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American Revolutionary War Songs to Cultivate the Sensations of Freedom

Arthur F. Schrader
American Revolutionary War Songs to Cultivate the Sensations of Freedom

The first anthologies of Revolutionary War song-texts began to appear in 1842. Fast forward 131 years, and many adaptations later, to find music historian and performer Arthur Schrader revisited the original texts in their primary sources.

This recording and its notes evolved from preparation by Schrader for a 1973 conference sponsored by the Colonial Society of Massachusetts. He wanted to address the inaccuracies, censorship and simplification that had affected the tunes and texts of Revolutionary War songs over the centuries.

Such is Schrader’s dedication to authenticity; the unabridged song texts are reproduced in facsimile from eighteenth century newspapers, magazines and caricatures. Furthermore, most songs are sung unaccompanied as they would have been in the eighteenth century, and sung to the tune to which their authors wanted them sung.

In this form, the songs become more than ephemeral. They provide as compelling a record of the social, economic, political, and military events of their day as John Adams’ diary, an entry from which gives this album its evocative title.

Track Listing

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101
Burn All Arthur F. Schrader 02:09
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102
Address to the Ladies Arthur F. Schrader 02:04
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103
Liberty Song Arthur F. Schrader 02:53
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104
Come Shake Your Dull Noodles Arthur F. Schrader 03:04
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105
The World Turned Upside Down (The Old Woman Taught Wisdom) Arthur F. Schrader 03:47
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106
Ballad of the Tea Party Arthur F. Schrader 01:25
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107
Liberty Tree / Tory Doodle Arthur F. Schrader 03:02
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201
Yankee Doodle's Intrenchments Near Boston Arthur F. Schrader 01:36
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202
The Irishmen's Epistle Arthur F. Schrader 00:59
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203
The King's Own Regulars Arthur F. Schrader 02:41
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204
New Massachusetts Liberty Song (Free America) Arthur F. Schrader 02:37
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205
Lady Washington (Saw You My Hero) Arthur F. Schrader 01:38
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206
The Rebels Arthur F. Schrader 03:14
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207
The Halcyon Days of Old England Arthur F. Schrader 03:03
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208
The Parody Parodized or the Massachusetts Song of Liberty Arthur F. Schrader 02:44