from May. 1, 1865

Lincoln, in memorium

  • 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 May 24, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1025

from May. 1, 1865

President Lincoln's funeral march

  • 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 May 24, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1024

from May. 1, 1866

Funeral Dirge of President Lincoln

  • 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 May 24, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1023

from May. 1, 1865

Abraham Lincoln's funeral march

  • 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 May 24, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1022

from May. 1, 1865

Lincoln's requiem

  • 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 May 24, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1021

from May. 1, 1866

In memoriam, A. Lincoln

  • 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 May 24, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1020

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