Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
GENL-1969.003.0071 |
Object Name |
Music, Sheet |
Description |
"Though Duty Calls It's Hard To Say Good-Bye", words and music by W.R. Williams; large off-white rectangular paper sheet, folded along left edge, forming 4 total pages; cover has color lithographic illustration taken from drawing of large red heart with man in WWI uniform and woman in white dress, almost kissing inside the heart; heart is super-imposed over insinuated battlefield with fencing; printed in light & medium blue, red, brown & peach, with title in black; publisher's information at bottom, along with "The Song Our 'Boys' are Singing", and "5" at bottom on front, presumably cost 5¢; inner pages have music printed in black ink; outer back pages has advertisment for "The Story Book Ball" song printed in same medium blue ink; illustration on front by "Starmer". With the advent of color lithography in advertising in the mid-1800s, sheet music advertisers could augment the appeal of the song utilizing bright, dynamic cover art. Some covers showed the singer who had made the song popular from public performances or from phonographs. Many Americans had pianos and other instruments, and gathering together to play a selection of music was a common form of entertainment. During World War I (1914-1918), sheet music covers often reflected themes of romance, adventure, nostalgia, bravery, patriotism, and tragedy of the war. Some were expertly designed by well-known magazine illustrators, while others were more amateur in style. Much of the music was written by and for white, middle-class Americans. Some covers illustrate biases and stereotypes based on race, religion, and gender roles popular during that time, now recognized as inappropriate and offensive. |
Date |
1917 |
Caption |
"Though Duty Calls It's Hard to Say Good-Bye" by W.R. Williams; 1917. |
Makers mark |
Will Rossiter, Chicago, Ill. |