The quintessential Benjamin Franklin is bifocaled and armed with kite and dangling key. But the famed inventor and political figure also can be seen (or heard) through the musical notes of his favorite pub song, love song, or aria.
Thanks to Julianne Baird, a professor of music at Rutgers-Camden, and David and Ginger Hildebrand, performers specializing in educational music programs, Franklin enthusiasts can now revel in the “Music in the Life of Benjamin Franklin,” a CD and music book showcasing the range of compositions enjoyed by the famous Philadelphian. Baird, a recording artist and soloist recognized for her work in 18th-century music, along with the Hildebrands, are featured on the CD.
Franklin’s appetite for all kinds of music reflected his affinity for high culture and everyday appeal. “He definitely was tuned into the power of music and how it cuts across all social sectors," Baird said. “Franklin could appreciate cerebral or art music as well as music of the heart.”
The CD showcases operatic pieces from well-known composers, such as George Frideric Handel and Christoph Willibald Gluck, along with common drinking songs popular during Franklin’s day. Also included are songs purportedly written by Franklin, including “The Downfal of Pyracy,” about Blackbeard’s capture, and “I Sing My Plain Country Joan,” which honored Franklin’s wife, Deborah. It also features period reproduction instruments, including Franklin’s invention, “the glass armonica” – wine glasses turned into a kind of keyboard instrument that emitted a sweet sound once popular at European weddings and funerals.
Franklin’s musical tastes can be traced to his upbringing in a large musical family in the Puritan city of Boston, where the young Ben was ridiculed for splurging on a whistle for which he paid four times its value. Franklin’s craving for music that rang true transcended cost, and continued into his adulthood in Philadelphia, where the Quakers considered music “a waste of God’s time.”
Undeterred by social pressure, Franklin nurtured his passion for melody with a collection of rare instruments; home performances with his daughter, Sally; and impromptu karaoke at his favorite tavern. While Franklin’s ear for high art was cultivated in his time spent in European cities like London and Paris, Baird notes that Franklin was moved most by the timeless tunes of the common people.
Published through the Colonial Music Institute, “Music in the Life of Benjamin Franklin” can be purchased by visiting www.colonialmusic.org.