'enoch Arden" 1865 Song Based On Tennyson Poem 1864: Sep. Winner Comp/pub: Phila For Sale

---

"Farewell Song of ENOCH ARDEN (or) I"LL SAIL THE SEAS OVER"

Words and Music by Sep. Winner; published by Sep. Winner & Co., Philadelphia 1865

If I have the date correctly, Tennyson's poem "Enoch Arden" was published in 1864, so Mr. Winner wasted no time in writing & publishing this song in 1865. The lyric, written in the first person, is Arden's farewell to his wife Annie: "...I'll sail the seas over, I'll cross the wide ocean, I'll sail the seas over for thee..." Readers of the famous poem know, of course, that he is shipwrecked and abandoned on a desert isle, and that he won't return for years. When he finally does -- Annie has re-married and forgotten him. I found it interesting how often the story has been told and retold -- e.g., a 1911 D.W. Griffith film, an Agatha Christy novel, and just a few years ago the Tom Hanks movie "Castaway."

The sheetmusic is scored in the key of G-major, 6/8 time, with a 16-bar verse and 8-bar refrain. The piano accompaniment varies between arpeggiated figures, a few measures doubing the melody in 3rds, then in the chorus, rhymic chording only. The melody of the chorus is presented at the "Air" in a 4-staff quartet arrangement (SATB), and two more sets of lyrics are printed as text, at the bottom of page three.

The copy offered was obviously once contained in a sewn-bound volume – thus, about a quarter-of-an-inch has been trimmed off the spine, the pages then carefully sealed in transparent tape (inside). Other than a minimal browning of the sheet edges and a few light stains, there are no blemishes or repairs.

Max Morath

This item has been shown 11 times. 'enoch Arden" 1865 Song Based On Tennyson Poem 1864: Sep. Winner Comp/pub: Phila: $20