Jonathan E. Spilman
Jonathan Edwards Spilman (15 April 1812 – 23 May 1896) was a Kentucky lawyer, minister, and composer. Jonathan Spilman was born in Greenville, Kentucky to Benjamin Spilman and Nancy (Rice) Spilman, and graduated from Illinois College in 1835. While at Transylvania Law School, 1837, he wrote the music for Robert Burns' "Flow gently, sweet Afton", the best remembered of his seven melodies. An adaptation of this music was used for "We Hail Thee Carolina", the alma mater of the University of South Carolina. He was married to Mary V.J. Menefee, who died prematurely in 1843. Two years later, on 10 April 1845, he married Eliza Sarah Taylor (1822–1866), a niece of U.S. President Zachary Taylor. To them were born ten children, of whom six survived: Charles, Louise, William, Byrd, Clara, and Lewis. His wife Eliza died on 10 August 1866, as the result of a fire aboard the steamboat "Bostona No. 3" in Maysville, Kentucky. Working as a lawyer for 18 years, he became a Presbyterian minister at the age of 46. A Historical Marker was erected in the city of Greenville in his memory. |
Birth and Death Data: Born April 15, 1812 (Greenville), Died May 23, 1896 (Flora)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1947
Roles Represented in DAHR: composer
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | B-8031 | 10-in. | 6/7/1909 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Herbert Witherspoon | Bass vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Victor | B-13455 | 10-in. | 6/19/1913 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Reed Miller | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Victor | B-18564 | 10-in. | 10/19/1916 | Drink to me only with thine eyes | Victor Band | Band | composer | |
Victor | B-18973 | 10-in. | 1/9/1917 | Flow gently sweet Afton | Olive Kline | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Victor | B-30402 | 10-in. | 6/23/1924 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Alma Gluck | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Victor | BVE-36115 | 10-in. | 8/10/1926 | Flow gently sweet Afton | The De Reszke Singers | Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied (takes 5-9); with piano (takes 1-4) | composer | |
Victor | BVE-39529 | 10-in. | 7/14/1927 | Accompaniment for singing, no. 9 | Victor Band | Band | composer | |
Victor | BVE-47805 | 10-in. | 10/4/1928 | Flow gently sweet Afton | Lambert Murphy | Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Victor | D7VB-1592 | 10-in. | 8/27/1947 | Joy to the world! | Dick Leibert | Organ solo | composer | |
Columbia | 19490 | 10-in. | 7/27/1911 | Afton water | Harold Jarvis | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Columbia | 38544 | 10-in. | 1/8/1913 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Sue Harvard | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Columbia | 79508 | 10-in. | 11/5/1920 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Oscar Seagle | Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Columbia | 30509 | 12-in. | between January and May 14, 1910 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Mrs. A. Stewart Holt | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Columbia | 37322 | 12-in. | 6/5/1915 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Corinne Rider-Kelsey | Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Columbia | W140661 | 10-in. | 6/9/1925 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Barbara Maurel | Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
OKeh | [OK cat 1078-A] | 10-in. | approximately 1918 | Flow gently sweet Afton | Reed Miller | Male vocal solo | composer | |
Brunswick | 1253 | 12-in. | approximately Aug. 1917 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Marie Morrisey | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Brunswick | E27418 | 10-in. | 4/25/1928 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Marie Morrisey | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Edison | 4766 | 10-in. | 6/5/1916 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Thomas Chalmers | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Edison | 5244 | 10-in. | 12/28/1916 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Marie Morrisey | Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Edison | 5581 | 10-in. | 5/23/1917 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Christine Miller | Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Edison | 8211 | 10-in. | 9/12/1921 | Flow gently, sweet Afton | Robert Trucksess | Guitar solo | composer |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Spilman, Jonathan E.," accessed November 17, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/116905.
Spilman, Jonathan E.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 17, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/116905.
"Spilman, Jonathan E.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 17 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Spilman, Jonathan E., 1812-1896 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr2003014099
Wikidata: Jonathan E. Spilman - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q3183357
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/61488018
MusicBrainz: Jonathan E. Spilman - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/bb8112ad-b75e-4b6c-95f1-2a3faab4cedd
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