J. Lilian Vandevere

J. Lilian Vandevere (Jul 1885 – 10 May 1957) was an American author, composer, and music educator. She is best remembered today for her compositions for rhythm band and toy orchestra, and her work on the California State Series textbooks for music education.

Vandevere was born in Canton, Pennsylvania, to Clara H. and George W. Vandevere. She attended the University of Pennsylvania in 1914 and 1915. Vandevere taught kindergarten for 15 years, and became interested in using rhythm bands and toy orchestras to teach music to young children. By 1930, she had started publishing books, articles, and musical compositions.

Vandevere said that when students listen to music, they learn about "the preservation of individuality while contributing to the welfare of the group .. . . Let there be a toy orchestra in every kindergarten and primary grade, and let it include each and every child."

Articles/Short Story

"The Defiance of Abigail," McClure Newspaper Syndicate Sep 1916 "Musical Education Through the Toy Orchestra," American Childhood Oct 1928 "The Scope of the Toy Symphony Orchestra," School Music 30 No. 144 Mar-Apr 1929 Toy Symphony Orchestra: Its Organization and Training

Operettas

Bells of Beaujolais (dance directions by Vandevere; music by Louis Adolphe Coerne; text by David Gurden Stevens) Dragon of Wu Foo (text by David Gurden Stevens) Far Away Friends: an Operetta with Toy Orchestra Flower of Venezia (with Ronald Dundas) In Arcady (text by David Gurden Stevens) Peggy and the Pirate (with Geoffrey F. Morgan) Princess has a Birthday: a Toy Orchestra Operetta Purple Pigeon (with Gladys Pitcher; libretto by Irene Alexander) Tale of the Toys: a Christmas Operetta for Children (with Gladys Pitcher) Witch of Brocken (with Louis Gruenberg and Emil Ferdinand Malkowsky)

Piano

Animal Suite Autumn Gingerbread Man Here Comes the Train In Holland Pedro and Pepita: A Dialogue Play and Sing Book (40 pieces) Polish Holiday: Mazurka (six hands) Scouts Spain by Starlight Spanish Guitars Tango at Twilight Wooden Shoes

Rhythm Band

Allegro from Sonatine Opus 36 No. 1 (percussion instruments; Muzio Clementi arr. by Vandevere) Andante from the Surprise Symphony (percussion instruments and piano; Joseph Haydn arr. by Vandevere) Ballet Music and other excerpts (percussion instruments and piano; Franz Schubert arr. by Vandevere) Blossom, Rosebush Children's Piece (Felix Mendelssohn; arr. by Vandevere) Come Join the Dance! (Alphons Czibulka; arr. by Vandevere and Bertha Remick) For Lincoln's Birthday Handbells for Manhattan (handbells) (Hansel and Gretel Excerpts) (Engelbert Humperdinck; arr. by Vandevere) In Holland Stands a House: a Dutch Folk Tune Jump Jim Crow (Sigmund Romberg; arr. by Vandevere) La Czarine (Louis Ganne; arr. by Vandevere) Little Carnival: Polka Mazurka, opus 105 (Louis Streabbog pseud. Jean Louis Gobbaerts arr. by Vandevere) March (Alexis Hollaender arr. by Vandevere) March from the Nutcracker Suite (Peter Tchaikovsky; arr. by Vandevere) March Militaire (Franz Schubert; arr. by Vandevere) March of Fingall's Men, opus 39 no. 1 (Hugo Reinhold; arr. by Vandevere) New Rhythm Band Book On the Beat Polly Put the Kettle On: A Score for Rhythm Band with Pictures Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat: A Picture Score (with W. Keith Elliott) Soldier's March (percussion instruments and piano; Robert Schumann arr. by Vandevere) Sound Sketches: with Rhythm Instruments Swinging in the Lane There was a Crooked Man: A Picture Score (with W. Keith Elliott) Vandevere Holiday Series (at least 14 separate pieces for various holidays) Waltz from Poet and Peasant and other excerpts (Franz von Suppé; arr. by Vandevere)

Toy Orchestra

Album Leaf and other excerpts (Edvard Grieg; arr. by Vandevere) American Patriotic Medley Andante from Surprise Symphony (Joseph Haydn; arr. by Vandevere) From the Days of Washington General Bum-Bum (Ede Poldini; arr. by Vandevere) Holiday Hook Up (Christmas) Our Country St. Patrick's Day in the Morning (toy orchestra score with text) Toy Orchestra Travels in a Dozen Lands: Folk Tunes Toy Symphony Orchestra Whistler

Vocal

Ambitious Sailor Campfire (SAB) Come Spring (SA; with Gladys Pitcher) Gloria in Excelsis: A Christmas Carol (quartet with soprano solo; with Joseph Wagner) Hour of Dreaming (men's chorus; with Haydn M. Morgan; text by Reynaldo Hahn) In Empire Days (chorus; Henry Hadley arr. by Vandevere) Long Ago and Faraway Men of Harlech: Welsh Air (a capella TTBB; text by Theodor Koerner) Moonlight Serenade (SAB; text by Vandevere; melody by Riccardo Drigo; arr. by Harvey Worthington Loomis) My Spanish Guitar: College Song Nocturne: Andantino (SAB; Edwin H. Lemare arr. by Gladys Pitcher and Vandevere) Oh Cherish Love! (chorus; Franz Liszt arr. by Vandevere) Pickaninny Patter Pilgrims: Cantata (soprano, alto, optional bass; with John V. Dethier) Reverence and Praise: Moonlight Sonata (chorus; Ludwig van Beethoven arr. by Haydn M. Morgan and Vandevere) Throughout All the Year (chorus) Wind of the West Cantata (SSA; text by Vandevere; music by Roy Spaulding Stoughton) Youth at the Brook (SSA; Franz Schubert arr. by Gladys Pitcher and Vandevere)