1852: An Acadia Tragedy Unfolds (Part 7, Jun 6/25)

A Song Book in Acadia Library’s Special Collections

by Wendy Robicheau, Archivist

While researching the early days at Acadia College, I found a program for the Anniversary Exercises (that tended to happen annually in June). Interspersed between the students’ orated essays, were musical interludes. A research side-quest was born, asking ‘what music occurred on campus in the earliest years?’ and ‘how did the students learn that music?’

In 1852, Acadia College was just fourteen years young. Financial difficulties in the few years leading up to 1851 meant that the College did not have a class to graduate in 1852. So, Professor Isaac Chipman asked his students to volunteer and read their essays at a public exhibition on 4 June. Nine students accepted his offer. Some of those essays were published in later issues of the Christian Messenger. The music between the essays, however, seems to have been chosen to align with the essay topics. For example, Henry Angell spoke about “The Pilgrim-Dreamer” and the chant that followed was called “The Better Land”. In another example, William Grant’s essay “Heroes of the Nineteenth Century” was followed by music called “Christian Heroes”.

Curiously, William Grant and his legendary singing voice appeared in a story published almost 100-years later. The Acadia Bulletin of July 1942 includes an anecdote about him attending a large party at ‘Annandale’, which is a home in Wolfville. The article says that, “When they were breaking up, after a jolly time, young Grant got them to sing Blest be the tie that binds.” (21)

At this juncture, I began searching the literature for music in Nova Scotia during the mid-1800s. I found with delight Nancy Vogan’s articles about musical culture and tunebooks. Although her work looked at an earlier period, it was not without relevance to my own questions. As I read through “Musical Traditions of the Planters” and “Musical Culture in Eighteenth-Century Nova Scotia”,1 I suspected that the strong singing school tradition explored within these articles reached to Wolfville.

Following Nancy Vogan’s lead, I searched Acadia’s Archives and Special Collections for evidence of song books that might be linked to singing schools in Wolfville. Armed with a list of music sung at the 1852 Anniversary Exercises, I looked for evidence of tunebooks that might have been used by students. Special Collections had tantalising clues to consider.

Several music books found in the Library’s Special Collections give glimpses of music in Wolfville and perhaps on campus as early as 1847. Olney Hymns2 included “Amazing Grace”, fueling speculation that this now-familiar hymn could have been sung on campus in the earliest years. But one song book caught my attention; it was The American Vocalist dated 1849. Issues of the Christian Messenger in 1851 include advertisements for this book. Looking through the index, the music score and words to “Ye Christian Heroes” can be found. Eurika—a bridge to the past.

Thinking back to the music, entitled “Christian Heroes”, that followed William Grant’s essay in June 1852, is this evidence that the song books were used on campus? Was William Grant a member of a singing school in Wolfville? As I gingerly cradle the song book, gazing at the music score, I can almost hear Mr. Grant’s voice singing the song to me and I think it is possible.

 

  1. Article titles shortened for brevity. The full references are: Nancy Vogan, “The Musical Traditions of the Planters and “Mary Miller Her Book” in Margaret Conrad, ed., Making Adjustments: Change and Continuity in Planter Nova Scotia 1759-1800. Fredericton: Acadiensis Press, 1991; and, Nancy Vogan, “The Robert Moor Tunebook and Musical Culture in Eighteenth-Century Nova Scotia” in Margaret Conrad and Barry Moody, eds., Planter Links: Community and Culture in Colonial Nova Scotia. Fredericton: Acadiensis Press, 2001.
  2. John Newton and William Cowper. Olney Hymns, Etc. [By J. Newton and William Cowper.]. London & Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson, 1849.
  3. D.H. Mansfield. The American Vocalist : A Selection of Tunes, Anthems, Sentences, and Hymns, Old and New : Designed for the Church, the Vestry, or the Parlor ... from the Compositions of Billings, Holden ... in Three Parts. Rev. ed. Boston: Thompson, Bigelow & Brown, 1849.