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).
Return to the Spoon River Audio Page or to the Spoon River Main Page
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)