Penned and printed: the sheet music collection of Eliza Ridgely, 1803-1867
Date
2001
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
This study examines the sheet music of Eliza Ridgely, a member of Baltimore society born in 1803 and mistress of Hampton Mansion from 1829 until 1867. An accomplished amateur musician, her music reflects her skill in singing and playing the harp and the piano. Beyond that, the sheet music is evidence of a network of publishers, teachers, and performers both amateur and professional. Studying the sheet music for publication information, retailers' marks, or the method of creating manuscript copies offers insight into the publishing business, the relationship between music teachers and their pupils, concert life, and the social events in which music played a vital role. Eliza Ridgely is a woman well-documented through contemporary accounts and family papers, but her sheet music adds depth to an understanding of her life and serves as an example for the questions that any personal collection of music can address.