References
Original Sources
Although original sources of the melodies were not documented by The Autophone Co., there are some possible assumptions.
Norwegian Hymns
Lindemans Koralbog
Within those cobs known as Norwegian Hymns
, there are two series of cobs which are found in ascending alphabetical order, namely #685 through #691 and #692 through #703. Since all of these titles may be found in the 1877 edition of Lindemans Koralbog, by Ludvig Mathias Lindeman
, and since the arrangements and title spellings are very similar, it is likely the original source. A later edition, with additions by Oluf Glasøe, was published in 1899. The existance of two alphabetical series suggests that they may have been added at two distinct times.
Lindemans Koralbog title page
| Lindemans Koralbog (1877) | or, roughly translated: |
Koralbog
indeholdende
de i Landstadts Salmebog forekommende melodier
ordnede og harmoniserede af Ludv. M. Lindeman
samt
et anhang af melodier
harmoniserede af komponister fra det 16de aarhundrede.
———
ved kongelig resolution af 15de december 1877 autoriseret til brug ved gudstjenesten i Rigets Kirker
———
Cappelens Forlag
Kristiana
1891
| Chorus Book
containing
the recent melodies for Landstadt's Hymnal
collected and harmonized by Ludv. M. Lindeman
and also
favorite melodies
harmonized by composers from the 16th century.
———
according to royal decree of December 15, 1877, authorized for use with the quality services in High Churches
———
Cappelens Printing1)
Oslo2)
1891
|
| Lindemans Koralbog (1899) | or, roughly translated: |
Koralbog,
indeholdende
Melodier til Salmebog for Lutherske Kristne i Amerika,
til
Landstadts, Synodens og andre Salmeböger,
udsatte for blandet Kor, Orgel eller Pianoforte.
———
Ludv. M. Lindemans Koralbog
med et
Tillæg
samlet og ordnet af Oluf Glasøe.
[Udgivet ester forlagskomiteens foranstaltning.]
Augsburg Publishing House,3)
Minneapolis, Minn.
1899. | Chorus Book,
containing
Music for Hymnal for Lutheran Christian [Church] in America,
for
Landstadts,4) Synodens5) and other Hymnals6),
to be used for mixed Choir, Organ or Pianoforte.
———
Ludv. M. Lindeman's Chorus Book
with an
Addition
collected and composed by Oluf Glasøe.
[Published according to standards committee permission.]
Augsburg Publishing House,
Minneapolis, Minn.
1899. |
Lindemans Koralbog hymn numbers
Lindemans
Koralbog | Cob title |
| #2 | #685 - Af Hoiheden oprunden er (From High there Flows—Norwegian) |
| #19 | #686 - Den store hvide Flok vi se (The Large, White Band we See—Norwegian) |
| #28 | #687 - Et lidet Barn saa Lystelig (A Little Child so Happy—Norwegian) |
| #80 | #688 - Jesu, dine dybe Vunder (Jesus, Thine Deep Wounds—Norwegian) |
| #82 | #689 - Jesu, din sode Forening at smage (Jesus, How Sweet to Commingle with You—Norwegian) |
| #143 | #690 - Op alle, som paa Jorden bo (Up All who Dwell on Earth—Norwegian) |
| #177 | #691 - Zions Vaegter, Haever Rosten (Watch of Zion, Lift Your Voice—Norwegian) |
| #1 | #692 - Af Dybsens Nod jeg raabe maa (I May call from the Depth of My Misery—Norwegian) |
| #5 | #693 - Ak, vidste du, Som gaar I Syndens (Oh! if you, who is Fettered with Sin, only Knew—Norwegian) |
| #22 | #694 - Du Hoje Fryd for rene Sjaele (Great Happiness for Clean Souls—Norwegian) |
| #31 | #695 - Far Verden Farvel (To the World Farewell—Norwegian) |
| #37 | #696 - Fryd dig, du Kristi Brud (Rejoice, You Bride of Christ—Norwegian) |
| #44 | #697 - Guds Godhed vil vi Prise (God's Goodness Will we Praise—Norwegian) |
| #49 | #698 - Herre, jeg har handlet ilde (Lord, I have done Wrong—Norwegian) |
| #57 | #699 - Hvad er det Godt i Jesu Arme (How good it is in the arms of Jesus—Norwegian) |
| #58 | #700 - Hvad kan os komme til for nod (No Harm can come to us—Norwegian) |
| #66 | #701 - I Jesu Navn skal al vor Gjerning ske (All our Works shall be in the Name of Jesus—Norwegian) |
| #90 | #702 - Kirken den er et gammelt Hus (The Church is an Old house—Norwegian) |
| #135 | #703 - O Helligaand, du skat saa skjon (Oh Holy Ghost, You Precious Treasure—Norwegian) |
Comparison: Af Hoiheden oprunden er
Comparison: Af Dybsens Nod jeg raabe maa
Hendersons Koralbog
Several Norwegian Hymns are not listed in the series above, namely #666 through #671. Since all of these titles may be found in the 1865 edition of Hendersons Koralbog, by Knud Henderson (1835-after 1924), and since the arrangements and title spellings are very similar, it is likely the original source.
Hendersons Koralbog title page
| Hendersons Koralbog (1887) | or, roughly translated: |
Koral-bog,
indeholdende
Melodier for Salmer og aandelige Sange,
tilligemed et Udvalg af “Anthems,”
samt
Musikskole som Veiledning til Sangøvelser.
Envende betndelig forøgede Udgave
ved
Knud Henderson,
Organist.
———
Chicago
Scandinaven's Boghandel,
1887 | Chorus Book,
containing
Melodies for Songs and Sacred Song,
together with a Selection of “Anthems,”
plus
Schoolmusic as Guidance for Song Instruction.
Single complete enlarged Edition
by
Knud Henderson,
Organist.
———
Chicago
Scandinaven's Bookshop
1887 |
| Hendersons Koralbog (1918) | or, roughly translated: |
Koralbog
indeholdende
Melodier for Salmer og aandelige Sange tilligemed et Udvalg af “Anthems”
samt
Musikskole som Veiledning til Sangøvelser
———
… Med Register over …
Melodier til Salmer i den nye Landstads Salmebog samt den norske Synodes
Tolvte Udgave
Knud Henderson
Organist
Chicago
John Anderson Publishing Co.
Eiere Scandinavens Boghandel
1918 | Chorus Book
containing
Melodies for Songs and Sacred Song together with a Selection of “Anthems”
plus
Schoolmusic as Guidance for Song Instruction
———
… Along With an Index over …
Melodies to Songs in the new Landstads Hymnal7) and the Norwegian Synods8)
Twelfth Edition
Knud Henderson
Organist
Chicago
John Anderson Publishing Co.
Eiere Scandinavens Bookshop
1918 |
Hendersons Koralbog hymn numbers
Comparison: Lover den Herre, den mægtige Konge
Swedish Hymns
1819 Års Koralbok
Within those cobs known as Swedish Hymns
, there are two series of cobs, namely #74 through #77 and #94 through #98. Since all of these titles may be found in the 1819 Års Koralbok (companion to the Svenska Psalm-Boken Af År 1819, otherwise known as the Wallinska psalmboken), the official hymn book in use until the 1937 edition, and since the arrangements are very similar, it is likely the original source. The existance of two series suggests that they may have been added at two distinct times.
1819 Års Koralbok title page
| 1819 Års Koralbok | or, roughly translated: |
Svenska
Psalm-Boken
Af År 1819
Öfversedd af J.H. Thomander och P. Wieselgren.
Förenad Med
Koral-Bok
Och
Svenska messan med körer för sopran-, alt-,
tenor- och basröster.
———
Rock Island Ill.
Augusta Book Concern | Swedish
Hymnal
Of Year 1819
Edited by J.H. Thomander and P. Wieselgren.
Joined With
Chorus Book
And
Swedish music with choral parts for soprano, alto,
tenor and bass voices.
———
Rock Island Ill.
Augusta Book Concern |
1819 Års Koralbok hymn numbers
Comparison: Jag tackar dig, min högste Gud
There are great differences between the titles of the cobs and the song lyrics. In some cases, it appears that the cob titles were kept specifically vague, perhaps to allow association with multiple lyrics. For instance #74 - Lofsang (Song of Praise—Swedish) is commonly sung as “Jag tackar dig, min högste Gud!”, but there are also several other popular lyrics. Where a specific text is associated, the cob name is often shorter and more casual. For instance #94 - Jesus, Min Bäste Vän (Jesus, My Best Friend—Swedish) is really “Jesus Är Min Vän Den Bäste” (lit. trans. “Jesus is my friend, the best”). Or #95 - Jesus, Nadens Källa (Jesus, Well of Mercy—Swedish) is the title for the song which begins: “O Jesu Krist, du nådens brunn, Du livets rena källa!” (lit. trans. “O Jesus Christ, you pardon [the “mercy” of the cob title] well, you clean source [the “well” of the cob title] of life”).
Cob titles compared to song lyrics:
| Cob title | Song lyrics | literal translation |
| #74 - Lofsang (Song of Praise—Swedish) | Jag tackar dig, min högste Gud! | I thank you, my highest God! |
| #75 - Jul-Psalm (Christmas Hymn—Swedish) | Ljus av ljus, o morgonstjärna | Light by light, O Morning Star |
| #76 - Pask-Psalm (Easter Hymn—Swedish) | Jesus, djupa såren dina | Jesus, Your deep wounds |
| #77 - Midsommar-sang (Midsummer Hymn—Swedish) | Gud låter sina trogna här | God will keep the faithful |
| #94 - Jesus, Min Bäste Vän (Jesus, My Best Friend—Swedish) | Jesus Är Min Vän Den Bäste | Jesus is my friend, the best |
| #95 - Jesus, Nadens Källa (Jesus, Well of Mercy—Swedish) | O Jesu Krist, du nådens brunn | O Jesus Christ, you pardon [mercy] well, you clean source [well] of life |
| #96 - Min Kärlek Star till Gud Allena (My Love to God Alone—Swedish) | Allena Gud i himmelrik | God alone in heaven |
| #97 - Gläds, O Kristi Brud (Rejoice, O Bride of Christ—Swedish) | Gläd Dig, Du Kristi Brud | Rejoice, you bride of Christ |
| #98 - Paska är Kommen (Easter is Coming—Swedish) | Nu kommen är vår påskafröjd | Now comes our Easter joy |
German Hymns With English Title Translations
There is a sequence of popular hymns of German origin which are curiously listed under the translations of their titles. Surely few persons would have known them by these names! Perhaps the titles were taken from a single unknown source? Many were popularized by Bach, and Max Reger (1873-1916) included all of these songs in 1914 his Dreissig kleine Choralvorspiele zu den gebräuchlichsten Chorälen (30 Short Chorale Preludes).
Hymns
One popular hymnal of the era was Gospel Hymns Consolidated, Embracing Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4, Without Duplicates, for use in gospel meetings and other religious services — 1883, Biglow & Main, and John Church & Co. Due a discrepancy between the title and content of #750 - Jesus Loves Me, as associated with this hymnal, it appears to have been the original source for at least that one melody. (See the note on #750 - Jesus Loves Me)
Composers
Period Advertisements
Most advertisements and brochures list only the titles of cobs, but these list some names of composers (or arrangers) along with the titles.
Grand Roller Organ, A Musical Wonder
An undated trifold brochure listing only the Grand Roller Organ and its music. Sacred titles are listed through #3014 and popular titles through #2140.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. 1900 catalog
Grand Roller Organ, A Musical Wonder — an abridged list of popular titles through #3014 and a list of sacred titles through #2140. (This appears to be based on the same information as the more complete list above.)
World Manufacturing Co. brochure
Music Catalogue — a single sheet brochure, the back listing sacred titles through #54 and popular titles through #230.
Composers, Lyricists and Lyrics
Sheet Music Collections
The following references are excellent online sources of information:
Other
Period Advertisements
Although hundreds of advertisements and brochures exist, these have large tune lists or significant information:
Standard Manufacturing Co. brochure
The Wonderful Home Music Box — a large, undated single sheet brochure, printed both sides, with titles arranged into categories.
Christian Herald brochure
A Perfect Musical Instrument … Using Music Rollers Made of Wood and Steel — a large, undated single sheet brochure, printed both sides, with titles arranged into categories.
A Perfect Musical Instrument
… Using Music Rollers Made of Wood and Steel — an undated single sheet brochure, printed both sides, with titles arranged numerically. Found as both a Standard Organ Co. brochure, and as an unattributed brochure.
Catalogue and Price List of Roller Organs and Music
A small, undated 12-page brochure, advertising the Gem and Concert, with titles arranged alphabetically.