Unique contemporary compendium containing three original items from the 1869 National Peace Jubilee in Boston and the 1872 World Peace Jubilee. Tall narrow octavo (11 x 7 inches), interior pages various sizes. Bound together in a turn-of-the-century cloth-backed cardboard portfolio with hand-written title label to front cover, three items affixed to inside with cloth binding tape. Expected age-related toning to interior documents, minor marginal edgewear, musical appendix completely split along spine into two sections, pages of third item separated from covers, boards portfolio with some light wear and scuffing, minor fraying at top and bottom of spine, overall good. Boston, 1869.

In 1869, the National Peace Jubilee and Musical Festival was held in Boston over five days in June. It was organized by Patrick Gilmore, best known as the lyricist of the song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", which he wrote while serving in the Union Army. The Jubilee was a celebration commemorating the restoration of peace following the end of the Civil War, and according to Richard Crawford's "America's Musical Life: A History", the Jubilee became the "high-water mark in the influence of the band in American life." Participants included 100 choral groups with a total of 10,926 singers, directed by Carl Zerrahn; 525 musicians with the orchestra, with famous Norwegian violinist Ole Bull serving as concertmaster; and 486 musicians with the wind band; along with numerous soloists. Among the participants was the famed Handel & Haydn Society. A newly commissioned "Hymn of Peace", written by Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, was set to music from "American Hymn" by Matthias Keller for the opening day of the festival. Approximately 50,000 people are estimate to have attended across the five days of the event. A second Jubilee, held in 1872, was also organized by Gilmore, and the two festivals helped cement his reputation as a noted composer and bandmaster.

This unique compendium from the 1869 and 1872 Jubilees contains three items. The first is the official "Programme for The Great National Peace Jubilee", 8 pp., with scattered illustrations, containing a full schedule of events of all five days of the festival. Some noteworthy things include the "Il Profeta" Coronotion March by Meyerbeer, performed by the full band of one thousand instruments; the National Air, written by Rev. S.F. Smith, D.D., "Sung by the entire Chorus accompanied by the Grand Orchestra of 500, Military Band of 500, great organ, full drum corps, chiming of bells, infantry firing and cannon pealing in the distance in exact time with the music"; the Auber "Fra Diavolo" Overture, "arranged for Grand Orchestra of One Thousand Performers, Fifty Trumpeters performing the solo part usually played by one Trumpet"; the Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore with the anvil part performed by 100 members of the Boston Fire Department; and the "largest chorus of children ever brought together". The last few pages of the program contain ads for celestes and combination organs.

The second item is the "Appendix to Music for World's Peace Jubilee", a 36 pp. booklet with the sheet music and lyrics to songs performed during the 1872 Jubilee, published by Oliver Ditson and Company at 277 Washington Street, Boston, 1872. There are 16 total songs, including: "O Native Land, Peace Be To Thee! A National Hymn", by Eugene Thayer; "To Thee, O Country!" by Julius Eichberg; "The Exile of Erin", second half of the poem from J. Boyle O'Reilly; "National Hymn" by Julia Ward Howe, which we now know as "Battle Hymn of the Republic"; the "Miserere" from Il Trovatore by Verdi; "God Save Our Union" by P.S. Gilmore; "When the Swallows Homeward Fly" by Franz Abt; and others.

The third and final item is titled "Grand National Peace Jubilee and Musical Festival, To Be Held in the City of Boston June 15th, 16th & 17th 1869 - Official Edition, February 1869". It was published by George Coolidge, at No. 3 Milk Street in Boston. This 18-pp. booklet, put out in advance of the festival, contains: a program prospectus; complimentary testimonials received from Massachusetts citizens upon the proposal of the jubilee; a manifesto of sorts laying out "The Ideal of the National Peace Jubilee", highlighting the expression of peace they wished to center at the festival; and a floor plan and interior and exterior sketches for the planned Great Coliseum with "seats for 50,000", designed for the festival and an engineering landmark.

A fascinating historical compendium from a landmark musical festival in Boston. As of April 2026, all three of these items are scarce institutionally.

Book ID: 53679

Price: $950.00