Familiar Songs - Their Authors & Histories

300 traditional songs, inc sheet music with full piano accompaniment & lyrics.

Share page

Visit Us On FB

	BOUNDING BILLOWS, CEASE YOUR MOTION.		347
	Yet believe no servile passion, Seeks to charm thy vagrant mind; Well I know thy inclination, Wavering as the passing wind. Far I go, where fate may lead me; Far across the trOURled deep, Where no strangers e'er can heed me, Where no eye for me shall weep.	Not one sigh shall tell my story; Not one tear my cheek shall stain, Silent grief shall be my glory — Grief that stoops not to complain. . , When with thee, what ill could harm me? Thou couldst every pang assuage ; But, when absent, nought could charm me— Every moment seemed an age.
	ROLL ON, SILVER MOON. One of the most familiar of all familiar songs, is the plaintive little one which follows. It is of English origin, and, while both words and air are old, the former, except in a few lines, are very ancient. But we really owe the song to an American, Joseph W. Turner, of Boston; for the words had never been set to, or associated with the melody until, about 1842, he united them, and adapted them to the voice and the piano-forte. So that, earlier than that, it was not the present "Koll on, Silver Moon." It was published in 1847. Mr. Turner, was born in Charlestown, Mass., July 9, 1818. From childhood, he was excessively fond of music, but circumstances were unfavorable to a development of that taste, or to his securing the necessary education. He was the ninth child in a family of eleven; and, when fourteen years old, he began to work in the Boston Type-Foundry. Two years later, he assumed the care of the family, and continued to maintain it, until the death of his parents, fourteen years later, caused a separation of the household. Meantime, he was prosecuting musical and other studies, and, in 1851, he accepted the post of music-teacher, in the Melrose Classical Seminary, which he held until the seminary was removed to Beading. He was also church organist during that time, and many of his evenings were devoted to giving concerts in aid of charitable objects. In 1857, Mr. Turner became musical editor of the Waverley Magazine ; he afterward returned to the foundry, but since 1863 has given his entire time to the study and practice of his art, as a teacher and composer of vocal and instrumental music. In 1852, he published a small volume of songs, ballads, and music for the flute and violin, entitled, " The