The American Heritage Songs Project
#16 Columbia
the Gem of the Ocean
Edward Moran's 1886 painting, The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World
Shaw, D. T., Columbia Stellar Quartette & Dwight, T. (1914) Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean. [Audio] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-650041/.
Timothy Dwight was an ancestor of the famous president of Yale College. Timothy Dwight went to the war, and afterwards himself became president of Yale. He died in 1817.
Sheet Music & Lesson Plan
with additional resources
In Progress
Sheet Music
Lesson Plan
F Major (Recommended Key for young voices)
Unison or 2 part with Piano Accompaniment
Video: "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" Arr. T. Beveridge. Washington Men's Camerata.
SATB in G Major
Lead Sheet in F Major
In the works!
Washington Men's Camerata - topic. (2014, September 26). Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean (arr. T. Beveridge). [Video]. YouTube.https://youtu.be/qdfkyLD7fes?si=6ToOWzsS2TRV_cTM
Video: Robert Shaw Chorale performance from the album, Battle Cry of Freedom.
71superbee3. (2013, January 14). Columbia Gem of the Ocean. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/8wIDXclKtGQ?si=h-Aw0I6_GRnaMSwx
Video: Victor recording of Mixed Chorus made by the National Education Association in 1914.
danieljbmitchell. (2018, July 4). Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean / America (My Country 'Tis of Thee), 1914 Recordings.
F Major recommended for young singers
Song Background
In Progress
Shaw, D. T. C. & Becket, T. À. (1862) Columbia the Gem of the Ocean. [Philadelphia, PA: Lee & Walker] [Notated Music] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2023871336/.