Songs of the Civil War
June 14–December 22, 2019
During the American Civil War, music had the power to inspire patriotism and service, and to capture loss on the battlefield. This exhibition showcases historical sheet music that provided the soundtrack to a nation divided by war.
About the Exhibition
“I don’t think we could have an army without music,” claimed Confederate general Robert E. Lee. During the Civil War, music was a constant companion for soldiers and civilians alike. Both Union and Confederate armies employed professional bands, and singing around the fire was a common way to pass time when stuck in camp. For civilians, music could bridge the distance between the war and life on the home front. Citizens attended rallies where regimental bands played patriotic tunes, and songs of the battlefield became popular in civilian life.
This exhibition explored five subjects prominent in much of the music from the Civil War: songs of patriotism, sorrow, information, and conscription, along with war marches and music by composer John Philip Sousa. Historical music sheets and select recordings by Washington Revels Heritage Voices illustrated the excitement, the emotions, the tragedy, and the humor of this unforgettable time in our nation’s history.
Organized in cooperation with the Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies.