Between 1790 and 1860 vocal composition was the most popular type of music. These consisted of art, popular, and patriotic songs with piano accompaniment. The texts touched on topics such as love, absence, war or patriotism, and the human emotions connected with these subjects. Not surprisingly the approaches largely mirrored traditions of England, continental Europe, and increasingly in the nineteenth century those of the United States of America. Sometimes, though, these universal themes were placed within a clear Canadian context beyond that of being produced by a composer born or resident in Canada at the time.
WILLIAM DICHMONT
1. Spirit of Life
ERNEST MACMILLAN
2. Songs from Sappho
JOHN BURGE
3. There is a Medlar Tree
LEO ROY
4. Petite Prière
CLARENCE LUCAS
5. Mädchenherz
GENA BRANSCOMBE
6. Glück
W.O. FORSYTH
7. Frühlingsabend
GABRIEL CUSSON
8. Vous chantez payse
ALBERTINE MORIN-LABREQUE
9. Maman, je ne veux pas grandir
AUGUSTE DESCARRIES
10. L’Image dans l’eau
STEPHEN CODMAN
11. The Fairy Song
FRANCIS WOOLCOTT
12. “Oh! No, We never talk in French
CÉLESTIN LAVIGUEUR
13. Amour!
EDWARD B. MANNING
14. Now High, Now Low
CLARENCE LUCAS
15. The World’s Wanderers
EDWARD B. MANNING
16. Break, Break, Break
CALIXA LAVALLÉE
17. L’Absence
H.H. GODFREY
18. When Johnny Canuck comes home
BARBARA PENTLAND
19. Ruins
CALIXA LAVALLÉE
20. Andalouse
