Talk:Lyman Heath

Leonard Heath

The 1919 Bartlett's Quotations mentioned Leonard Heath, but it appears this may have been an error. I have moved discussion originally here to this page so there's a record of the research:

1. Leonard Heath (no dates reported). Bartletts says: "This poem attributed to Leonard Heath was set to music by Lyman Heath (1804–1870). The author is still unknown" suggesting that we'll search long & probably in vain. Lyman's brother? A pseudonym? --Tagishsimon (talk) 20:16, 15 July 2008 (UTC)

   A slight addition to this information is in Bela Chapin's The Poets of New Hampshire (1883), p. 760: "The following song, which was immensely popular for many years after its publication, was composed and set to music by Leonard Heath of Nashua, about 1842. He was a fine singer and his concerts in which this song was feelingly rendered gave him a great reputation. it is thought by many to be the most touching and eloquent verse that any New Hampshire author has produced". The book also says that "Mr. Heath's death occured a few years ago", which suggests to me that Leonard = Lyman (perhaps a nickname?). bd2412 T 01:08, 16 July 2008 (UTC)

I just did a bio on Lyman Heath. Let me see what else is out there. Jokestress (talk) 20:09, 30 November 2008 (UTC)

It appears that the 1883 Chapin book may have introduced some errors: The song is erroneously called "The Grave of Napoleon" in the book, so it seems likely that "Leonard" was an error as well, picked up by later authors. I am going to redirect Leonard to Lyman for now. Jokestress (talk) 20:20, 30 November 2008 (UTC)

Many editions of the sheet music for "The Grave of Bonaparte" gave L. Heath, which may have led to the confusion. FYI, sources give Henry S. Washburn as author of the poem. Jokestress (talk) 20:33, 30 November 2008 (UTC)

Good. I've found confirmation of the mix-up: James Robert Jackson, George Clarence Furber, History of Littleton, New Hampshire (1905), p. 280, state in a footnote on Heath:

"Several of his poems are to be found in the collection of "New Hampshire Poets," collected and edited by Bela Chapin, 1883. Both Bartlett and Chapin are in error in giving Mr. Heath the Christian name of Leonard instead of Lyman".

The complete passage in this (public domain) book (pages 280-281) is as follows:

Another teacher of the time, who was afterward known throughout the State, was Lyman Heath, born in Lyman. He married a daughter of Alexander Albee, and came to Littleton in 1834 and resided here until 1840. He was a shoemaker, and worked at that trade a part of each year, teaching a singing-school during the winter months. His early advantages had been very limited; but his natural ability — not to say genius — soon raised him above his surroundings, and he became widely celebrated as a composer and song-writer. A verse from his "Grave of Napoleon" is embalmed in the amber of "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations." It was his practice in winter to organize and teach schools at Franconia, Sugar Hill, Lisbon, Lyman, and Littleton. The school here was held in the new hall over Brackett's store. They were subscription schools, each pupil paying one dollar for twelve lessons. With rare exceptions, only sacred music was taught. That composed or arranged by Lowell Mason, Henry K. Oliver, and others, then new, but now old, comprising their familiar but enduring compositions, was most frequently used. Pew are now living who of erst assembled in the old hall and mingled their voices in songs of praise or listened to the music of Mornington, Olivet, Cowper, the Missionary Hymn, and Federal Street, as their soft and swelling strains wafted their souls from scenes of stern reality to realms of fancy and spiritual enjoyment; but their children's children, with vastly greater opportunities for musical culture and a wider knowledge of the immense musical wealth of the great masters, still sing the old songs and keep alive the soul-refreshing hymns of three generations ago.

Lyman Heath removed to Nashua about 1840, but for many years it was his annual custom to visit this section and give a concert. His programme comprised only his own productions both of words and music. A melodion was the musical instrument used by him.

Cheers! bd2412 T 21:37, 30 November 2008 (UTC)