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Frederic Woodman Root was born in Boston, MA on 13 June 1846 and died in Chicago, IL on 8 November 1916. He was a teacher of vocal music, conductor, writer, lecturer, organist and composer. He had musical training from B. C. Blodgett, Dr. William Mason (piano), James Flint (organ), Robert Goldbeck, Carlo Bassini (voice), Vannuccini, and of course from his father George Frederick Root (voice). His mother was Mary Olive (Woodman) Root. He was married on 30 April 1874 to Fanny (Smith) Root and they had 1 daughter and two sons. He was a contemporary of, and fellow Normal Musical Institute singer with, Thomas Martin Towne (1835-1912), and Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876). His principle extended works are a cantata, The Landing of the Pilgrims (1877) and six entertainments: one in 1874, The Extract of Opera, and five in 1894 (see below). Read Root's 1899 article called A Point of View. Also available is a dissertation by David Grogan called The Vocal Pedagogy of Frederic Woodman Root. NOTE: the Source* columns below refer to the digitized sheetmusic images stored at: The Lester S. Levy Collection by Box/Item number; or the Library of Congress' LCCN or CALL numbers (which can be used to request copies from the Photoduplicatoin Services Division there); if just labeled "LoC", then it is available as digitized images from the American Memories webpages at the Library of Congress; and the bold titles refer to songbook publications. |
| Title | Words | Source* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1859 | Minneiska. L.M. | Root | The Triumph:p.164 |
| Schumann. S. M. | Root | The Triumph:p.223; The New Song Era:p.121 | |
| 1865 | |||
| Crosby's Opera House Waltz | none | 180/028 | |
| 1867 | |||
| "D. C." Mazurka [original, 25 Apr] (Rearranged & Simplified, 26 Jul] | none | 100003040@LoC/IHAS-CWM; [M38.3.R]; Chicago: Root & Cady, Plate Nos. 666 & 747 4 | |
| Faces to Memory Dear (Song and Chorus) [3 Aug.] | John C. Shea | Chicago: Root & Cady, Plate No. 750 4; at Mills | |
| Poor
Carlotta! (Song and Chorus) [12 July] (The Last Words of Maximillian) |
Root | 015/102 | |
| Sailing into Dreamland | none | 183/039; [M25.R] | |
| The Home Run Galup! [22 July] | none | 027/051; 027/052; [M1978.S713 R7 1867a] | |
| Treasures (Ballad) (To T. Martin Towne) [31 Oct.] | Root | Chicago: Root & Cady, Plate No. 769 4 | |
| 1868 | |||
| Bells | James Ramsey Murray, 1841-1905 | The Triumph: p.361 | |
| Caryl. 6s & 4 (from Robert Franz) | James Ramsey Murray, 1841-1905 | The Triumph: p.254 | |
| Clare; or, Along the Silent Path. S. M. | Root | The Triumph: p. 211; Chapel Gems for Sunday School: pp.146-7; pp. 153-154 (Enlarged Edition) | |
| Curwen. 7s | Root | The Triumph:p.230 | |
| Festal. C.P.M. | Root | The Triumph:p.260 | |
| Israella. C.M. (from Robert Alexander Schumann, 1810-1856) | Root | The Triumph:p.189 | |
| Millmont. C.M. (from Felix Mendelssohn, 1809-1847) | Root | The Triumph:p.191 | |
| Nowlin. 6s & 4s | Root | The Triumph:p.253 | |
| Oliver. S. M. | Root | The Triumph:p.222 | |
| Repose! (A Sketch from James R. Murray's Theme for Piano "Baby's gone to sleep") | none | 100002669@LoC/IHAS-CWM | |
| See-Saw | Root | The Triumph:p.90 | |
| Soft Floating on the Air | James Ramsey Murray, 1841-1905 | The Triumph:p.360; The New Song Era:p.152 | |
| Teach Me, O Lord | Root | The Triumph:p.327 | |
| The Gateway of Gold | Root | Chapel Gems for Sunday Schools: pp. 146-7 | |
| The Golden Rule | Root | The Triumph:p.116 | |
| Thou Knowest That I Love Thee | Root | The Triumph:p.280; Chapel Gems | |
| With My Whole Heart | Root | The Triumph:p.320 | |
| 1869 | |||
| Bells of Sabbath Morning | none | 162/057 | |
| I'm Married! | from the Scotch | 052/036 | |
| The Singin Skewl (by P. Benson; dedicated to Root) | P. Benson | 053/057 | |
The Pacific Glee Book:a collection of Secular Music; consisting of Part Songs, Solos and Choruses, Glees and Operatic Arrangements. edited by Frederic W[oodman]. Root and James R[amsey]. Murray. Chicago: Published by Root & Cady, 67 Washington Street. Entered, according to Act of Congress, A. D. 1869, By ROOT & CADY, In the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of Illinois. | |||
| Smile and Be Contented | F. W. Root | p. 6 | |
| Dreams | F. W. Root | p. 13 | |
| O'er the Mountains [by Gounod; Arr.] | F. W. Root | p. 16 | |
| The Beckoning Hand | John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807-1892 | p. 23 | |
| God Bless Our Loved Fireside | George W. Birdseye, 1844-1919 | p. 24 | |
| I See Them on Their Winding Way (Arr. by F. W. Root) | anon. | p. 40 | |
| Farewell to the Swallows (from "Graded Songs, No. 4") | Thomas Hood | p. 56 | |
| We Are Waiting | George Cooper, 1838-1927 | p. 60 | |
| White Lilies | Mattie Winfield Torrey | p. 70 | |
| Softly Sighs the Gentle Breeze (Music by Jerry Walker; Arr. by F. W. Root) | anon. | p. 77 | |
| Waiting at the Gate | F. W. Root | p. 79 | |
| Never Put Off | F. W. Root | p. 81 | |
| Home of Rest (Music by W. W. R.; Arr. by F. W. Root) | J. G. Percival | p. 128 | |
| The Little Leaf | James Ramsey Murray | p. 131 | |
| Farewell | W. Tell Barnitz | p. 134 | |
| Moonlight | M. L. Streator | p. 150 | |
| O If It Be | James Ramsey Murray | p. 154 | |
| Songs Here and Yonder | Paulina DuPre | p. 169 | |
| Voices of the Past (A Reverie) | anonymous | p. 170 | |
| Open Your Eyes | James Ramsey Murray, 1841-1905 | p. 173 | |
| The Mountain Miner's Song (Music by J. Offenbach; Arr. by F. W. Root) | anon. | p. 299; also from "The Triumph" | |
| 1870 | |||
| Apothecaire et Perrugier (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | LoC | |
| Barbe Bleue (Blue Beard) (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none; | LoC | |
| Beyond | C. C. Haskins | LoC | |
| Genevieve de Brabant (from The Opera Season, No. 12 [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | 05307@LoC | |
| I Will Seek My Father (by Blumenthall; arr.) (Hymn) | Paulina Dupre | Chapel Gems (1868)p. 142;The Prize: p. 14; The New Song Era: p. 149 | |
| La Belle Helene (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | LoC | |
| La Grande Duchesse (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) [29 Dec] | none | 05311@LoC | |
| La Princesse de Trebizonde (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | LoC | |
| La Chateau a Toto (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | LoC | |
| La Perichole (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | LoC | |
| Le Font de Soupire (The Bridge of Sighs) (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | LoC | |
| Les Bavards (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | LoC | |
| Lischen et Fritzchen (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | LoC | |
| Monsieur et Madame Denis (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | LoC | |
| Nocturne No. 1 [26 Oct.] (from Deux Nocturnes) | none | LoC | |
| Orphee Aux Enfers (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | LoC | |
| Robinson Crusoe (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | LoC | |
| Tromb-al-ca-zar (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia) | none | LoC | |
| Vert-Vert [29 Dec] (from The Opera Season [music by Jacques Offenbach, 1819-1880]; arr.) (fantasia no. 5) | none | 05306@LoC | |
| 1871 | |||
| Bells of Sabbath Morning (from Hand in Hand, a piano duet) [24 Mar.] | none | 02575@LoC | |
| The First Bud Waltz (from Hand in Hand, a piano duet) (by Hiram T. Merrill; Arr.) [6 Mar] | none | 01945@LoC | |
| The Irresistable Schottische [by James Ramsey Murray, 1841-1905; Arr.] (from Hand in Hand, piano duet) [6 Mar] | none | 01946@LoC | |
| Little Pet Schottisch (from Hand in Hand, piano duet) (by Frank Howard, pseud. for Delos Gardner Spalding, 1833-1884; Arr.) [1 Mar] | none | 01741@LoC | |
| 1872 | |||
| A Voice from the Ocean (Piano Pictures No. 27) | none | 07230@LoC | |
| O Let Me Be a Blonde Mother (Ballad) | Grace H. Horr | 134/011 | |
| Old Times | Root | reprinted in The Palace of Song:p.109 | |
| 1874 | |||
| The Extract of Opera | Root | LoC; [M1509.R75 B82]; [M1509.R75 E8] | |
| The Hypochondriac | Root | LoC | |
| The Two Flowers | Root | LoC | |
| Violets | Root | LoC | |
| 1875 | |||
| Bethany Service No. 2 | Root | Choir and Congregation: p. 196 | |
| Christmas Service No. 2 [includes Christmas by Handel) | Root | Choir and Congregation: p.307 | |
| Dundee Service [includes Dundee, a Scottish trad. hymn | Root | Choir and Congregation: p. 310 | |
| It Never Pays | Root | National School Singer: p.105 | |
| Over and Over Again | Root | National School Singer: p. 114 | |
| Pleyel's Hymn Service No. 3 [includes Pleyel's Hymn by J. Pleyel | Root | Choir and Congregation: pp. 313 & 193 | |
| The Martial Summons! [15 Nov.] | Frank C. Walker | 12083@LoC | |
| 1877 | |||
| Blessed Is Every One That Feareth | Root | The New Song Era:p.154 | |
| Solfeggio in Canon Form | Root | The New Song Era:p.109 | |
| The Landing of the Pilgrims (cantata) | Mrs. Felicia Dorethea Hemans, 1794-1835; 21 pages | unk84-72008 | |
| 1878 | |||
| Sunday Night | Root | LoC | |
| 1882 | |||
| For You Dearest Heart (from Three Songs, Op. 9, No. 1) |
Root | LoC | |
| Through Winter Snow and Summer Shine (from Three Songs, Op. 9, No. 2) |
Fanny Rochat | LoC | |
| The Knight of Old (from Three Songs, Op. 9, No. 3) |
Root | ||
| 1883 | |||
| We Are Seven | Root; 10 pages | [M1651.R77] | |
| 1884 | |||
| Good Bye for Aye (from Two Songs, Op. 12, No. 1) |
Eben Eugene Rexford, 1848-1916 | LoC | |
| In The Storm (from Two Songs, Op. 12, No. 2) |
Root | LoC | |
| Wake! the Holy Spirit Calls | Norman T. Gassette | Our Song World: pp. 164-5 | |
| 1887 | |||
| Consider the Lilies | M. W. T. | The Repertoire, p. 71 | |
| Solfeggio Seven | Root | The Repertoire, p. 209 | |
| 1894 | |||
| Miss
Doremifasolasini's American Opera (A Musical Play for Amateurs) |
Root; 40 pages | unk84-135145; [M1503.R76.M5]; [M1995.R78] | |
| Multum in Parvo | Root | -- | |
| The Last Rose of Summer (Arr.) | anon. | The Treble Clef Choir: p.170 | |
| The Old Melodeon (A Decriptive Scene for Eight (or Four) Ladies) |
Root | unk84-162086; M1995.R78 O5 | |
| The Old Oaken Bucket (Arr. by Root) | Samuel Woodsworth, 1784-1829 (1818) | Robert Archibald Smith, 1780-1829 (1808)The Treble Clef Choir: pp. 163-5 | |
| The Professor's
Dilemma (A Recital in Song and Verse for 12 Ladies) |
Root; 28 pp. | unk84-143746; [M1995.B78 P9] | |
| 1895 | |||
| Castanea (An Operatic Oddity or, a Collection of Musical Gems Strung Upon a Thread of Absurdities) |
Root; 64 pp. | Call No.MUCLS M1503.R65C37 1895; Harold Washington Library, Chicago, IL | |
| 1898 | |||
| All Power Is Given Unto Our Lord [Tune: EIN' FESTE BURG. 87.87.66.667.] | Martin Luther, 1483-1546 | Christian Science Hymnal: No. 411 | |
| Coventry [anonymous English melody; arr.] | anonymous | Christian Science Hymnal: No. 327 | |
| O Tender, Loving Shepherd [Tune: HOMELAND. 7.6.7.6.D.] | Arthur Seymore Sullivan, 1842-1900 | Christian Science Hymnal: p. 245 | |
| Our God Is Love [Tune: HAYDN. C.M.D., by Franz Joseph Haydn] | Root? | Christian Science Hymnal: No. 269 | |
| Rock of Ages, Truth Divine [based on hymn by Toplady] | A. M. Toplady | Tune: TOPLADY 77.77.77; Music by Thomas Hastings; Christian Science Hymnal: No. 293 | |
| Rock of Ages, Truth Divine [based on hymn by Toplady] | A. M. Toplady | Tune: HOUGHTON-le-SPRING 77.77.77; Music by Samuel S. Wesley; Christian Science Hymnal: No. 294 | |
| Rock of Ages, Truth Divine [based on hymn by Toplady] | A. M. Toplady | Tune: NICHT SO TRAURIG; Music by Ebling; arranged by Johann Sebastian Bach; Christian Science Hymnal: No. 295 | |
| The Heavens Declare the Glory [music (St. Anselm) by Joseph Barnby] | Root | Christian Science Hymnal: No. 329 | |
| 1899 | |||
| As Joseph Was A-Walking (Air by Lyrdia Avery Coonley; Harmonized by Root) | Charles Kingsley | Songs in Season: p. 102 | |
| Christmas Song No. 2 | Lydia Avery Coonley | Songs in Season: p. 91 | |
| Fly-away (for Piano) | none | 4134@Univ. of South Carolina | |
| Salute | Lydia Avery Coonley | Songs in Season: p. 115 (from Singing Verses for Children) | |
| 1900 | |||
Piano Pictures, Original Teaching Pieces by Various Authors, Edited by F. W. Root
|
none | Cincinnati: John Church Co.
| |
| 1901 | |||
| Never Say Fail | Charles Swain | Methodical Sight Singing, Op. 21, Part I: p. 47 | |
| 1907 | |||
| Blest Christmas Morn (No. 2 from Devotional Songs) | Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, 1903 | Sibley Music Library, Rochester, NY; Chicago: Clayton F. Summy Co., Plate No. 1021a | |
| O Waiting Heart (No. 2 from Solos for Church Service Edited by Frederick W. Root) {Music by Louis Moreau Gottschalk, 1829-1869) | Root | LL-SDV-157038@UoInd; Chicago: Clayton F. Summy Co. | |
| 1908 | |||
| O'er Waiting Harpstrings (No. 1 from Devotional Songs) | Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, 1903 | Sibley Music Library, Rochester, NY; Chicago: Clayton F. Summy Co., Plate No. 1020a | |
| 1909 | |||
| A Happy New Year (A Short Song-Study) | Root | Guide for the Male Voice: p.53 | |
| In the Calm of the Night [A Short Song-Study] | Root | Guide for the Male Voice: p.48 | |
| Love (No. 3 from Devotional Songs) | Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, 1903 | Sibley Music Library, Rochester, NY; Chicago: Clayton F. Summy Co., Plate No. 1130 | |
| Winter | Root | Guide for the Male Voice: p.55 | |
| 1910 | |||
| Shepherd, Show Me How to Go (No. 4 from Devotional Songs) | Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, 1903 (1821-1910) | @IndianaLibrary; Chicago: Clayton F. Summy Co., Plate No. 1174 | |
| 1913 | |||
| Saw Ye My Saviour (No. 5 from Devotional Songs | Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, 1903 | Sibley Music Library, Rochester, NY; Chicago: Clayton F. Summy Co., Plate No. 1459a | |
| Unknown Publication Dates | |||
| Lover Never Faileth (Sacred Song) | Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, 1903 (1821-1910) | ??? | |
| Opus Numbers | ||
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Three Songs | 1882 |
| 12 | Two Songs | 1884 |
| 20 | Twelve Analytical Studies (Technique and Art of Singing: V) |
1899 |
| 21 | Methodical Sight Singing (in 3 Parts) (Technique and Art of Singing: I) |
???? |
| 22 | Introductory Lessons in Voice Culture (Technique and Art of Singing: II) |
1901 |
| 23 | Guide for the Male Voice (Technique and Art of Singing: VII) |
1909 |
| 24 | Thirty-two Short Song Studies (for high compass) (Technique and Art of Singing: IIIa) |
1903 |
| 25 | Thirty-two Short Song Studies (for high compass) (Technique and Art of Singing: IIIb) |
1903 |
| 26 | Thirty-two Short Song Studies (for high compass) (Technique and Art of Singing: IIIc) |
1903 |
| 27 | Scales and Various Excercises (for high and low voices) (Technique and Art of Singing: IV) |
1905 |
| 28 | Sixty-Eight Excercises in the Synthetic Method (The General Principle of Vocalization) (Technique and Art of Singing: VI) |
1906 |
| 29? | Studies in Florid Song (Technique and Art of Singing: VIII) |
1910 |
| Books | |
|---|---|
| 1858 | Root's New Course in Vocal Culture |
| 1873 | F. W. Root's School of Singing |
| 1874 | The Song Era |
| 1877 | The New Song Era [edited by F. Root; revised by George F. Root] |
| 1890 | Excercises in Pitch and Rhythm |
| 1891 | Root's New Course in Vocal Culture and Singing for the Female Voice |
| 1893 | Root's Condensed Vocal Method |
| 1895 | How to Train My Voice |
| 1896 | Studies from the Opera (edited) |
| 1896 | The Polychrome Lessons in Voice Culture |
| 1899 | Analytical Studies in Voice Culture |
| 1901 | School of Singing |