[CALIFORNIA] [Garden, Mary. (1874–1967)] Silverwood, Francis Beatty. (1863–1924) & Frankenstein, Abraham Franklin. (1873–1934)
I Love You California - Original Sheet Music
[Los Angeles?]: F. B. Silverwood. c. 1913. Fifteenth Edition. Original sheet music to what would later become the state song of California, the cover featuring a bold image of soprano Mary Garden, who popularized the song. The back cover shows a facsimile of a letter from Garden to the lyricist: "Dear Mr. Silverwood: I am proud to be the first to sing your most beautiful song in public..." 4 pp. Area of foxing to the front cover, and some light edge wear and toning; overall fine. 10.75 x 14 inches (27.2 x 35.3 cm)."I Love You, California" (1913) is the official state song of California. The lyrics were written by Francis Beatty Silverwood, a Los Angeles clothier, and the words were subsequently put to music by Abraham Franklin Frankenstein, then conductor of the Orpheum Theatre Orchestra. Later in 1913, the song was introduced by opera star Mary Garden, associated with the Chicago Grand Opera at that time. "Mary Garden stopped Grand Opera to make this California song famous," read the notices, virtually ensuring the popularity and success of the new song. In 1951, the State Legislature passed a resolution designating it as California's state song. (15473)
Printed Music Song Opera