's basting belly bands for Belgians., NIU copy., Staff notation.
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- Daddy, I want to go
- lyric by Lieutenant Joseph F. Dunn ; music by Eddie Stembler., piano, voice, Arranged by Fredric Watson., Title from cover., For voice and piano., Small boy dressed in a sailor suit is standing on a dock saying good-bye to his father who is dressed in a sailor's uniform and holding a rifle. In the background is a small boat with sailors being transported to the warship anchored offshore. Inset photo of Grace La Rue and an unidentified officer / E.H. Pfeiffer., Listen to the war drums beat., Daddy, daddy, I want to go., "As sung by Grace La Rue.", "Dedicated to the Naval Militia of the State of New York"--Page 4 of cover., NIU copy., Staff notation.
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- By order of the King
- by Albert E. MacNutt and M.F. Kelly, authors of "We'll never let the old flag fall.", piano, voice, At head of title: sung with great success by Donald C. MacGregor, Hartwell DeMille, H. Ruthven McDonald, Howard Russell and other leading vocalists., Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Printed in red, white and blue, picture of King George V., The Empire's pride, stand side by side, upon the battlefield., By order of the King, (God bless him)., NIU copy., Staff notation.
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- The bravest heart of all
- lyric by Arthur J. Lamb ; music by F. Henri Clique., piano, voice, "Dedicated to Frederick E. Peterson of Chicago"--Page 3., British Red Cross nurse standing against the a stone wall before a firing squad. It is night and there is a full moon in the sky., Title from cover., Waltz for voice and piano., Like an angel she nursed many soldiers., 'Twas only the heart of a woman., NIU copy., Staff notation.
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- America, I love you
- words by Edgar Leslie ; music by Archie Gottler., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Large oval photo of Fannie Watson surrounded by images reflecting America's history including the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, pilgrims, Indian chiefs, a wagon train, and a settler farming his land with an ox drawn plow / AL. Barbelle., First line verse: Amid fields of clover, 'twas just a little over a hundred years ago., America, I love you, you're like a sweetheart of mine., NIU copy., Staff notation.
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- The bravest little soldier of them all
- words & music by Eddie Klein., piano, voice, Title from cover., March for voice and piano., Mourning woman dressed in a black gown stands in the middle of a battle field with the fallen around her. Her arms and hands are turned up and her fingers point down towards the scene. A halo surrounds her head encircled by two strands of interlocking thorns which are set against a blazing sunburst that colors the sky. Her posture and demeanor seem Christlike. Inset photo with caption "Successfully introduced by Murphy & Klein.", Far away there are bugles calling., A soldier must have a lot of courage., NIU copy., Staff notation.
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- Belgique et France
- musique de W.S. Paans., piano, Title from cover., March for piano., Circle containing two soldiers, one Belgium, one French both holding rifles with bayonets. The French soldier has his hand on the shoulder of the Belgium soldier. The Belgium and French flags are crossed and behind the circle containing the soldiers / Clérice freres, 15., NIU copy., Staff notation.
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- Festouverture ueber Deutschland Deutschland ueber alles
- von E. Meinardus., piano, Title from cover., For piano., German soldiers looking up at a woman on a pedestal wearing a cloak, holding a laurel wreath in one hand and holding up a sword in another. Behind her head of long flowing hair is a shield with the coat of arms of Germany. At her feet is a shield with a double-eagle. Red swastikas line the left and right sides of the cover. Cover printed in red, black and white., "Walton Process Chicago."--Page 7., Staff notation.
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- At a port
- by L. W. Lewis., piano, Title from cover., March for piano., "To my son"--page 2., Inset photograph of a boy holding an ax dressed in a military style shirt and short pants. An illustration of a ship on the water is behind him and further in the distance is a fort with a setting sun on the horizon., Staff notation.
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- Hats off to dear old glory and hurrah for Uncle Sam
- words and music by Charles M. McIntyre., piano, voice, Title from cover., For voice and piano., Uncle Sam carries the United States flag in a parade with small children. They are playing instruments, carrying a rifle and draggng a doll. Printed in blue and white., There is a day in the year., Hurrah for Uncle Samuel., "A military hit.", Staff notation.