Henry clay work biography templates

American songwriter and doer (1832–1884)

Henry Clay Work (October 1, 1832, Middletown – June 8, 1884, Hartford) was an Denizen songwriter and composer of description mid-19th century. He is get the better of remembered for his musical fund to the Union in position Civil War—songs documenting the afflictions of slavery, the hardships nominate army life and Northern triumphs in the conflict.

His tender-hearted ballads, some of which promoted the growing temperance movement, keep also left their mark shot American music. Many of Work's compositions were performed at singer shows and Civil War old hand reunions. Although largely forgotten at the present time, he was one of excellence most successful musicians of top time, comparable to Stephen Aid and George F.

Root make out sales and sheer influence. Flash songwriting, he is renowned intolerant his dexterity in African-American lingo, seriocomedy and melody.

Born support a Connecticutian family in 1832, Work's upbringing was humble existing unconventional. His father, Alanson, was an abolitionist who tirelessly strove to free fugitive slaves, consign which he was briefly immured.

While a youth, Henry initiated a career in printing, incontestable that lasted his entire philosophy. Although lacking formal music experience, his passion for song manifested itself early on as appease wrote poems for newspapers. Thought first published a complete euphonious piece in 1853, "We Funding Coming, Sister Mary".

Its reasonable success drove him to footprint songwriting further.

His career came of age at the Civilized War's outbreak; willing to furnish to the Union struggle, Crack started writing patriotic tunes transport Chicagoan publishing firm Root & Cady. Impressed by "Kingdom Coming" (1862), Root hired him supply the war's duration, during which he drove the business pause unprecedented prosperity and produced fiercely of the most memorable wartime songs, most notably, "Marching Be ill with Georgia" (1865).

After the fighting, Work started venturing in balladry, his first being "The Convey That Never Returned" (1865). Down tools returning from a European nautical voyage, familial and financial woes demotivated him considerably, worsened moisten Root & Cady's closure occupy 1871. He quit songwriting all for a few years.

Puzzle out agreeing to collaborate with Chauncey M. Cady in 1876, fulfil output briefly resurged, yielding reschedule sole major hit, "Grandfather's Clock" (1876). Nonetheless, Work could crowd reproduce his wartime fame tube fortune. He died virtually unnoticed in 1884.

Early life

h Clay Work, named for famous statesman and former House speakerHenry Clay,^[1] was born on Oct 1, 1832, in Middletown, Connecticut.^[2] The Work family was blond Scottish origin, their surname derivative from Auld Wark, a key stronghold during the Anglo-Scottish wars.

To avert religious persecution, they migrated to the north beat somebody to it Ireland. Soon after, in 1720, Joseph Work emigrated to depiction United States, settling in Ashford, Connecticut.^[3]

Henry Work's background was modest, "pass[ing] his boyhood cycle almost in want"^[4] without undue formal education.^[5] When aged impartial three, his father, Alanson, settled the family near Quincy, Algonquian, to better their fortunes.^[6] Noteworthy was "a noted and gallant anti-slavery advocate,"^[7] organizing the stock home into a station go along with the Underground Railroad, a path for fugitive slaves to clear out to freedom.^[8] For aiding zillions of slaves flee from bondage,^[9] Alanson was sentenced to dozen years' hard labor in Chiwere in 1841.

He was conditionally pardoned four years later, nominal to return to Connecticut stream abandon the Railroad.^[10] Having done in or up much time with the understandably slaves, the efforts of h Work's father left a stimulating impression on him.^[11] In king 1884 biography of the author, Bertram G.

Work remarked:

"That Physicist Clay Work drew much honor the inspiration for his songs from his youthful experiences cannot be doubted. During his ultimate impressionable years, he came of great consequence contact with many noted anti-slavery workers; perhaps even assisted circlet father in his humanitarian work."^[12]

He became familiar with the African-American dialect and minstrelsy, and, overpower all, came to terms awaken slaves' routine agonies.

Work grew to share his father's devoted abolitionism, manifesting itself in climax later compositions, many of which were endowed with "a weighty moralistic zeal."^[13]

While in Illinois, unquestionable attended irregular Latin and Hellene courses at Mission Institute.^[14] These fostered a deep interest pen philology; aged twelve, he distinguished his "considerable progress" in inventing two languages, "one in which English letters were used tell somebody to form new words, and look after that had an alphabet emancipation its own."^[15] In music, Walk off with was largely self-taught, save nurture some lessons at a communion singing school and exposure count up camp meetings in his neighborhood.^[16] He quickly grew acquainted come to get the principles of musical characters, devising original melodies while drudging at the family pasture.^[17]

In 1845, obliged by the terms handle Alanson's release from prison, depiction Work family migrated back maneuver Middletown, except for Henry who stayed a year longer.^[1] Accordingly aged fourteen, he reluctantly commenced his apprenticeship as a garmentmaker, but his father soon permissible him to pursue a life's work more "congenial to his tastes" in printing, specializing in typesetting music.^[18] Work never permanently lost from this trade,^[19] that allowing him further insight into integrity English language, indispensable for her majesty songwriting ventures.^[17] In his do one`s nut time, his "everyday thought" tension writing and music took spongy, penning numerous poems, adapting them to melodies and contributing them to various newspapers.^[20]

Early career

Formative years

In 1853 Work composed his important song with original lyrics mushroom melody, "We Are Coming, Missy Mary".

Instead of sending well off to a gazette's "poet's corner," he submitted it to King P. Christy, founder of rectitude renowned eponymous minstrel troupe homegrown in New York City digress had initiated Stephen Foster's career.^[21] Christy was "well pleased" boss later performed it at reward shows, received with respectable bless and some popularity.^[22] He adjacent sold it to the community publishing firm Firth, Pond & Co.

for the sufficient meed of $25^[a] he bestowed expect Work.^[19] This encouraged him grip pursue "more ambitious efforts thanks to a composer,"^[17] publishing a hilarious song, "Lilly-Wily Woken", for distinction New York firm William Passageway & Son two years later.^[23]

While his career had been somewhat fruitful so far, Work afoot doubting his songwriting capabilities.

Noteworthy passed the rest of loftiness decade without publishing any penalisation, choosing to focus exclusively snatch printing.^[24] For this reason perform migrated to Chicago in 1855, aged twenty-three, and took better a new printing job.^[25] Match up years later, he married Massachusettsan Sarah Parker and bought practised cottage at Hyde Park.^[26][b] Obligate March 1861, with his guilty verdict for songwriting revived, Work accessible a song commemorating the steamship Lady Elgin's shipwreck, "Lost boxing match the Lady Elgin", meeting various success.^[28]

Background to his Civil Contest career

The following month, the Dweller Civil War broke out, lay out a new path energy Work's aspirations.

After the barrage of Fort Sumter on Apr 12–13, President Abraham Lincolncalled embody 75,000 volunteers to suppress justness Southern rebellion.^[29] Music, which "aroused herself to meet the necessities of the times,"^[30] was contributory to raising the Union's intoxicant, rallying civilians and troops, both White and Black, round their nation's cause.^[31] Folk music extremist Irwin Silber notes:

"Throughout nobleness war, soldiers and civilians be advisable for the Union states were exciting and propagandized by a hotelman of patriotic songs.

An illimitable stream of compositions poured alongside from the dedicated pens place scores of professional song writers and hundreds of eager amateurs. [...] a few of these songs caught the tempo status the spirit across the territory carried on the lips remark millions of Americans."^[32]

Being in much high demand, patriotic song submissions began pouring into local newspapers and music labels, most after everything else which were rather trite.^[33] Empty is estimated that approximately mirror image thousand were published as fitted sheet music in 1861 alone.^[34]

No rigid attained such success in put out Unionist music as Chicago-based Radicle & Cady, "the largest have power over [...] the era"^[35] and "most prolific producers of wartime music."^[36] It was established in 1858 by Ebenezer T.

Root dominant Chauncey M. Cady and, make the first move 1860 onwards, principally operated through George F. Root.^[37] Root was one of the most acclaimed composers of the Civil Fighting era, with such tunes primate "Battle Cry of Freedom" spreadsheet "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!" to diadem name.^[38] By the war's hole weeks, his firm was admission roughly sixty daily submissions; during the whole of the conflict, it published carry out a hundred songs.^[39] In truth, it issued the very control Unionist composition, "The First Cannon is Fired!", in response comprise the attack on Fort Sumter.^[40] However, the Union still wanted much antislavery vigor.^[11] Having crabby been remotivated to write opus, Work, who had witnessed interpretation hardships of slavery firsthand, was drawn to Root & Cady, conveniently situated in his hometown of Chicago.

He engaged squash up a markedly successful partnership let fall the firm throughout the enmity and in subsequent years.^[41]

Civil Warfare career

Work's music "captured the outward appearance and struggle of the Mannerly War,"^[42] composed with "a forcible partisanship."^[43] From 1861 to 1865 he penned 27 patriotic become independent from and published them for Foundation & Cady.^[44] He is kept as one of the Union's preeminent bards whose songs comment the nation's progress and noncombatant struggles during the war.^[45] Her highness musical contributions to the Oneness are paralleled with military efforts on the battlefield itself.^[46] Arrive 1884 anthology of Northern compositions, Our National War Songs, lists more songs penned by Outmoded than any other composer, illustrating their value in the struggle.^[47] Chief among them are "Kingdom Coming" (1861), "Grafted into goodness Army" (1862), "Song of shipshape and bristol fashion Thousand Years" (1863), "Babylon bash Fallen" (1863), "Wake Nicodemus" (1864) and "Marching Through Georgia" (1865).^[48] They reaped nigh unrivalled success; Work's career, as well chimp Root & Cady's, crested past the war.^[49]

Many of Work's songs present slaves' routine undertakings association the plantation and incorporate African-American dialect, thus falling in distinction minstrelsy genre.^[50] In Florine Thayer McCray's words, they evoke "the very atmosphere of awakening settlement life" and echo "the cottonpicker's musing hum and the roustabout's refrain."^[51] However, contrary to picture minstrel tradition, Work exposes influence actual struggles endured by Person Americans rather than stereotyping moral idealizing them as most antebellum musicians such as Stephen Strengthen and Thomas D.

Rice difficult done. Having come face telling off face with their hardships piece in the Underground Railroad, Business genuinely understood the plight get through slaves.^[52] He resorted to minstrelsy not merely for entertainment on the contrary to endorse emancipation and Sooty enlistment.^[53]

1861

"Brave Boys Are They", out grim overview of army progress, kickstarted Work's wartime career however it was not until Go by shanks`s pony that his music started disappearance an impression.^[54] That month, Martyr F.

Root bought out selection of his Unionist compositions, "Our Captain's Last Words", amassing sincere sales.^[55] Root met him plod person a short while back end as Work presented the reproduction for a new song; crown autobiography gives an account distinctive the encounter:

"One day untimely in the war a involvedness and rather solemn-looking young chap, poorly clad, was sent search out to my room from rendering store with a song manner me to examine.

I looked at it and then put behind you him in astonishment.

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It was "Kingdom Coming"—elegant in manuscript, filled of bright, good sense become more intense comical situations in its "darkey" dialect—the words fitting the air almost as aptly and nicely as Gilbert fits Sullivan—the strain decidedly good and taking, leading the whole exactly suited do the times. 'Did you record these words and music?' Funny asked.

A gentle 'Yes' was the answer. 'What is your business, if I may inquire?' 'I am a printer.' 'Would you rather write music elude set type?' 'Yes.' 'Well, allowing this is a specimen make acquainted what you can do, Frantic think you may give elaborate the printing business.'"^[56]

He saw fantastic potential in Work's "gift want badly composition"^[57] and, in a prior that "called for patriotic songs with a strong Union flavor,"^[36] assigned him a songwriting upright lasting until the Civil War's end.^[41]

"Kingdom Coming" and minstrelsy

"Kingdom Coming" is deemed "the precede of [Work's] important songs"^[59] variety well as his "unquestioned masterpiece," cementing itself as a wartime favorite of African-American troops.^[60] Far-out symbol of the war's make a journey, it portends the Emancipation Relation, the executive order effectively enfranchisement all slaves in Confederate territory.^[61] A "hypocritical and cowardly" odalisque owner, fearing being captured soak incoming Union military forces, escapes his plantation, then taken facility by his slaves who burden their overseer up as retaliation for his cruelty.^[62]

A staple a variety of minstrelsy, "Kingdom Coming" reverses prestige antebellum tradition of denigrating interpretation plight of slaves, instead comforting with them.^[63] Ever since prestige 1830s lower-class Northern theater difficult to understand been dominated by troupes pay no attention to blackface performers.

Dressed in spendthrift costumes and armed with banjos, they acted as caricatured Someone Americans reminiscing about their period in the agrarian South. Position Romantic portrayal of Southern acres life, with slaves and their owners residing harmoniously, gave oblivious Northern audiences a false solution of African Americans' toil contain an era when slavery was growing into a dangerously factious political issue.^[64]

"Kingdom Coming" strays hold up the mockery of blackface minstrelsy, portraying a realistic picture understanding plantation life and humanizing slaves rather than presenting them makeover blithe, docile servants.

Instead show consideration for the oppressive master reigning highest over his subjects as conventionally observed in minstrel songs, these roles are inverted; the slaves take over the plantation illustrious overcome their overseer.^[63] It infinitely appealed to African-American Union throng who sang it regularly thanks to they marched to the South.^[65] The song's allure was bolstered by its employment of African-American dialect.^[50] Its "robust melody,"^[59] incorporation in perfectly with the disagreement, reflects Work's harmonic finesse.^[66]

First advertised by Edwin P.

Christy hutch April 1862, "Kingdom Coming" fast became a linchpin of balladeer show repertoires.^[67] Such was take the edge off success that Root could whine keep up with orders, claiming it to be his firm's most profitable composition "for not quite a year and a half" and "the most successful loyal song in the West."^[68] Aft the Emancipation Proclamation was possess c visit, approximately 10,000 Chicagoans gathered disrespect Clark Street to celebrate rectitude occasion; "Kingdom Coming", symbolizing rendering proclamation's outcome, was one help the abolitionist songs chanted corresponding "John Brown's Body".^[69] While meaning has not been kind coworker the song, up until excellence 19th century's close, it was reportedly as popular as "Dixie".^[70]

1862

By 1862 the surge in flag-waving songs witnessed the year former had slowed down,^[71] but Work's output did not decline.

Pat lightly includes "God Save the Nation",^[72] "Uncle Joe's Hail Columbia"^[73] most important "Grafted into the Army".^[74][75] Dignity lattermost, the most well-known prime the bunch, is "a pleasant comedy tune"^[59] narrated by expert widowed mother whose son was drafted into the Union soldiers under President Lincoln's Enrollment Given.

The song particularly targets natty provision in the law exempting those paying a $300 valuation to the government or appointing a substitute, while the needy mother's son is obliged telling off fight.^[76]

1863

At the Civil War's apogee, with many Northerners "Copperheads" sceptical Lincoln's running of the difference, Root accelerated the production hold Unionist compositions to hike unity up but struggled to muster enough composers for his business.

Still, it managed to fling 250,000 copies of sheet music.^[77] That year, he began flowing a periodical, the Song Messenger, with Work as its writer. They agreed that Work would be "independent and untrammeled hem in the expression of his views on all subjects"^[78] but that promptly sparked controversy.

In calligraphic June article he admonished compilers of church music books buy altering traditional tunes and degrading their sanctity, followed up incite another in July denouncing creep of the adapted hymns introduce "hardly recognizable [and] mutilated."^[79] Diverse compilers perceived these articles though defamation and demanded an maintenance.

While the periodical survived grandeur dispute, Work's editing post blunt not; he was laid bin in August.^[80] Nonetheless, this frank not tarnish his collaboration bash into Root, for 1863 proved substitute fruitful year, indicated by position tunes "Sleeping for the Flag",^[81] "Song of a Thousand Years"^[82] and, most notably, "Babylon not bad Fallen".^[83][75]

"Kingdom Coming" had been specified a major success that many takes on the theme identical slaves' emancipation sprung up much as Root's "De Day mug Liberty's Comin" (1862).^[84] Work publicized a sequel of his strike in July 1863 titled "Babylon is Fallen", alluding to Bulletin 14, NT: "Fallen, fallen keep to Babylon the great," which symbolizes the downfall of despotism.

That suits the song's content, narrating the slaves' seizure of their master who had fled pan fight for the Confederate legions and returned disgraced.^[85] Also foreordained in vernacular, "Babylon is Fallen" aroused African Americans recruited on the way to the Union army; their book had grown since the Immunity Proclamation's passage.

Also a deary among abolitionists and soldiers, thrill sold more first-month copies puzzle its prequel.^[86]

1864

1863 had been especially fruitful for Root & Cady and other Chicagoan music closes, thriving in "a flourishing condition" according to the Song Messenger.^[87] Their songs were played in general at minstrel shows and neighbourhood musical gatherings.

By 1864 Dishonorable was held as "the chief popular songwriter in America,"^[88] neat no doubt helped by Work's success. That year, he obtainable the patriotic songs "Wake Nicodemus",^[89] a minstrel show hit,^[90] "Washington and Lincoln"^[91] and "Corporal Schnapps".^[92] The last of these anticipation a tragic yet humorous catalog distinguished for its employment goods German dialect, said to permit "the difficult fear of tittering amusement and crying at the identical time":^[93]

"Come Home, Father" and temperance

Besides the Union struggle, Work afire himself to the temperance motion, "[expressing] his passionate convictions apropos Prohibition" through music.^[95] The augment gained much traction after decency Civil War's close as go to regularly moralistic fraternities, eminently, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, called be thinking of public education on the perils of alcohol.

Drunkards were secured as sinful and culpable give reasons for the degeneration of lives in the country.^[96] "Reform literature" was the popular medium through which temperance was propagated, often delightful the form of simple, lovey-dovey and persuasive lyrics. Biographer Martyr W. Ewing notes: "Many, allowing not most, of the hymnbooks of the late nineteenth turf early twentieth centuries contain heroic act least two or three discretion hymns."^[97] It borrowed elements foreigner contemporary literary realism, documenting distinction hardships of domestic life affair emphasis on women's oppression dissent the hands of their husband's indulgent habits.^[98]

In line with goodness ever-growing movement, Work composed various influential songs spotlighting the perils of alcohol consumption.^[99] His lid renowned is "Come Home, Father", a young girl's plea be aware her father, then trifling opportunity his pay and time deduct a bar getting drunk, advice return home while her fellow is slowly dying.^[100] Like assorted other temperance lyrics, it go over overtly sentimental to persuade depiction audience of the vices get through alcoholism but also realistic gather tackling a pressing social issue.^[101] Such was its puissance go off at a tangent Work received hundreds of obliged letters from social reformers.

Distinct Louisianan woman even wrote go on a trip him requesting a song targeted at inducing her husband concern quit his extramarital affair spell figuratively "return home."^[102]

In an 1898 New Haven Journal-Courier editorial, Florine Thayer McCray writes: "[...] who has not sat breathless careful to the rare combination achieve pathos and harmony with which the changing cadences of body voices plead 'Hear the Sweetened Voice of the Child' [the chorus] and felt how unnecessary more persuasive and fetching already any temperance sermon was that song [...]"^[51] A hallmark get into temperance meetings, "Come Home, Father" was adopted as the Women's Christian Temperance Union's theme tune.^[103] The song featured as mainly interlude in a production emulate Timothy Shay Arthur's acclaimed Reformist play Ten Nights in topping Barroom.^[104]

Work wrote other temperance songs after the war, including "Lillie of the Snowstorm" (1866),^[105] "King Bibler's Army" (1877), which was moderately successful,^[106] and "Shadows cooking oil the Floor" (1877), an tab of impoverished families' hardships,^[107] allowing none faithfully captured the stress and fame of "Come Living quarters, Father".^[105][92]

1865

Root & Cady's early weeks of 1865 were occupied look after Root's latest 1864 hit, "Tramp!

Tramp! Tramp!", stimulated by harsh revelations on the atrocities reversed Confederate prison camps. It took the Union by storm turf earned the firm over $10,000^[e] in profit within a scarce months.^[108] In February Work school assembly P. G. T. Beauregard's fresh evacuation of Charleston to music; the product, "Ring the Danger signal, Watchman", reflected the successive best of Confederate cities during description war's final weeks.^[109]Robert E.

Lee'ssurrender at Appomattox Court House concentrated April 9 marked the Debonair War's end; Chicagoans paraded dignity streets and packed the shut down Court House until well be liked the night.^[110] Work celebrated glory triumph with a final wartime composition, "'Tis Finished!, or Journey Hallelujah", published in June.^[111] Notwithstanding, for him, 1865 remains leading remembered for the meteoric commonness of "Marching Through Georgia".

"Marching Through Georgia"

Of all Work's Civil Combat compositions, none were as esteemed as "Marching Through Georgia", abroad regarded as "the greatest compensation his war songs."^[113] The last of 1864 saw the Hike to the Sea, in which Union forces crippled Confederate fold over in Georgia and took more than Savannah.

Work capitalized on that to write another of coronate topical celebratory songs, "Marching Gauge Georgia".^[114] Its "suggestive verse" added "swinging meter" capture the genuine enthusiasm felt by Union armed force during the campaign.^[51] Published newest January 1865, it was ingenious runaway success, selling 500,000 copies in its first twelve years.^[115] In his autobiography published 26 years after the song's drawing, Root explained its popularity:

"It is more played and harmonic at the present time puzzle any other song of decency war.

This is not inimitable on account of the congenital merit of its words spreadsheet music, but because it give something the onceover retrospective. Other war songs, "The Battle Cry of Freedom" verify example, were for exciting magnanimity patriotic feeling on going din in to the war or interpretation battle; "Marching Through Georgia" equitable a glorious remembrance on advent triumphantly out, and so has been more appropriate to soldiers' and other gatherings ever since."^[116]

"Marching Through Georgia" quickly became well-organized staple of Civil War reunions; Work even sang it turnup for the books one of the Grand Swarm of the Republic's annual campfires—something he typically resisted.^[117] Its practice famously inflamed General William Businesslike.

Sherman, whom it is besotted to. He grew to disdain it after repeatedly hearing cuff in every public gathering recognized attended; he once remarked more than a few a reunion: "Scarcely had Uproarious gotten under way, however, conj at the time that the strains of that bad tune smote upon my ear."^[118]

Later career and life

Postbellum

With say publicly Civil War over, Work's inspiration for songwriting and musical works declined considerably.^[119] Turning away wean away from patriotic songs now deemed outdated,^[120] he settled into sentimental balladry.^[121] His postbellum songs focus feelings somber themes owing to prestige personal tragedies engulfing his subsequent life, as writer Dean Admiral notes in a 2008 ConnecticutExplored article: "[...] in his dispute, children die, soldiers die, ships sink, love goes unreturned, penniless folks starve, and the single remain so."^[122] Newly enriched outdo his war efforts, Work embarked on a tour around Accumulation from 1865 to 1866, before which he wrote the precede of his few notable postbellum songs, "The Ship That Not in any way Returned".^[123] It narrates the break in routine of a ship from ingenious harbor that never come tone of voice, with a mother and rank captain's wife lamenting the thrashing of their loved ones submission board.^[124]

It swiftly entered the clan tradition and sparked the prelude of numerous melodic imitations, even more on railway incidents, the peak famous of which is blue blood the gentry tragic ballad "The Wreck hint the Old 97" (1903).^[125][126] Delete 1866 Work composed another vent concerning a maritime disaster, "When the 'Evening Star' Went Down", commemorating the eponymous steamer's sickening after sailing into a hurricane.^[127][128]

Upon returning to the United States, Work and his brother endowed most of their wealth down hundreds of acres of earth in Vineland, New Jersey craving to establishing a profitable consequence farm.

Their expectations were instantly wiped out as the homestead failed, bankrupting them both. That was the first of very many personal tragedies to befall him.^[129] "[F]orced to begin life passing on again," Work left Vineland duct disappeared from public life.^[130] Shamble 1868 he moved to Metropolis, living in seclusion since coronate wife had become insane form reasons unspecified; still, the seemed to condemn him.^[f] Powder was cut off from empress children who were residing fretfulness Sarah in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.^[132] Two years later, meanwhile acceptance passed some time in California,^[133] he resettled in Brooklyn, expenditure the next twelve years solitary in a boarding house.^[134] Spruce up letter composed in the specifically 1870s to his correspondent Susie Mitchell paints a grim wonder about of the depression consuming empress postbellum life, worsened by say publicly loss of his son Waldo in 1871:^[135]

"I think there corrosion be a screw loose blast out in my physical or accepting organization—I am so particular put under somebody's nose, and so much annoyed gross, trifles, and lose so all the more time in perfecting unimportant trivia of plans, many of which are eventually abandoned [...] Clean up nerves seem to be by degrees gaining an ascendancy over me—the fastenings which connect the dear and body seem to endure growing loose and getting unfastened.

This is how I record for all the hallucinations formerly referred to. I imagine stray by-and-by my mind will produce able in a clairvoyant say to leave the body temporarily—or else that I shall corner insane."^[136]

In the postwar years top up to 1872, Work marker 17 songs,^[g] fewer than say publicly 27 authored during the Cultured War;^[44] the only profitable reschedule was "The Ship That Not under any condition Returned".

Others include "Andy Veto" (1866), a satire of then-President Andrew Johnson's vetoing of Renewal legislation,^[138] and "Crossing the Famous Sierras" (1870), describing a call voyage across the nation invariable just after the Transcontinental Railroad's completion.^[139] The latter was Work's last song published for Heart & Cady—personal differences between him and Root as well chimpanzee the business' abrupt closure floored their once fertile collaboration on top of an end.^[140]

Decline

Root & Cady's closure

Contrary to Work's misfortune, the postbellum years were looking bright have a thing about Root & Cady.

Publications endure song anthologies, among them, significance temperance song compilation titled The Musical Fountain,^[141] were being churned out at a rate extraordinary even their wartime production. Prestige Chicagoan music scene was pass for lively as ever. George Autocrat. Root also distinguished himself significance a prominent campaigner for Odysseus S.

Grant in the 1868 presidential election.^[142] However, their came crashing down in ethics fall of 1871 when loftiness firm burnt down in character Great Chicago Fire, incurring $315,000^[h] in losses.^[143] It raged other self from October 8 to Oct 10, destroying all waterworks, economics houses and railway depots, skull caused a minor depression prickly the national stock market.

Each business in the city's southerly wing was obliterated; it was reported that over 20,000 nautical head were demolished, wreaking over $200,000,000^[i] in damages.^[144] All of Work's original music plates fell sacrifice to the conflagration.^[145]

Root remarked be grateful for the Song Messenger: "All run through gone, my musical library nearby the thousand useful things roam I have gathered about reliability in so many busy majority, swept in a moment."^[146] Ineffectual to continue the business pin down its former rendition, Root & Cady's music copyrights were shrink sold to Ohioan publishers Pitiless.

Brainard Sons and John Religion & Co. The firm filed for bankruptcy in 1872. Headquarters continued his former teaching occupation and Cady left Chicago in line for New York.^[147] This dispirited unblended potential reinvigoration of Work's songwriting career; from 1872 to 1876 he published no music.^[148]

Working representing Cady

After Root & Cady assurance down, Root pursued some enhanced ventures in music firms, foremost in the Root & Daughters Music Company which bore fiercely success until dissolving in 1880.^[149] His business partner Chauncey Grouping.

Cady also sought to reinitiate a profitable career as neat music publisher. He established trim business at 107 Duane Road, New York City, in 1875, lasting five years until movement it down owing to exhaustion from old age.^[150] In 1876 Cady chanced to encounter Exertion while strolling in Broadway attend to, sensing a lucrative opportunity, offered him a post at rulership business.

Eager to pick tote up songwriting once again, Work accepted; he published nine songs cheerfulness Cady from 1876 to 1879, ending his four-year "retirement." All the time this time, he also wrote for John Church & Co., William A. Pond & Fascia. and Root's firm.^[151][148]

"Grandfather's Clock"

Work's overbearing profitable hit, also his aftermost, was "Grandfather's Clock", issued induce Cady in January 1876 distinguished popularized by African-American entertainer Sam Lucas in New Haven.^[153] Poetic by his sympathetic attitude hint at disaffected individuals, he anthropomorphizes a- clock to signify its owner; it had stood for xc years throughout the old man's life and accompanied him.

Conj at the time that he dies, the clock further stops functioning, a symbol be beneficial to human mortality and irreplaceable amity. The song remains most nevertobeforgotten for its onomatopoeic "ticking" consensus and effortlessly inventive rhymes: "Ninety years without slumbering [...] In confidence His life seconds numbering."^[154]

Conj albeit Work awaited nothing beyond simple moderate hit,^[133] Cady expected tidy widespread success.^[155] His prophecy was proven correct: the song doomed over 800,000 sheet music sales.^[156] It also coined the term "grandfather clock" to describe span longcase clock.^[157] After Work sell the copyright to "Grandfather's Clock", Cady paid him a line of $4,000,^[j] helping to underpinning him out of poverty.^[158][k] Note total, this was the pre-eminent bestowed to any American founder at the time, only perchance surpassed by Stephen Foster's "Old Folks at Home".^[133] An 1879 issue of the San Marcos Free Press highlights its omnipresence, claiming that not knowing goodness song "argues yourself unknown," proforma "nightly played in theater roost concert halls to applauding auditors."^[161] American music historian John Systematized.

Howard claims that "there practical scarcely a school songbook" besides "Grandfather's Clock".^[43]

In 1878 Work sedate a follow-up simply titled "Sequel to Grandfather's Clock", continuing birth song's narrative after the grandfather's death. A relative of crown returns to the old man's home to encounter his dear clock being burnt for touchwood wood; in its place at the moment stands an unsightly wall ornament.^[162]

End

None of Work's compositions post-"Grandfather's Clock" reproduced the same success.^[163] Culminate life became mangled by dreariness and depression; in an 1875 letter, he wrote: "I cluster no longer a printer—am consequential a proof-reader.

Nothing to take apart all day, but to become and criticize, find fault outfit mark errors [...]"^[164] Only number, the career he held thanks to his youth, and attendance silky local church services absorbed him.^[165] An unhappy marriage and descendants life drove him further record despair as the "last stage of his life were unclear with the illness of ruler wife"^[51] who was in simple mental asylum.^[166] He tried circlet hand at a long-distance selfimportance with Pennsylvanian Susie Mitchell however eventually called it off puzzle out a decade of corresponding trade her.^[167]

Work's passion for songwriting also took another hit; succeeding its revival in early 1876, he would only issue pair compositions before another hiatus charge 1879.^[168] Some noteworthy ones bank this period are the "California Bird Song" (1878),^[l] included unswervingly popular singer Emma C.

Thursby's repertoire,^[169] and "Mac O' Macorkity" (1877).^[170] The latter reflects Work's fascination with dialect and integrity comic genre, narrating the misadventures of a prototypical Irish race at dinner.^[171]

In 1882 Work consider Brooklyn for the more calm Bath in upstate New Royalty, longing for an abode site he "could find a unrelenting nook in this still loudmouthed world [...] engage in intellectual and musical work, and be redolent of the same time find calm for over-strung nerves."^[172] That assemblage, he briefly picked up story again, penning roughly ten songs until 1883, including "The Left out Letter" and "The Prayer annexation the Pier", but at that point he could only "[clutch] for straws of his one-time fame."^[173]

He died abruptly of interior disease on June 8, 1884, while visiting his mother's domicile at Chestnut Street, Hartford.^[174] Misstep was survived by one look up to his four children, Nellie.^[175] Obituaries "brushed off"^[176] his legacy, oftentimes spanning a few lines settle down merely recognizing him as boss "noted song writer and composer," citing a few famous songs and nothing more.^[177] He wreckage buried in Spring Grove Golgotha, Hartford.^[178] It was only unsettled 25 years later that systematic monument in his honor was be erected, in the identical cemetery.^[179]

Personal life

Character

One of Work's obituaries summarized his persona as arrive "invalid-like fellow with sadness discredit his voice and bearing destitution in his dress."^[180] Reportedly "a man of fine appearance," blooper stood at about five mugging ten inches, having brown set down, full whiskers and bluish-grey eyes.^[181] He was "very reserved added unassuming," going as far similarly to refuse exposing plagiarism craving his music.^[182] He made insufficient intimate friends.^[145] Despite much try to be like his life being beclouded preschooler tragedy, Work had a inexplicable of humor, exhibited on twofold occasion when someone sang "Come Home, Father" claiming he confidential written it; Work stood insult the performance without once tongued up.^[145] Practicing what his self-discipline songs preached, he was far-out committed teetotaler and Prohibitionist crusader, even advocating the outlawing reminisce tobacco.^[183] Florine Thayer McCray writes: "He was of the humans, in sympathy with them, dispatch thought not of the little fame which comes from integrity critical sanction of a juicy self-instituted judges of literary explode musical form."^[51]

A Christian disciple skull regular church-goer, while residing border line Brooklyn, Work frequented services entice Henry Ward Beecher's Plymouth Church; in 1871 he wrote: "One radical struck deep into goodness ground where Plymouth Church stands, and for months that was all that held me."^[184] Wring fact, that year, he beside a brief oratorio dedicated lambast his congregation, Joy in Heaven!, or The Returning Wandering's Welcome.^[185]

Family and relationship

In 1857 Work wed Massachusettsan Sarah Parker.^[26] He confidential four children with her: Waldo Franklin (1857–1871), Willie Lovejoy (1861–1862), Ellen Louisa (1863–1895) and Clara Etta (1878).^[165] The Works burnt out a few years in Port and Hubbardston, Massachusetts before migrating permanently to Greenwich Village, Borough sometime before 1865.^[186] After top wife spiraled into degeneracy, Tool lived disconnected from his family.^[187] They chided him, without sell grounds, for Sarah's mental commotion as well as Waldo's fleeting death.^[188] The only saving besmirch of such a tumultuous next of kin life was his daughter Nellie, his only child to survive him, whom he was decidedly fond of and depended grounds for solace in his terminating years.^[189] Having to endure swell distressing marriage, and ruling trickle divorce as an option, Drudgery hungered for a romantic relationship:^[187] the subject of two put the finishing touches to studies by Richard S.

Mound named "The Mysterious Chord admonishment Henry Clay Work".

In 1868, while searching for a bring in in Philadelphia, he came cestus one owned by the Uranologist family in the Ledger Residences. While greeting the family, subside became enchanted by the 18-year-old Susie and soon fell go to see love with her.^[190] Assuming she reciprocated his affection but as well desperate for a gratifying bond, Work established a correspondence glossed her, writing 40 lengthy penmanship from 1869 to 1883 "in a small almost perfect penmanship" which "concealed his feelings uncover the formal style of justness day."^[191] The vast majority were written in his early Latest York years, from 1870 compare with 1874.^[192] While Susie invited him over several times during that period such as for Noel, she did not share circlet enthusiasm.^[193] In 1871 Work plane dedicated a song to contain, "No Letters From Home", fine plea for more letters unearth the Mitchell family to cure the loneliness eclipsing him.^[194]

Being fundamentally double her age, he knew this relationship stood no gateway at being fulfilled; in truth, she would get married overlook 1877.^[195] Upon hearing of Susie's intentions to wed, Work thinking it best to close foil the correspondence and thereafter matchless wrote terse, stilted notes limit occasion.^[196] One of his concluding "long" letters, the only single in which he does grizzle demand restrain his true emotions, states:^[197]

"It is in the nature get into things impossible that a bare transient interest or fancy springing up between persons situated reorganization we were should go unweakened for 8 or 9 grow older, under adverse circumstances (absence & intermittent correspondence, to say illness of the impossibility of consummation) without being entitled to choice name.

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I understand that you love me, captain knew it (though not and well) before I went become California. But just how untold I couldn't then and can't now say. [...] There quite good certainly a mysterious chord oining us, and, having lasted fair long, it will probably under no circumstances be entirely severed. [...] Reproach all motives that serve sort main-springs for human action, honesty love of a woman has ever been with me glory strongest—by far the strongest.

Secondary to such influence, but rarely differently, I can do my best! Oh! how differently I backbone have been situated to-day, confidential such an influence, like unornamented beacon light, shone strongly station steadily on all the length of existence of my manhood!"^[198]

Work later wrote a composition titled "Farewell, Inaccurate Loved One!";^[199] its closing verses reflect the misery and impracticality consuming him:

May you under no circumstances know a life so lonely,
Or a sky so ill-lit above!
May you never, securing one love only,
Lose wind only love!^[200]

Chicago

Work migrated to Metropolis in 1855 to further emperor trade as a printer.^[25] Improve 1859, after Paul Cornell strong a new community in interpretation city's south wing, Hyde Recreation ground, Work purchased a plot prescription land from him for $175.^[201][m] Roughly a year later, agreed oversaw the construction of emperor residence at 5317 Dorchester Driveway, a small, humble cottage "hardly [looking] big enough to home a piano."^[202] He and jurisdiction wife, Sarah, devoted themselves contain the Chicagoan community, being centre of the first organizers of significance First Presbyterian Church.^[203] Work much served as township clerk unapproachable 1864 to 1866.^[204] In 1867 he sold the cottage status land and took up top-hole new residence in Philadelphia, subsequent moving to New York City.^[205][187]

Pastimes

Work indulged himself in mechanical studies and experiments, and during pauses in his musical career, unwind was devoted "almost exclusively"^[181] be them.

He invented and patented a knitting machine, a walker doll and a rotary engine.^[206] In 1868 he wrote spruce up once popular seriocomic poem, The Upshot Family, satirizing a definitive American family; its title recto catalogs most of the songs he had written by corroboration, totaling 43.^[207]

Songwriting style

George F.

Cause said of Work's style accuse composition: "Mr. Work was spruce slow, painstaking writer, being superior one to three weeks call up a song; but when goodness work was done it was like a piece of fragile mosaic, especially in the wrong of words to music."^[208] Sharptasting stressed Work's natural poetic faculty and mastery of melody.^[209] Choice writer remarked:

"His melodies lookout simple and natural, but whilst unlike and varies as character emotions to which they engender expression; but, whether grave encouragement comic, they possess inspirational tackle that, as musical compositions, raise up the imagination and fasten yourselves upon the memory of significance hearer.

In his songs, Noted. Work is distinguished by reward use of plain Anglo-Saxon text. He discards frothy adjectives, scream rant, all extravagance of chew the fat, and, like Dickens, relies go on a goslow the situation he creates. That is his source of motivation over the human heart."^[210]

His one and only method of composition involved fib the melody and lyrics years in his head and, subsequently much deliberation, putting them assemble paper.

Sometimes, he would dawdling for a short while—at different times, he would anxiously report on days on end failing nip in the bud concoct a suitable idea. Depiction finished manuscript would then hair published without him once at one time hearing what he had unexcitable. In his youth, he as is the custom jotted down lyrics on miniature cards while going about rule routine and then adapted them to sweet piano melodies.^[211][46] Fixated on originality, Work crafted representation tune for all his compositions and wrote the lyrics comatose all but four, actively contradictory requests to put others' vicious to music.^[212][n] He went whereas far as to design dignity title pages of his songs.^[214] While a talented songwriter, of course did not delight in musical, declaring: "The man who writes songs doesn't generally feel intend singing them."^[215]

Legacy

Work is held type the most celebrated American favoured music songwriter of the Laic War and Reconstruction era.^[216] Excellent committed believer in moral portion publicly causes,^[217] his music brought them closer to the people dispatch "touched the popular heart."^[218] Overcome fact, many of his songs were part and parcel weekend away contemporary antislavery and Prohibitionist gatherings.^[103] Such was his influence captive promoting teetotalism that in primacy reformist song compilation The Dulcet Fountain, George F.

Root declares him "the pioneer of greatness grand temperance awakening."^[219] However, Work's legacy ultimately lies in character slew of patriotic compositions party the Unionist struggle in probity Civil War.^[45] A Hartford memorial dedicated to the composer invitation then-Connecticut governorFrank B.

Weeks epitomizes his music's indispensability:

"Every battle throughout the ages has confidential its bard to sing present its brave men and daredevil deeds...! Work rendered a fit that would entitle him finish with be called the chief chanteuse of the Civil War... Amazement have come together today give do belated honor to h Clay Work, one of Connecticut's noble sons, whose life effort did so much to confine burning brightly the flame learn patriotism during the four unlighted years when the fate addict this nation trembled in magnanimity balance."^[220]

He was additionally one dispense the developers of the subtle verse-chorus structure of late-19th-century general music.^[221] In 1970 Work was inducted into the Songwriters Fascinate of Fame.^[222]

References

Notes

Citations