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A Bibliography of Song Sheets Sports and Recreations in American Popular Songs: Part IV Songs of the Silent Film

1957; Music Library Association; Volume: 14; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/891822

1534-150X

Gerald D. McDonald,

Music History and Culture

Songs on the motion picture, such as have been gathered for this list, serve as a reminder that popular songwriters are also social historians. They have placed on record their own responses to early film development, and have reflected those of the film makers and that mighty sector of the public which Adolph Zukor claims never wrong. All three of these groups are so peculiarly sensitive to change in fashion and taste that the songs may be viewed as a mirror of their times-and as a history of the subject with which they deal. The repeat themselves, but the cliches are, to some extent, lan expression of the folklore of Tin Pan Alley, Hollywood, and fandom at large. The following list is based on two collections in which completeness has been a goal rather than an attainment. It has been divided into three parts: songs about films in general; songs written about favorite actors and actresses; and songs associated with particular films. Not all are really songs, it must be admitted. Appropriate marches, waltzes, and foxtrots, when published in sheet music form, have also been included. The entries, copied from the covers, are modelled on earlier lists which have appeared in NOTES. W and m, meaning words and muic, is a formality which has been followed, even when the cover may read lyrics and melody. The errors to be found in the lettering on covers of popular music is somewhat staggering to the cataloger, but the more important ones, it is hioped, have their accompanying sics. The notes attempt to give a sampling of the con-tents of the songs, with occasional descriptions of their covers. Bits of film history have been included, and frequent reference is made to another field of film musicthat adapted or composed as an accompaniment to the actual screening of a film. Some of the sheets could logically be placed in another group instead of the one to which they have been assigned. In general, if a film star has been the direct inspiration of at least one song, music associated with films in which he appeared is listed under his name rather than under the title of the film. There are exceptions to this rule, particularly in the films of