Herrman S. Saroni

Herrman S. Saroni (February 1824 – August 29, 1900) was a German-born American composer, author, and publisher. Title page of Saroni's 1855 work "The Lover's Leap Galop" from the Library of Congress.

Biography Saroni was born in Bernburg, Kingdom of Prussia, and referred to himself as a student of Mendelssohn.

In 1844 he applied for naturalization in New York City, where he later edited Saroni's Musical Times between 1849 and 1851. He organized a successful series of chamber music recitals during those years, featuring performers such as Theodore Eisfeld, Julia Northall, and Otto Dresel. Through critical writing and translating, he helped to spread German pedagogical approaches to American music education and appreciation.

After 1851 he moved to Georgia, where he founded the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (1855). He later lived in Alabama, but eventually settled in Marietta, Ohio, where he taught piano at Marietta College.

A “Brief Account of His Life and Work” in the August 30, 1900, Marietta Daily Leader, mentioned that he “made and lost several large fortunes” in America, “but in his later years he was in comfortable circumstances.” “Those who knew him best, knew him as a kind-hearted, well-educated and refined man.” He died in Marietta, Ohio.

Music Saroni composed parlor songs in English. These songs "demonstrate a shift away from bel canto traditions towards a lied-influenced style in this genre."

Music

Larger works Centennial Ode (1888) Lily-Bell, the Culprit Fay, operetta (John Church Co.), 1868 The Twin Sisters, operetta (Oliver Ditson), 1860

Piano music The Atlantic: Grande Valse Brilliante (Firth, Hall & Pond), 1847 Autumn: Grand Waltz(Firth, Hall & Pond), 1847 La Belle Georgianne: Grand Waltz (Horace Waters), 1855 Bohemian Grand March (John F. Nunns), c. 1845 Comorn Grand March (Samuel C. Jollie), 1850 The Ivy Green Waltz (Firth, Hall & Pond), 1844 La Vivandiere: Grand Valse (Stayman & Bros.), 1851 Mount's Quick Step: as performed by the New York brass band (Millet's Music Saloon), 1844 North Carolina Grand March (William Venderbeek), 1846 Twilight Waltz (F. W. Ratcliffe), 1851 Un Souvenir, for the Piano. Op. 185 (Oliver Ditson), 1899 Summer Blossom Polka (G. W. Brainard & Co.), 1851 Vive la Republique (arr. of La Marseillaise) (William Hall), 1848 The Wild Brier Polka (G.W. Brainard), 1851

Vocal music The Awakening of Italy (Italian text by G.F. Secchi di Casali) (William Hall), 1848 Bingen on the Rhine (G. P. Reed), 1847 Full Many Years Ago (text by Rev. Sidney Dyer) (G. W. Brainard & Co.), 1851 The Gipsy in the North (Eugene Liés), (Firth, Hall, & Pond), 1846 The Heart's Despair, 1848 I Wandered in the Woodlands (William Hall), 1849 Let Me Perish in the Early Spring (1845) Memory of the Past (J. L. Cummings), 1847 Music From Afar (vocal duet) (Firth, Hall, & Pond), 1846 My Cynosure (John F. Nunns), 1845 O'er the Wildly Heaving Sea (Firth Hall & Pond), 1845 Oh! my Heart is Weary Waiting (Summer Longings) (Edward L. Walker), 1849 Our Childhood's Home (text by Henry John Sharpe) (William Hall), 1848 The Pequote Brave (1844) Slumber, Infant! Slumber (Duet for two sopranos) (John F. Nunns), 1845 Speed Away: a song founded on a beautiful Indian superstition (Firth, Hall & Pond), 1847 The Saw Mill (Die Säge Mühle) (William Hall), 1848 They Tell Me Thou art Gay Once More! (P. K. Weizel), 1848 Thou'rt Weeping Still (Peters, Webb & Co.), 1851 Winter Flowers (1850)

Footnotes