Full Title

Abraham Lincoln's Funeral March

Description

Funeral march for solo piano dedicated to "people of the United States." Part of the Library of Congress Civil War Sheet Music Collection, associated with the Union side.

Source

Library of Congress Classification M20.C59R

Rights

Public Domain. Suggested credit line: Civil War Sheet Music Collection, Library of Congress, Music Division.

Tags

Cite this Item

Robjohn, W. J.. "Abraham Lincoln's Funeral March". Detroit: J. Henry Whittemore, 1865. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1030

Creator

Robjohn, W. J.

Publisher

Detroit: J. Henry Whittemore, 1865

Date

1865

Material

Sheet Music

Full Title

The Assassin's Vision

Description

A song for medium or low voice and piano that describes the escape of President Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. The lyrics convey that God will seek vengeance on the assassin, who will be haunted by his actions. The song has three verses that each utilize the exact same piano accompaniment, however the vocal line has slight rhythmic variations from verse to verse. The composer's note reads: "This Ballad was suggested on seeing the representation of the assassin BOOTH wildly fleeing through the forest on his horse, startled by the apparition of his victim appearing in the trees & around him." Part of the Library of Congress Civil War Sheet Music Collection, associated with the Union side.

Transcription

Verse 1
The Assassin rode on his fiery steed,
His murd'rous work was done
In the darksome night with fleeting speed,
Through woods his cours-'er run!
As he hurried away from the scene of death,
On his death, On his brow were looks of despair;
Before him! around him! The evenings breath
Told him God's vengeance was there!

Verse 2
The pale moon beamed as onward he fled,
The stars looked down from on high,
The hills and valleys were crimson red
As blood to the murd'rer's eye!
He shuddered! he trembled! And oft looked around,
And dreary seemed each passing breeze,
And lo! the assassin bound
Saw a vision appear in the trees.

Verse 3
Heaven had witnessed! he could not escape!
The assassin's fate was sealed--
"Vengeance is mine!" saith God in his might,
As the vision that night revealed.
The assassin rode on with trembling and fear,
And mournfully murmur'd the breeze;
Before him! around him! all vivid and drear,
The vision appeared in the trees.

Source

Library of Congress Classification M1640.T

Rights

Public Domain. Suggested credit line: Civil War Sheet Music Collection, Library of Congress, Music Division.

Tags

Cite this Item

Turner, J. W. (composer & lyricist). "The Assassin's Vision". Cleveland: S. Branard's Sons, 1865. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1029

Creator

Turner, J. W. (composer & lyricist)

Publisher

Cleveland: S. Branard's Sons, 1865

Date

1865

Material

Sheet Music

Full Title

In memoriam Abraham Lincoln: National Chant

Description

Choral work honoring President Lincoln's legacy that features four part chorus, a soprano solo, and a solo vocal quartet, with piano or organ accompaniment. It is dedicated "To a Mourning World" and sets an "exquisite and popular poem" by W. Dexter Smith. Part of the Library of Congress Civil War Sheet Music Collection, associated with the Union side.

Transcription

[Chorus]
Columbia weeps! Columbia weeps!
Her cherished son,
Who struck her fetters to the ground,
Who saved the land of Washington,
Has passed from earth's most distant bound;
Has passed from earth's most distant bound

[Soprano solo]
His spirit went to realms on high,
His dust, alone, the earth could claim,
His memory will never die
While freemen live to bless his name,
His memory will never die
While freemen live to bless his name.

[Solo quartet]
Columbia swears, anew, her vow
To guard the birthright of the free;
Unsheathed her sword of Justice, now
Since Mercy, since Mercy fell by Tyranny

[Solo and chorus]
Our nations hopes and fears alike
Are with the land our fathers trod,
And while for Freedom, now, we strike,
Our future is alone with God!
And while for Freedom, now, we strike,
Our future is alone with God! alone with God!

Source

Library of Congress Classification M1640.K

Rights

Public Domain. Suggested credit line: Civil War Sheet Music Collection, Library of Congress, Music Division.

Tags

Cite this Item

Keller, M. (composer); Smith Jr., W. Dexter (lyricist). "In memoriam Abraham Lincoln: National Chant". New York: Wm. Hall & Son, 1866. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1028

Creator

Keller, M. (composer); Smith Jr., W. Dexter (lyricist)

Publisher

New York: Wm. Hall & Son, 1866

Date

1866-05-01

Material

Sheet Music

Full Title

Abraham Lincoln's funeral march, op. 7

Description

Funeral march composed "in memory of a country's martyred father" for solo pianoforte. The work contains two principal thematic subjects and a trio section, and is associated with the Union side.

Source

Library of Congress Classification M20.C59W

Rights

Public Domain. Suggested credit line: Civil War Sheet Music Collection, Library of Congress, Music Division.

Tags

Cite this Item

Wolfsieffer, William. "Abraham Lincoln's funeral march, op. 7". Philadelphia: Louis Meyer, 1865. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1027

Creator

Wolfsieffer, William

Publisher

Philadelphia: Louis Meyer, 1865

Date

1865

Material

Sheet Music

Full Title

Lincoln, in memorium

Description

Chorus for four mixed voices and piano accompaniment. Lyrics dedicated to "Col. Theo. S. Chase. Qr. M. Genl. of Mo. [Quartermaster General of Missouri]." The work opens with a short introduction in the style of a funeral march, followed by a two verses and a refrain. The verse is sung in unison or by a soloist and the refrain is in four vocal parts.

Transcription

Verse
Rest chieftain rest, now Columbia is free,
Rest for thy labors are o'er...;
Rest in the silence freemen hath made thee,
Rest on thy own native shore... .
Rest as thy glory floats over the sea,
Rest for thy work is well done;
Rest where archangels wait to receive thee,
Rest on the soil that thou hast won.

Chorus
Breathe a sad requiem ye millions now free,
Saviour of Freedom is waiting for thee.
Breathe a sad requiem ye millions now free,
Saviour of Freedom is waiting for thee.

Verse
Rest noble chieftain, our nation is free,
Rest on Columbia's proud shore.,
Rest while freemen will ever deplore thee
Rest with the brave, now no more...
Rest chieftain rest, soon heaven will wake thee,
Rest where our banner shall wave
Rest where in grace thy shadow reveals thee,
Rest in the land of the brave. [Chorus]

Source

Library of Congress Classification M1640.W

Rights

Public Domain. Suggested credit line: Civil War Sheet Music Collection, Library of Congress, Music Division.

Tags

Cite this Item

Woolcott, Francis (composer); Fox, Wm. P. (lyricist). "Lincoln, in memorium". Cincinnati: John Church, Jr., 1865. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1025

Creator

Woolcott, Francis (composer); Fox, Wm. P. (lyricist)

Publisher

Cincinnati: John Church, Jr., 1865

Date

1865

Material

Sheet Music

Full Title

President Lincoln's funeral march

Description

President Lincoln's funeral march is set for solo piano and consists of a slow introduction, march theme, and trio section. This musical response to President Lincoln's funeral is associated with the Union side. Part of the Library of Congress Civil War Sheet Music Collection.

Source

Library of Congress Classification M20.C59W

Rights

Public Domain. Suggested credit line: Civil War Sheet Music Collection, Library of Congress, Music Division.

Tags

Cite this Item

Wamelink, J. T.. "President Lincoln's funeral march". Pittsburgh: Wamelink & Barr, 1865. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1024

Creator

Wamelink, J. T.

Publisher

Pittsburgh: Wamelink & Barr, 1865

Date

1865

Material

Sheet Music

Full Title

Funeral Dirge of President Lincoln

Description

Funeral dirge composed in honor of Abraham Lincoln's funeral. Composed for solo piano. Part of the Library of Congress Civil War Sheet Music Collection.

Source

Library of Congress Classification M20.C59R

Rights

Public Domain. Suggested credit line: Civil War Sheet Music Collection, Library of Congress, Music Division.

Tags

Cite this Item

Rynder, Rose. "Funeral Dirge of President Lincoln". Philadelphia: Marsh & Bubna, 1866. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1023

Creator

Rynder, Rose

Publisher

Philadelphia: Marsh & Bubna, 1866

Date

1866

Full Title

Abraham Lincoln's funeral march

Description

Slow march based on Abraham Lincoln's funeral, associated with the Union side. Composed for solo piano. Part of the Library of Congress Civil War Sheet Music Collection.

Source

Library of Congress Classification M20.C59B

Rights

Public Domain. Suggested credit line: Civil War Sheet Music Collection, Library of Congress, Music Division.

Tags

Cite this Item

Bach, C. H. . "Abraham Lincoln's funeral march". Milwaukee, WI: H. N. Hempsted, 1865. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1022

Creator

Bach, C. H.

Publisher

Milwaukee, WI: H. N. Hempsted, 1865

Date

1865

Material

Sheet Music

Full Title

Lincoln's requiem

Description

Lincoln's requiem was composed for chorus (mixed voices, 4 parts) and piano. Associated with the Union side, the song mourns President Lincoln's death and praises his legacy as an advocate for freedom and liberty. The lyrics consist of five verses and a refrain. Part of the Library of Congress Civil War Sheet Music Collection.

Transcription

Verse:
Dead! dead! how swift the dire news flies,
And wakes a nation's agonies!
From town to town, from mouth to mouth
Swift spreads the dreaded message forth;
In lowly cot, in lordly hall,
This grief enshrouds and covers all.
And on the breast drops ev'ry head,
In sorrow for the noble dead.

Chorus:
Oh, weep for fallen greatness! weep!
Let tears express our woes;
But while our Lincoln's soul doth sleep,
Brave men strike down his foes!

Verse:
Dead! dead! but not as warriors die,
He fell not shouting battle cry--
Not in the open light of heavn'--
Not in his home his soul was risen--
Not on the plain where hand to hand
The brave cross blade with foemen's brand,
But where the waves of pleasure flow,
Death aim'd his shaft thro' secret foe. [Chorus]

Verse:
Dead! dead! and now when hopes were high,
And wars dread curse was passing by,
When traitors had their madness stay'd,
And hero hands sheathed vegeful blade,
When homes and hearthstones gleamd afar,
To manly hearts grown tired of war,
And long wooed peace had left the sky,
It was no time for him to die. [Chorus]

Verse:
Dead! dead! and when the millions free
Sent up their shouts of liberty,
When from the depths of bondage wrung,
Sweet freedoms song, by freedmen sung,
When million hearts their thanks out pour'd
And angel ears in pleasure heard,
When words his hand has trac'd live on
It is not meet to mourn him gone. [Chorus]

Verse:
Dead! dead! and has he died in vain?
Shall we in lethargy remain?
His years of patriot toil forget
Shall unavenged his life sun set?
No! for this blow in treach'ry given,
The smoke of strife shall rise to heav'n,
And 'till our flag in triumph waves
His foes and ours find bloody graves! [Chorus]

Source

Library of Congress Classification M1640.B

Rights

Public Domain. Suggested credit: Civil War Sheet Music Collection, Library of Congress, Music Division.

Tags

Cite this Item

Butterfield, J. A. (composer); Boynton, Irene (lyricist). "Lincoln's requiem". Chicago: H. M. Higgins, 1865. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1021

Creator

Butterfield, J. A. (composer); Boynton, Irene (lyricist)

Publisher

Chicago: H. M. Higgins, 1865

Date

1865

Full Title

In memoriam, A. Lincoln

Description

"In memoriam, A Lincoln" was composed by Gertrude I. Ladd. The ballad is set for voice and piano in English. It contains two verses of lyrics that discuss President Lincoln's assassination as a sacrifice for freedom in the United States. Part of the Library of Congress Civil War Sheet Music Collection.

Transcription

Within the nations heart today,
In honor brightly set,
There lives a cherish'd memory
That buddeth greenly yet
And ever will time cannot change
The love which death has made
Sacred to all, yet to become
The people's heritage.

But words are ever weak for praise,
There is no need to dwell
Upon the strong and tender heart
That all could read so well;
Always for worthy victories won
Is paid a costly price,
Then freedom at her need has had
A worthy sacrafice.

Source

Library of Congress Classification M1640.L

Rights

Public Domain. Suggested credit line: Civil War Sheet Music Collection, Library of Congress, Music Division.

Tags

Cite this Item

Ladd, Gertrude I. . "In memoriam, A. Lincoln". New York: C. M. Tremaine, 1866. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1020

Creator

Ladd, Gertrude I.

Publisher

New York: C. M. Tremaine, 1866

Date

1866

Material

sheet music