John Ashton (music publisher)
Encyclopedia
John Ashton was a merchant and music publisher in Boston
, Massachusetts
, in the 19th century. He owned a "music & umbrella store" at no.197 Washington Street
which sold "all the new and fashionable music" ca.1819-1844. He manufactured and sold musical instruments; tuned pianos; and published and sold sheet music "of marches, waltzes, rondos, variations, quadrilles, gallopades, dances, &c. ... arranged for the band, orchestra, piano forte, guitar, flute, violin, organ &c." Among the composers represented in Ashton's stock: Comer, Joseph Haydn
, Knight, Paddon, Russell, Shaw, Webb, Charles Zeuner
. The firm "John Ashton & Co." was dissolved on January 1, 1844.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, in the 19th century. He owned a "music & umbrella store" at no.197 Washington Street
Washington Street (Boston)
Washington Street is a street originating in downtown Boston, Massachusetts that extends southwestward to the Massachusetts-Rhode Island state line. The majority of it was built as the Norfolk and Bristol Turnpike in the early nineteenth century...
which sold "all the new and fashionable music" ca.1819-1844. He manufactured and sold musical instruments; tuned pianos; and published and sold sheet music "of marches, waltzes, rondos, variations, quadrilles, gallopades, dances, &c. ... arranged for the band, orchestra, piano forte, guitar, flute, violin, organ &c." Among the composers represented in Ashton's stock: Comer, Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
, Knight, Paddon, Russell, Shaw, Webb, Charles Zeuner
Charles Zeuner
Charles Zeuner was an organist and composer active in Germany for a time, and then in Boston and Philadelphia in the United States.-Biography:...
. The firm "John Ashton & Co." was dissolved on January 1, 1844.
Further reading
- Russell Sanjek. American popular music and its business: the first 400 years; Vol.2: from 1790 to 1909. Oxford University Press, 1988
- Field Drums blog. "Pre-Civil War John Ashton Eagle Drum." 2009
Published by Ashton
Ashton published numerous sheet music titles. For example:- Nathan Adams. Ruins of Troy. 1826
- John Holloway. Winthrop's quick step. 1835. "As performed by the Boston Band. ... Dedicated to Capt. G.T. Winthrop, the officers and members of the Boston Independent Fusiliers"
- Charles Zeuner. New England Guards quick step. 1835
- George O. Farmer. Gen. Harrison's grand march. 1840. "Dedicated to the Boston & Roxbury Whig Associations"
External links
- WorldCat. John Ashton & Co.
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Double bass, 1823, instrument made by Abraham PrescottAbraham PrescottAbraham Prescott was a noted luthier, particularly of the double bass, who worked in Deerfield and Concord, New Hampshire during the 19th century. Prescott built his first double bass in 1819, building 207 over the course of his career....
(Deerfield, N.H.), sold by Ashton - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Flute, ca.1830, instrument manufactured/sold by Ashton
- Johns Hopkins University, Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music. Mechanicks Quick Step. 1835.
- Field Drums blog. "J. Ashton Eagle Drum." 2008