The U.S. Library of Congress Music Division has announced the acquisition of a unique songbook from the U.S. Exploring Expedition (1840-1842), offering a rare glimpse into shipboard musical culture and American exploration history.
The volume contains nine compositions, primarily sea shanties, written by sailors during the four-year global circumnavigation led by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes. This expedition is renowned for confirming the existence of Antarctica and charting vast areas of the Pacific Ocean and South Seas, primarily to aid American traders and foster scientific discovery.
James Dwight Dana, a geologist on the expedition, composed and arranged the music, despite having no formal training in harmony. He explained his involvement on the title page, saying, "The Pieces in this volume arranged to words by Dr. J.C. Palmer were composed at the urgent request of Dr. P to set his verses to music, while we were both in the Wilkes U.S. Exploring Expedition. “The Virgin’s Cradle Hymn, wh[ich] had been performed before, pleased him, and was the occasion of his asking for more. I played the guitar (and only the flute beside) and had never given my attention to the science of harmony. But for the earnest prompting of our Surgeon I should have employed much time more profitably in other ways. J.D.D."
Dr. James Croxall Palmer, the expedition's surgeon and an accomplished poet, penned some of the lyrics. He later became Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy and published the epic poem "Thulia: A Tale of the Antarctic," inspired by his travels.
The manuscript itself is notable for its neat notation and diverse lyrical inspirations, including Bible verses and original poetry. It also features transcriptions and translations of traditional music from the Chinook and Chehalis tribes, cited as inspiration for the shanty "My Tent beside the Oregon."
One significant piece, "The Old Peacock," is named after the ship from which Antarctica was first sighted. The songbook, cataloged as ML96 .D26 no. 1 Case, is now available for examination in the Music Division’s Performing Arts Reading Room, providing invaluable insight into a pivotal moment in American history.