Spoon River Music: Iconic American Songs Before 1915
Madrone Theatre Company, Medford, Oregon, October 2016

All but two of the songs heard in this production were published prior to the appearance of E.L. Masters' Spoon River in 1915. The pastiche of thirty songs was compiled, adapted and performed by David Gordon.

During six months of rehearsals, the interplay of actors, text, and music developed organically until the "play" and the "music" became one thing, not two. The result was a musical landscape of carefully placed songs which introduced, underscored, connected, and commented upon the spoken narrative.

Most songs were abbreviated somewhat, three were merely brief instrumental quotes. Some occurred both vocally and instrumentally. They are listed here according to their year of publication—this is not their order in the performances. (* denotes instrumental version only).
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The Water is Wide (Traditional)

Down in the Valley (Traditional)

I Gave My Love a Cherry (Traditional)

I Am a Roving Gambler (Traditional)

O World, I Must Leave You * (hymn) 1700s

'Tis the Last Rose of Summer 1813

Long, Long Ago 1844

A Life on the Ocean Wave * 1847

Camptown Races * 1850

Do They Miss Me at Home? 1852

When I Saw Sweet Nellie Home * 1850s

Hard Times, Come Again No More 1854

I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets
("Wildwood Flower") 1860

When Johnny Comes Marching Home * 1863

Nearer My God to Thee (hymn) 1861

We're Tenting Tonight on the
Old Campground
1863

Champagne Charlie is My Name 1866

Lips That Touch Liquor Shall Never Touch Mine 1870

The State of El-A-Noy 1870s

While Strolling Through the Park One Day 1884

After the Ball is Over 1891

Life's Railway to Heaven 1891

St. Louis Tickle * (rag) 1904

The Teddy Bears' Picnic * 1907

You Tell Me Your Dreams, I'll Tell You Mine 1908

Oh, You Beautiful Doll 1911

There's a Long, Long Trail A-Winding 1913

I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate 1914

Looking at the World Thru Rose-Colored Glasses 1925

Spoon River Home 2016
(Written for this production by David Gordon)

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ARRANGEMENTS AND ORIGINAL MATERIAL © 2016 DAVID GORDON   
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