1890s “Chariot Race or Ben Hur March” – Spectacular E. T. Paull Chromolithograph
A visually striking late-nineteenth-century sheet-music edition of E. T. Paull’s celebrated Chariot Race, or Ben Hur March, inspired by the climactic chariot race in General Lew Wallace’s literary masterpiece Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.
The magnificent multicolor cover depicts Judah Ben-Hur and Messala racing four-horse chariots through a crowded Roman arena. Fallen horses and drivers heighten the drama, while classical architecture, an obelisk and Egyptian-style profile portraits complete the composition. Printed prominently above the title is the dedication, “Respectfully Inscribed to Gen. Lew Wallace, Author of ‘Ben Hur.’” The cover also announces that the march was “Played by Sousa’s Band.”
Published originally in 1894, The Chariot Race was E. T. Paull’s first major composition and launched his highly successful publishing career. Paull became renowned for pairing energetic descriptive music with some of the most elaborate chromolithographic covers produced during America’s golden age of illustrated sheet music. The cover was lithographed by the noted Richmond firm of A. Hoen & Co.
The interior contains the complete piano score, beginning with a short passage adapted from Wallace’s description of the race. Paull marked the music with dramatic instructions including con spirito, brillante and tutta forza, creating a musical interpretation of the speed, danger and excitement of the famous scene.
Although the cover and original copyright date are 1894, the back-cover advertisement is copyrighted 1898. This copy is therefore best identified as an early circa 1898–1899 printing from the original plates rather than a confirmed first printing.
Complete with pictorial cover, seven numbered pages of music and publisher’s advertisements. Fair condition, with age toning, edge wear, chips, creases, marginal tears, spine separation and old translucent tape reinforcement. Several tears enter the printed pages slightly, but the musical notation remains substantially complete. The remarkable color cover remains bold and highly suitable for display.
A desirable crossover piece for collectors of Lew Wallace, Ben-Hur, John Philip Sousa, American popular music and nineteenth-century chromolithography.
A visually striking late-nineteenth-century sheet-music edition of E. T. Paull’s celebrated Chariot Race, or Ben Hur March, inspired by the climactic chariot race in General Lew Wallace’s literary masterpiece Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.
The magnificent multicolor cover depicts Judah Ben-Hur and Messala racing four-horse chariots through a crowded Roman arena. Fallen horses and drivers heighten the drama, while classical architecture, an obelisk and Egyptian-style profile portraits complete the composition. Printed prominently above the title is the dedication, “Respectfully Inscribed to Gen. Lew Wallace, Author of ‘Ben Hur.’” The cover also announces that the march was “Played by Sousa’s Band.”
Published originally in 1894, The Chariot Race was E. T. Paull’s first major composition and launched his highly successful publishing career. Paull became renowned for pairing energetic descriptive music with some of the most elaborate chromolithographic covers produced during America’s golden age of illustrated sheet music. The cover was lithographed by the noted Richmond firm of A. Hoen & Co.
The interior contains the complete piano score, beginning with a short passage adapted from Wallace’s description of the race. Paull marked the music with dramatic instructions including con spirito, brillante and tutta forza, creating a musical interpretation of the speed, danger and excitement of the famous scene.
Although the cover and original copyright date are 1894, the back-cover advertisement is copyrighted 1898. This copy is therefore best identified as an early circa 1898–1899 printing from the original plates rather than a confirmed first printing.
Complete with pictorial cover, seven numbered pages of music and publisher’s advertisements. Fair condition, with age toning, edge wear, chips, creases, marginal tears, spine separation and old translucent tape reinforcement. Several tears enter the printed pages slightly, but the musical notation remains substantially complete. The remarkable color cover remains bold and highly suitable for display.
A desirable crossover piece for collectors of Lew Wallace, Ben-Hur, John Philip Sousa, American popular music and nineteenth-century chromolithography.
