Illustrated Song Sheets

Illustrated Song Sheets

This website was inspired as a result of my work on American Indians as Depicted on Song Sheets Since 1833, the first book in a planned series of books on sheet music illustration or what I call illustrated song sheets. I prefer the term “song sheet” that refers to popular songs issued on sheet music. The broader term “sheet music” encompasses popular and classical compositions, with and without cover illustration. This website is intended to serve as a song sheet resource by providing visitors with the following: (1) a comprehensive bibliography of all books featuring song sheet illustrations, (2) links to the holdings of song sheets by museums and libraries, (3) highlights of recent books published on song sheet illustration, and (4) a means by which you may submit new and informative information and song sheet scans for the benefit of all.

Our focus is on individual song sheets and, as such, we do not cover song folios, song collections and songsters that have been popular for over one hundred years. Folios continue to be published today, often with a focus on either a particular performer’s “greatest hits” or a theme such as Academy Award winners or favorite Christmas songs.

The illustrations or depictions on song sheet covers have always had a commercial purpose, i.e., to help sell vocal and instrumental musical compositions. Though numerous such illustrations are pedestrian, some stand out and can be appreciated for their artistry. The artistic craftsmanship exhibited on song sheet covers developed first with the use of lithographic techniques in the nineteenth century, followed by color illustration and then photography.