Anonymous Private Collection of American Sheet Music 1

The early 19th century, in both America and Europe, saw a sudden boom in the sheet music industry’s productivity and popularity. Various factors affected this increase in sheet music demand, which stemmed from the growth of parlor music, which was music performed in the private homes of the middle and upper class. Economic prosperity following the Revolutionary War strengthened the middle class, enabling more families to enjoy luxuries that had once been available only to the wealthiest households. One of the more popular additions to the middle-class home was the pianoforte, providing entertainment and musical education—a skill connoting a well-rounded citizen—for both children and adults.

Early 19th-century sheet music was generally composed for musical amateurs. It was marketed toward middle and upper class families by associating it with famous composers and performers. The sheet music will often display ornately illustrated titles that included details like the arranger associated with the publication, the original composer (W. A. Mozart, G. F. Handel, etc.), the opera that the melody is from, or a celebrated singer that first premiered the piece. Names of famous composers and musicians would have drawn the attention of those who desired the experience of seeing a live performance—a relatively expensive affair—and created an opportunity for the amateur musician to participate in the contemporary music scene.