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  Old Stoughton Musical Society History

Information and publications about America's oldest surviving choral society.

This musical society originated in Stoughton, Massachusetts.

It has the oldest constitution of any music group in the United States, approved in 1787,  just  a few weeks after the U.S. Constitution.

Originally it was known as the Stoughton Musical Society.  

In 1908, when it was incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the prefix "Old" was added to the name.  It has retained that designation ever since.  

In 1994, thanks to the efforts of musicologist and composer Roger Hall, this Stoughton choral society was first listed in The Guinness Book of Records.

He also submitted information to Chase's Calendar of Events, which has this entry:

"OLD STOUGHTON MUSICAL SOCIETY:  ANNIVERSARY.  Nov. 7, 1786.  Founded at Stoughton, MA, the Stoughton Musical Society is the oldest choral society in the United States."

This page has moved!

See the latest information at this expanded website:

American Music Preservation.com

Even though it is now out-of-print, you can inquire about searching for this comprehensive collection of early American choral music by clicking on this link:

The Stoughton Musical Society's Centennial Collection of Sacred Music  

New Introduction and Indexes by Roger Hall.   Earlier American Music Series No. 23, 1980.  324 pages.

This is a reprint of the original 1878 tunebook -- one of the largest collections of early American music ever published.  

It contains over 150 pieces by William Billings (28 tunes), Jacob French (7 tunes), Jeremiah Ingalls (4 tunes), Oliver Holden (11 tunes), Daniel Read (14 tunes), Timothy Swan (7 tunes) and many others.  

The collection also includes information about The Stoughton Musical Society and biographies of important early American composers.

To order any of the items below, just click on the links

Music Collections and Booklets:

Music in Stoughton: A Brief Survey

New England Songster

A Stoughton Songster

CD-Rs:

Come, Gentle Peace

A Guide to Christmas Music in America (2nd edition)

Early American Songster: From Psalm Tunes to Patiotic Odes

If you have any questions, write to:

Stoughton Music

More Information

Massachusetts Music

Music in New England

Music from Stoughton

Stoughton Composers

The town of Stoughton has had a number of composers who had their music performed in the local area, mainly by the Stoughton Musical Society.  

Here is a list of these Stoughton composers:

18th century

• Supply Belcher (born: 1751/ died: Farmington, Maine, 1836)
• Samuel Capen (born: 1745/ died: Canton, Massachusetts, 1809)
• Edward French (born: 1761/died: Sharon, Massachusetts, 1845)
• Jacob French (born: 1754/ died: Simsbury, Connecticut, 1817)

19th century

• Alanson Belcher (born: 1810/died: Stoughton, 1900)
• Edwin Arthur Jones (born: 1853/died: Stoughton, 1911)

20th century

• Laura Shafer Gebhardt (born: 1885/ died Stoughton, 1959)
• F. William Kempf (born: 1901/ died: Stoughton, 1950)
• Roger Hall (born: 1942)

For further information, click on this link:

Stoughton Musical Society

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Anniversaries

• 2005:   An Old New England Auld Lang Syne
• 2004:   O Say, Can You Sing It? - Celebrating The National Anthem and Its Author
• 2004:   Lucius Clapp Memorial Building Centennial
• 2003:   150th birthday of Edwin A. Jones

Brief History (18th - 20th Century)

Bicentennial Plaque

Music Publications

Audio Tapes and CDRs

Video Productions

Significant Highlights

Top Ten American Tunes Performed in Concerts (1879-1979)

Top Ten American Composers Performed in Concerts (1976-1986)

 "Should auld acquaintance be forgot?" - An Old New England Auld Lang Syne

               By Roger Hall

These days almost everybody associates the song "Auld Lang Syne" with New Year's Eve cheer and drunken revelry.

Yet in 19th century New England it had a much different function.

It became the theme song of a singing group and was sung by another choral group as a memorial.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the New England version of "Auld Lang Syne."

It first appeared in a quaintly titled tunebook:

Father Kemp's Old Folks Concert Tunes (Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1860).  

The song appears on page 58, where it's titled: "SONG OF THE OLD FOLKS."  At the bottom of the page is this identification:

"Written by request, for the second 'Old Folks Concert' at Portsmouth, N.H., Jan. 24, 1855, by ALBERT LAIGHTON."

It became the theme song for the Old Folks concerts, which Robert Kemp had originated in Reading, Massachusetts.  

There are five stanzas to "SONG OF THE OLD FOLKS."  

Here is the first stanza:

     Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
          And never brought to mind;
     Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
          And songs of auld lang syne.
     For auld lang syne we meet tonight,
          For auld lang syne;
     To sing the songs our fathers sang
          In days of auld lang syne.

In the 19th century, during their annual concerts, the Old Stoughton Musical Society performed this song in memory of those who had died the year before.  

This singing "Song of the Old Folks" as a remembrance lasted well into the 20th century in OSMS concerts when they were still performing mostly early American music.  Today they have abandoned this annual tradition along with many of their earlier customs.

You can get a copy of this 1855 version of "Auld Lang Syne" by writing to:  

The Music Buffs Web Pages

2004

Oh Say, Can You Sing It?

         Celebrating the National Anthem and Its Author

           By Roger Hall

2004 marked the 225th anniversary of the birth of the author of "The Star Spangled Banner."

His name was Francis Scott Key.  This lawyer and poet was born August 1, 1779 in Frederick, Maryland and he died in Baltimore in 1843.

The story goes that he wrote his famous poem after observing the huge American flag still flying over Fort McHenry in Baltimore's harbor on the morning of September 14, 1814.  

But his poem wasn't the first one written during the War of 1812.  

A Teenager's Anti-War Poem

Five months earlier, a Stoughton girl only 10 years old, wrote an impassioned poem against the ongoing War of 1812.  Her poem was titled simply:  "Peace."  

The poem is dated April 4, 1814 and was written by Esther Talbot of Stoughton.  This was a very sensitive poem for such a young girl to write.  Later she would become a schoolteacher in Stoughton and the surrounding towns.  She was born in Stoughton in 1803 and died there in 1892.

Here are both stanzas of her poem, written as a plea to end the ongoing War of 1812:

Come, gentle Peace with smiling ray,

Beam on our land a cloudless day;

Beneath thy influence serene,

The olive wears immortal green.

Come, gentle Peace resume thy reign,

With all thy virtues in thy train;

And then Columbia's soil shall grow

As verdant Paradise below.

This poem written by a young girl was set to music by Roger Hall and first performed in the 195th Annual Concert of the Old Stoughton Musical Society in 1981.  It was composed in celebration of the Centennial of Stoughton Town Hall that same year.

It was later revised for solo vocal quartet, flute and piano, and was first performed on May 10, 1990.  

This performance is available on the video:

A Stoughton Musicfest: A Celebration of Local Composers and Musicians

You can hear both the 1981 and 1990 versions of "Peace" on a CD titled:

Come, Gentle Peace

"The Star Spangled Banner" - Text and Tune

Francis Scott Key's poem was originally published as with this title: "Defense of Fort McHenry."

Later the title was changed to "The Star Spangled Banner"and sung to the English tavern tune, "To Anacreon in Heaven."

You can read more at:

Fort McHenry - Birthplace of Our National Anthem

Why would Key set his poem to a British tune when we were at war with England?

Probably because the tune was well known to many Americans at that time.

Or possibly, it was to demonstrate the firm resolve of the Americans to defeat the British in the War of 1812.

"To Anacreon in Heaven" was first used in 1798 during the presidency of John Adams for a song written in tribute to him, titled: "Adams and Liberty" (aka: "The Boston Patriotic Song").  This is the first use of the "Anacreon" tune with an American politicial song.  

Because of the tune's popularity it was used for both "Adams and Liberty" and "The Star Spangled Banner."

It's hard to imagine that it was difficult to sing at that time.  

And that brings us to the present day dispute over the difficulty of singing "The Star Spangled Banner."  

Many Americans complain how difficult it is to sing because of the wide vocal range.  It is difficult for untrained voices.    

Yet few seem to realize that "The Star Spangled Banner" was originally played mostly by military bands, as it was one hundred years ago when the Secretary of the Navy instructed it be played during the morning and evening flag ceremonies.

After Congress declared it as the National Anthem of the United States in 1931, it was often sung by opera singers or other highly trained voices.

Today, the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner" has been cheapened by pop singers who feel free to alter the tune and sometimes even forget the words.  They do great harm to the dignity of this historic song.

It's the National Anthem of the United States of America and deserves more respect.

One of the most majestic choral arrangements of the song is in a 19th century tunebook by Robert Kemp, a former shoe merchant from Boston. His tunebook has the quaint title: Father Kemp's Old Folks Concert Tunes. The arrangement from Father Kemp's Boston tunebook was sung for many years by the Old Stoughton Musical Society, America's oldest choral society.  Their performance of the first and last stanzas of "The Star Spangled Banner" is available on a CD titled:

PTM 1006: Early American Songster - From Psalm Tunes to Patriotic Odes

In a recent survey, it was determined that two out of three Americans don't know all the words to "The Star Spangled Banner."

To help correct this shocking statistic, there is a special effort being made by MENC, the National Association for Music Education.  

To learn more, click on this link:

The National Anthem Project

Lucius Clapp Memorial Building Centennial

The Lucius Clapp Memorial Building was former location of the Stoughton Public Library (1904-1969).

It is now the home of the Stoughton Historical Society and also contains the archives of the Old Stoughton Musical Society.  

There was a two day celebration on April 24-25, 2004 at the Lucius Clapp Memorial in Stoughton Square.

The event including many speeches and two pieces of music: "Hail, All Triumphant Lord" by Edwin A. Jones, and "My Country 'Tis of Thee."  

This building was dedicated as the Stoughton Public Library on June 30, 1904.

At that time Edwin Arthur (better known as E.A.) Jones was one of the Library trustees.  The music at that dedication ceremony was provided by the Stoughton Musical Society Orchestra and Chorus, directed by Ellis B. Porter, a member of the E.A. Jones Orchestra.  The music in the 1904 ceremony included: "Rosamunde Overture" by Franz Schubert; "Festival Hymn" by Dudley Buck; "Hail, All Triumphant Lord" by Edwin A. Jones; and "Glorious is Thy Name" incorrectly attributed to W.A. Mozart.  

Now available is a CDR which includes the Buck and Jones choruses, plus choral music by Ives and Chadwick.  

To read more go here:

American Composers

2003

The celebration was held on June 28, 2003 at the Stoughton Historical Society and was organized by Roger Hall, author of E.A. Jones: His Life and Music.  

For more information about this Stoughton composer, go to this encyclopedia article:

Edwin Arthur Jones

18th Century

The Stoughton Musical Society was founded on November 7, 1786, with 25 male singers who met at Robert Capen's house -- near the present day Lucius Clapp Memorial Building in Stoughton Square, home of the Stoughton Historical Society.

Five of the male singers had been pupils in a singing school taught in Stoughton in 1774 by the Father of American Choral Music -- William Billings from Boston.  

These five singers were:  Andrew Capen (tenor), Isaac Morton (male alto), David Wadsworth (male alto), Samuel Tolman (bass), and George Wadsworth (bass).

It has been written by some historians that composer Supply Belcher  (1751-1836) was a member of the Stoughton Musical Society. That is untrue.  Belcher moved to Maine in 1785, one year before the musical society was organized.  But he did operate a tavern in Stoughton before moving up to Maine and some singing meetings were held there before the musical society was organized.

The only future composer who was a member of the Billings singing school was Jacob French (1754-1817).

The first President of the Stoughton Musical Society was Elijah Dunbar (1740-1814). He was a graduate of Harvard College  in 1760 and lived in what became the neearby town of Canton.  It is said that Elijah Dunbar was a fine singer and had "a voice like that of many waters," according to historian Daniel T.V Huntoon.

Because Dunbar lived in what is now their town, the Canton Historical Society has claimed the singing society for its own.  That's incorrect. The musical society actually began in Stoughton in 1786, before neighboring Canton was incorporated as a town in 1797.

According to legend, the Stoughton male chorus won the first singing contest held in America in the year 1790.

The contest was held at the First Parish Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts between their choir and the Stoughton Musical Society male singers.

The Stoughton singers won the contest easily after singing Handel's mighty "Hallelujah Chorus" from memory and without any instrumental accompaniment.  Such a performance of Handel's famous chorus from Messiah with just a male chorus would be equally impressive today.

19th Century

In the year 1844, the Stoughton Musical Society male members invited women to join when they "voted to dispense with the practice of using spirits at their singing meetings...it had been their custom at their meetings to sit at tables in the evening, lighted by candles, and sing, their decanters and glasses being passed around for each to use."  

It was also during the 1840s that their annual meetings began to be held on December 25 (Christmas Day). This was changed in 1906 to just as unlikely a date -- January 1st.   Needless to say, this tradition is no longer followed today.  The change took place in 1964, and from then on, concerts have been given once or twice a year.  All the singing meetings from 1786 to 1984 are listed in these publications:

The Old Stoughton Musical Society: An Historical and Informative Record of the Oldest Choral Society in America, Lemuel W. Standish, editor.  Old Stoughton Musical Society, 1929.

Singing Stoughton: Selected Highlights from America's Oldest Choral Society, Roger L. Hall, Old Stoughton Musical Society, 1985.

By the end of the 19th century, the Stoughton Musical Society had grown to well over one hundred singers, accompanied by a small orchestra, led by Edwin A. Jones.  

In 1893, they were the only New England chorus to perform early American music at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

They gave two concerts before an audience of over 2,000 people -- many more than attended the symphony concerts. Their concerts at the Music Hall in Chicago were well received by the audience and the press wrote very favorably about the Stoughton choral society.

20th Century

In 1908, this singing society was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as:

"The Old Stoughton Musical Society."

The 150th Annual Concert of OSMS was held on January 1, 1936 in Stoughton.

In 1975, an LP album was released on Old North Bridge Records of early New England choral music performed by the combined choruses of the Musical Society in Stoughton and Old Stoughton Musical Society. This Lp was titled: An Appeal to Heaven.

A few years later, two Fall Music Festivals were sponsored by the Old Stoughton Musical Society:

---"Musick in Old New England" - Bridgewater, MA, October 14-15, 1978 -- a conference with music scholars and the 192nd Annual Concert by the Old Stoughton Musical Society.

---"Musick in Old Boston" - Boston, MA, November 22-23, 1980 -- conference of music scholars and the 194th Annual Concert featuring music from early Boston -- in celebration of the 350th anniversary of the city.

The O.S.M.S. Bicentennial Concert was held exactly two hundred years after their founding on November 7, 1986 in Stoughton High School.  

The concert had one featured work:  The Creation by Franz Joseph Haydn. It was the same work that had been performed for the Centennial Concert in 1886.  A special "Bicentennial Hymn" was written for the occasion by Roger Hall and included in the commemorative concert program.  

Even though they performed the Haydn oratorio in 1886 and again in 1986, almost all of the past concerts featured music by American composers.

In fact, the Old Stoughton Musical Society has performed music by American composers longer than any other chorus in US history -- ever since the 1780s.  

You may read some other musical society is America's oldest, such as the St. Cecilia Society in Charleston, South Carolina, founded in 1762.  That organization has sponsored concerts but was not a performing group. They also do not allow researchers to look at their records to verify their continuous existence.

Another group that has claimed to be the oldest is The Handel and Haydn Society in Boston.  But they were founded in 1815.  

The Stoughton Musical Society has been a community singing organization in continuous existence since 1786.  Therefore, it deserves the designation as America's oldest choral society.  

They may not the best known but they are still the oldest.  

Surely that's something to sing about!

--Roger Hall

   Former Historian

   Old Stoughton Music Society      

     OSMS Bicentennial Plaque

The bicentennial committee consisted of these members:  Sally Mackerron, Elizabeth Maraglia, Edward Ivaldi, Paul Larivee, David Benjamin (ex officio). Bicentennial Chairman was Roger Hall.  

It has been installed at the top of the stairs at the Lucius Clapp Memorial Building in Stoughton Square.  

If you live in the area or ever visit why not stop by and take a look at this beautiful plaque?

There was a story in the Stoughton Journal newspaper on January 13, 2000:  

"Stored away for 13 years, a plaque commemorating the Old Stoughton Musical Society finds a home in town."  

Society for Earlier American Music

Do you have a question or comment about a favorite American tune?

Then sign up to:

The Tune Lovers Society

This booklet was written for the bicentennial of the Town of Canton in 1997.  It includes 4 patriotic songs: "Thanksgiving Hymn"(Tune: KITTERY); "Ode to George Washington" (Tune: GOD SAVE THE KING); "The Grand Constitution" (Tune: HEART OF OAK); and "Yankee Song" (Tune: YANKEE DOODLE).  Collection includes historical information about local composers and music.  Accompanying audio tape/CDR of excerpts from local concerts is included.

Music in Stoughton: A Brief History (booklet and CDR or cassette tape, 1989)

Booklet highlighting the 25 most significant events in Stoughton between 1762 and 1987, from the first singing meetings to the bicentennial of the Old Stoughton Musical Society's Constitution. Also includes the words and music of a song by a Stoughton poet and composer:  "Peace" (words by Esther Talbot, 1814/ music by Roger Hall, 1981).

New England Songster: Songs written between 1768 and 1988 (songbook and CDR or tape, 1997)

Lyrics and music to such well known songs as "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "Auld Lang Syne (Song of the Old Folks)."  Includes additional historical information about Father Kemp's Old Folks Concert Music and the Old Stoughton Musical Society Chorus.

 The Stoughton Musical Society's Centennial Collection of Sacred Music (reprint of 1878 printing)

[Note:  This collection is now out-of-print but may be available by searching through Amazon.com ]

New Introduction and Indexes by Roger L. Hall.   Earlier American Music Series No. 23, DaCapo Press, NY, 1980. 324 pages.  

This is a reprint of the original 1878 tunebook -- one of the largest collections of early American music ever published.  It contains over 150 pieces by William Billings (28 tunes), Jacob French (7 tunes), Jeremiah Ingalls (4 tunes), Oliver Holden (11 tunes), Daniel Read (14 tunes), Timothy Swan (7 tunes) and many others.  The collection also includes information about The Stoughton Musical Society and biographies of important early American composers.

Ten Town Tunes: Music from Stoughton (music collection and CDR, 1998)

Collection with accompanying CDR of all ten tunes = $20.00 ( First Class postage included)

Collection with cassette tape of all ten tunes = $15.00 (First Class postage included)

To order your copy while supplies last, write to:

Pinetree Music 

CONTENTS -

Psalm Tune: "Stoughton" (William Billings, 1770)

Tavern Song: "Fly" (Jacob French, 1802)

Piano Piece: "Stoughton Waltz" (Oliver Shaw, 1839)

Fuging Tune: "Old Stoughton" (E.A. Jones, 1886)

Piano Piece: "Farewell Waltz" (E.A. Jones, 1874)

Concert Song: "Lullaby" (Frank W. Reynolds, 1922)

Folk Song for soprano, flute, piano: "Barbara Allen" (arranged by F. William Kempf, 1942)

Fuging Tune: "Dedication" (music: Roger Hall, 1986/ words: William Billings, 1794)

Song for soloist (or quartet), flute, piano: "Peace" (music: Roger Hall, 1990/words: Esther Talbot, 1814)

Solo Flute: "A Little Theatre Music" (Roger Hall, 1990)

To order your copy of this collection and CDR titled: Ten Town Tunes: Music from Stoughton, write to:

PinetreeMusic 

 CD-Rs

America in Song, Vol. 1: American Revolution to World War I

America in Song, Vol. 2: Civil War to Cold War

Early American Song: From The Pilgrims to Patriotism

      Video Productions

To order any of the videos listed below, write to:

Music Videos

SINGING STOUGHTON (2 hour video)

Four half-hour programs, produced and hosted by Roger Hall:

1. SINGING STOUGHTON:  The Story of America's Oldest Choral Society (October 1985)

2. IN CONCERT:  EASTER CONCERT (Part 3) by E.A. Jones (March 1986)

3. IN CONCERT: Sunday School Hymns by Stephen Foster (May 20, 1986)

4. IN CONCERT: 200 Years of Music in Stoughton (November 18, 1986)

NOW AND THEN (2 hour video)

Four half-hour programs produced by Roger Hall:

1. A Centennial Salute to Stoughton Square - celebrating 100th anniversary of the Stoughton Square in 1986 - interviews with Selectman Roy Cohen and Town Historian, Howard Hansen. Includes vintage photographs and movies from 1926 Town of Stoughton Bicentennial Parade.

2. A Centennial Tribute to E.A. Jones - with rehearsal excerpts from Old Stoughton Musical Society, interviews with OSMS director, Earl Eyrich, and music by E.A. Jones in concert.

3. Old Stoughton and the Grand Constitution - celebrating the 200th anniversaries of the U.S. Constitution (September 17, 1787) and of the Stoughton Musical Society (October 8, 1787). Readings from the U.S. Constitution by Katy Dexter and David Levy - both from the E.A. Jones School; Jeanne Fleming, Stoughton Town Clerk; and Howard Hansen, Stoughton Historical Society. State Citation presented by Sen. William R. Keating.  One act play: "The Grand Constitution" - featuring Wayne Olem portraying Elijah Dunbar, Esquire; and Bert Anderson portraying Lt. Samuel Capen. Singers from The Old Stoughton Musical Society;  Richard Hill, pianist. The play  was written and directed by Roger Hall.

4. The Musical Telephone: A Romantic Narrative - one-act play based on the utopian novel, Looking Backward (2000-1888), by Edward Bellamy. The play has two characters:  Julian West (Greg Bazaz) and Edith Leete (Dorothy Yanish). The play features music by Joseph Brackett, E.A. Jones, and Roger Hall.  Play was written and directed by Roger Hall.  First produced at the Bellamy Centennial Conference, Emerson College, Boston, September 29, 1988.

A Stoughton Musicfest -

A Celebration of Local Composers and Musicians (1 hour video)

A program featuring local musicians performing in a program at the Stoughton Public Library from May 10, 1990.  Narrator: Marion Wroble of WBET-AM in Brockton. Actor Skip Maloney portraying Boston  composer, William Billings, teaching a singing school for the elementary school chorus.  Two tunes: CHESTER and STOUGHTON.

Premiere of a song titled, "Peace," sung by a vocal quartet: Elizabeth Trueblood, soprano; Carol Mezzanotte, alto; Sally MacKerron, female tenor; Roger Hall, bass; with Donna Hieken, flute, and Richard Hill, piano.

Several songs performed by the 30 voice chorus from all six Stoughton elementary schools, directed by Carol Mezzanotte.

Stoughton High School Student Ensembles, directed by Ron Christianson.

The program was written and directed by Roger Hall.

To order the above video, write to:

Stoughton Music Videos

     Significant Highlights

              Compiled by Roger Hall, musicologist and former Historian, Old Stoughton Musical Society

Over the past two centuries, The Old Stoughton Musical Society has had a number of distinctions to its credit.

The highlights which follow are the most important ones, taken from Music in Stoughton: A Brief Survey

Earliest known singing meetings

On January 13, 1762, the first known mention of a singing meeting was written in Capt. Samuel Talbot's diary.  There were ten other singing meetings mentioned that year.  In 1762, there was reportedly a musical organization in existence, but the papers have been lost so only singing meetings at various local homes and taverns can be verified. 

As a result of these early meetings, two local singing societies were eventually formed, with almost identical names:

The Stoughton Musical Society (organized in 1786, with Elijah Dunbar as President)

The Musical Society in Stoughton (organized in 1802, with Capt. Samuel Talbot as President)

The distinction between the two was that the Stoughton Musical Society accepted singers from any of the nearby towns, while the Musical Society in Stoughton only accepted town residents.  

Some later officers of The Musical Society in Stoughton claimed they had been organized in 1762, but that's incorrect.  

Their date of organization was January 1, 1802.  They wanted to claim the honor of being the oldest singing society in America.  And they went to devious means to prove it.  

One officer of  MSIS, Frank Reynolds, went so far as to paint over the date on their original podium, changing it from 1802 to 1762.  He was trying to erase the correct date.

But his attempt backfired, when a photograph of the correct 1802 turned up to prove him wrong.

Payback time came when The Musical Society in Stoughton ran out of gas in the late 19th century.  It was reorganized in the 1920s and then finally disbanded in 1982.  Their remaining assets were given over to The Old Stoughton Musical Society, which was the older of the two and has an unbroken record of existence.

The singing group was organized as the Stoughton Musical Society on November 7, 1786, with 25 male singers as members.  Admission fee was 2 shillings.  This admission was later converted to 50 cents and kept as a quaint old tradition of "ye olden time."

In the early days, more money was spent on their alcohol consumption than their music.

Maybe it made them sing better!

The Stoughton Musical Society's Constitution was approved on October 8, 1787, only a few weeks after the U.S. Constitution was written in Philadelphia.

Here is the Preamble to the Stoughton Musical Society Constitution:

     "As a design of the institution and the end of all Societies ought to be the good of the community at large, and the members in particular, they should therefore be established on solid and lasting foundations and be governed by good, wholesome and prudent laws, and as singing or vocal music is a divine institution and the noble talent of performing it most certainly was given for improvement by Him, who made us of that elevated rank of beings that we are capable of sounding forth His praise.  And as the powers of harmonious music are most admirably calculated of the mind, the different degrees of sensibility and all the feelings of the heart, that not only the sense of hearing receives the highest gratification from sounds the most congenial to the organs of man, but we are made partakers at one and the same time of instruction and delight in viewing the noblest work of the Almighty, put in motion to answer the noblest ends, the exciting and cementing brotherly love.

      We, therefore, esteem it our duty to study to promote that harmony which is pleasing to our Maker and so delightful to ourselves. Stimulated with these salutory and laudable motives, we, whose names are underwritten, form ourselves in a society by the name of Stoughton Musical Society, for the above implied purpose of practicing vocal music, do voluntarily and of our own free will and accord, jointly and severally, covenant and engage and bind ourselves to be governed by the following rules and regulations."      

It was indeed "established on solid and lasting foundations."  The Bicentennial of the SMS Constitution was celebrated exactly two hundred years later on October 8, 1987 at the Stoughton Public Library (see description below).

According to legend, the first singing contest in America was held in 1790 between the First Parish Church Choir in Dorchester and "20 selected male voices" of the Stoughton Musical Society.  

The Stoughton singers  first sang "The Heavenly Vision" (1786) by Stoughton-born composer, Jacob French.

Then they won the contest after singing Handel's mighty "Hallelujah Chorus" from memory and without any instrumental accompaniment.  Handel's famous chorus from Messiah had only been published in America four years earlier, so this was quite an impressive accomplishment.

It would be equally impressive today!

The celebration was held in June 9, 1886, at Stoughton Town Hall. In attendance for the evening concert were Gov. George D. Robinson and Lt. Gov. Oliver Ames.

Excerpt of Gov. Robinson's address:

Let me commend, so far as my opinion can possibly extend, the fine production of this evening.  It has afforded me real delight.  There is no one on this platform who, so long as life lasts, will not reflect with pleasure this occasion and say "I sang" or "I played" at that grand centennial celebration in 1886.

A copy of the complete 1886 Centennial program is included in Singing Stoughton: Selected Highlights from America's Oldest Choral Society (1985).

At the World's Columbian Exposition on August 14-15, 1893, over 2,000 people came to hear the Stoughton Musical Society give two concerts in the Music Hall.

The group appeared in Colonial costumes and were well received by the audience and the newspaper critics of that time.

The Stoughton Sentinel newspaper proudly proclaimed "the attendance at the two concerts was a matter of surprise to the Exposition people.  It was larger than had been attracted to the Theodore Thomas symphony concerts."

Stoughton Musical Society President, Sanford W. Billings, proudly proclaimed that they had "responded to the cordial invitation to present American music of the olden days to the gaze of the world.  In this act it has surpassed every other musical organization in this country."

150 singers and 35 musicians from both the Old Stoughton Musical Society (organized in 1786) and the Musical Society in Stoughton (organized in 1802) participated in August of 1926 at the Pageant Grounds.

Their concert included the premiere of the choral work, The Flag of All Our Country, by Laura S. Gebhardt of Stoughton.

Two hundred years to the day a bicentennial concert was given at Stoughton High School on November 7, 1986.  The featured musical work was Franz Joseph Haydn's oratorio, "The Creation."

A special 20 page commemorative program was printed with letters of congratulation from President Ronald Reagan and Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, and a citation in the Congressional Record from the Hon. Joe Moakley.

The program booklet also contains information about the 1886 concert, notes about the Haydn oratorio by Earl Eyrich, and words to a new Bicentennial Hymn written by OSMS Historian Roger Hall.

On October 8, 1987, a special program was held at the Stoughton Public Library and included a one act play, "The Grand Constitution," written and directed by Roger Hall.  The play takes place in the 18th century and is about the United States Constitution and the Stoughton Musical Society's Constitution, both written in 1787.

Before the play was presented, an official citation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was presented by State Sen. William  Keating and excerpts from the U.S. Constitution were read by two elementary school children, Town Clerk Jeanne Fleming, and Historical Society Curator, Howard Hansen.  

In "The Grand Constitution," two actors from the Little Theatre of Stoughton portray two important men from the Stoughton Musical Society:  Lt. Samuel Capen (played by Bert Anderson) and Elijah Dunbar, Esquire (played by Wayne Olem).  Music from that era was performed by pianist Richard Hill and singers from the Old Stoughton Musical Society.

This program is available on video:

Old Stoughton and the Grand Constitution

   Top Ten American Tunes in OSMS Concerts (1879-1979)

1.   NEW JERUSALEM - Jeremiah Ingalls, 1764-1838

2.   MAJESTY - William Billings, 1746-1800

3.   CHESTER - William Billings

4.   VICTORY -  Daniel Read, 1757-1836

5.   INVITATION - Jacob Kimball, 1761-1826

6.   TURNER - Abraham Maxim, 1773-1829

7.   EASTER ANTHEM - William Billings

8.   CONFIDENCE - Oliver Holden, 1765-1844

9.   ODE ON SCIENCE - Jezaniah Sumner, 1754-1836

10. NEW BETHLEHEM - Edward French, 1761-1845

 Top Ten American Composers in OSMS Concerts (1976-1986)

1.   William Billings, 1746-1800  (34 performances)

2.   Edwin Arthur Jones, 1853-1911 (15 performances)

3.   Oliver Shaw, 1779-1848 (15 performances)

4.   Stephen Foster, 1826-1864 (12 performances)

5.   George Whitefield Chadwick, 1854-1931 (9 performances)

6.   Charles Ives, 1874-1954  (8 performances)

7.   Jeremiah Ingalls, 1764-1838  (6 performances)

8.   Jacob French, 1754-1817  (5 performances)

9.   Lowell Mason, 1782-1872 (5 performances)

10. Charles Tomlinson Griffes, 1884-1920 (4 performances)

  This web page is not affiliated with the current activities of the Old Stoughton Musical Society.  

It is intended to provide historical information about OSMS.  

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