Campaign Music

Though American campaign music was nothing new to the 1880 presidential campaign season, the music style of James A. Garfield’s campaign marches and performers was directly reflective of the times. Garfield and vice presidential candidate Chester A. Arthur faced other candidates with ties to the Civil War and used their positions within the military as a point of popular interest in their platforms. Because of this, many of the post-Civil War campaign songs were marches. The 4/4 beats and Sousa- inspired melodies created catchy tunes that subconsciously reinforced the candidates as patriotic heroes.

Take Garfield’s journey to the Fifth Avenue Conference in New York City on August 5, 1880. As he arrived in Rochester, Batavia, Oneida, Rome, and Utica, the train stops were filled with crowds, cannons, rifles, and music. Even more patriotic was the reception at the conference itself. An outdoor torchlight parade on 23rd Street drew 50,000 people to Madison Square Park. "… Thousands of veterans marched in formation… Choirs sang, fireworks lit the sky, and the seventh regimental band played 'Hail to the Chief.'"

In many cases, these patriotic marches were also performed by military style bands. During the Civil War, most volunteer military units had a band. After the war, many of these musicians continued their craft within their communities in the form of community bands, club bands, and the band of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Bands such as these often helped “lead the march” of visitors to the Garfield home during the front porch campaign. Performers from Mentor, other Ohio groups, and even groups from other states would lead the way and provided an enjoyable atmosphere and morale while everyone waited for the man of the hour.

Campaign Sheet Music Library of Congress

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Political parties used campaign songs to help spread particular points of view and to build solidarity around candidates and platforms. The music could be transposed from large scale ensemble pieces to individual performer notation. Sheet music for campaign songs were popular parlor entertainment as families would play and sing music together. Take a listen to one of Garfield’s campaign parlor songs (above) and compare it to his primary rival Winfield Scott Hancock’s similar military march style jingle (below). Which one do you like?

Campaign Sheet Music Library of Congress

The requested video is no longer available.

Where this belongs

• James A Garfield National Historic Site

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