Southern Military Music! For Piano. Washington Artillery Polka March; arranged by A. E. Blackmar by A. E. Blackmar (arranged by) - 1863

[i], 2-5, [vi (blank)] 12.5 x 9.75 inches. Still supple, general foxing and chipping and tearing. A travesty of "La Marseillaise" in that the position of Blackmar's name on the first page indicates that Blackmar is the composer. Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle composed "La Marseillaise," originally called "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin," in 1792. Perhaps the title page, which indicates that the music in hand is an arrangement by Ferdinand Beyer of the French song, serves to cover up the interior title, "The Southern Marseillaise." After all, "The Bonnie Blue Flag" a Blackmur publication, was so popular that after New Orleans was captured by Butler in 1862 "he threatened to fine every man, woman or child who sang, whistled, or played it on any instrument, $25.00. He arrested and jailed A. E. Blackmar, fined him $500.00, and had his troops destroy the plates and printed music."—Powell. A travesty? Lyrics such as "With needy, starving mobs surrounded / The jealous, blind fanatics dare / To offer… Read More