The Music of Newport
Newport’s musical heritage spans centuries, from church music and military marches to amateur recitals and orchestral works performed in the city’s grand Gilded Age mansions. This page highlights selected pieces from our archives.
Claire de Lune Waltz
Michael Strange (Blanche Oelrichs)
1921
Amaryllis
Charles Phillips Scott
1898
Down in Dear Old Newport Town
John E. Mullaly
1913
On the Cliff at Newport
C.A. Boyd and J.W. Meath
1870
How The Gilded Age Orchestra of Newport Brings the Music Back to Life
The Gilded Age Orchestra of Newport performs historic works drawn from the city’s musical past. Their concerts revive the sounds once heard in Newport’s mansions, parks, and theatres, bringing these long‑silent compositions back to life for modern audiences.
Why This Music Matters
Newport’s musical heritage is a record of the city’s people, cultures, and lived experiences. The music represented in our archives, from enslaved formerly enslaved composers to Army and Navy bandmasters, community performers, and professional artists, each reveal a different chapter of Newport’s history. The music carries stories of resilience, service, celebration, and creativity. By preserving these works, we safeguard the sounds that shaped Newport’s identity and ensure that future generations can hear, study, and understand the city through the music it once produced.