Secular Music in Colonial Annapolis (Maryland): The Tuesday Club, 1745-56

by John Talley

336 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1988

Reviews

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have an interest in the early development of music and cultural life in the U.S. this is worth the read. I think that a shorter version of this book exists without the musical notation of songs in the repertoire. Dr Alexander Hamilton (not the statesman) founded this group to bring concerts, operas, theatre to Annapolis, MD. At the time, Annapolis was not a city. In most cities, sacred music was the primary, if not the sole source of musical life in social settings. Annapolis was still a bit off the path for immigrants to settle.
The Tuesday Club seems to be comprised of a few dozen educated males (with varying degrees of musical talent) convened to discuss culture, politics etc. Some performances were consolidated - maybe one or two pieces of an opera would be performed. ( Like the best two songs on an album). Curious psuedonyms for some of the members- Slyboots Pleasant, Huffbluff Surly, Swillum Swagbelly, Capt. Serious Social, Tunebelly Bowser...