De Koven: Oh, Promise Me
Koven's Music, Clement Scott's Lyrics, Wedding Song Inspires Lovers
Oct 6, 2007
"Oh, Promise Me" has remained popular as a wedding song. The music was composed by American composer and music critic Reginald De Koven. It was taken from his comic operetta Robin Hood. The lyrics were written by English theatre critic Clement Scott.
- Song: Oh, Promise Me (that someday you and I will take our love together to some sky)
- Composer: Reginald DeKoven (1859-1920), based on his comic operetta Robin Hood premiered 1890.
- Words / Lyrics: Clement W. Scott (1841-1904).
Robin Hood premiered on June 9, 1890 in Chicago and on September 20 of the same year, in London. "Oh Promise Me" and few other parlor songs like "I Love You Truly," "In the Gloaming" and "Home Sweet Home" are still sung or heard in homes among friends and family.
"Oh Promise Me" is often sung at weddings where the song has become a sentimental favorite. The beautiful melody is so haunting and fitting for the solemnity of a couple exchanging vows to "hold and to cherish" for as long as they both shall live.
De Koven was supposed to have borrowed the song's tune from "Musica Proibita" an Italian piece. This song, written in 1889, was not originally included in Robin Hood and the reason for its inclusion was because the contralto, playing Alan-a-Dale, needed a song that would properly display her voice, otherwise, she threatened to walk out on the performance. To avoid untoward repercussions, De Koven apparently grabbed a copy of "Oh Promise Me" and gave it to her. The rest is history, "Oh Promise Me" became an overnight sensation.
Musical Training and Criticism Career
American music critic and composer Reginald De Koven (1859-1920) was born in Middletown, Connecticut. He was a graduate of Oxford and musically trained in Stuttgart, Vienna, Florence and Paris, where he studied piano and composition with operatic composers such as Von Suppé, Delibes, Genée and Vanuccini.
At 23, he returned to the US and worked as a music critic with prominent American publishing companies including Harper's Weekly, The New York World and the Chicago Evening Post. He founded and conducted the Washington Symphony Orchestra in 1902.
Composer, Writer and Conductor
Reginald De Koven was also a writer and a conductor. He composed hundreds of songs, orchestral works, sonatas, ballets and two operas, most of which are forgotten. It is Robin Hood, his operetta set in Europe that dominated De Koven's popularity. His music draws on both traditional opera as well as folk melodies.
De Koven's first operatic venture was "Cupid, Hymen & Co.", which was never performed publicly, but the next one "Begum," was highly successful, encouraging him to return to Europe and strengthen his operatic composition under Richard Genee in Vienna. While with Genee, he composed "Don Quixote."
De Koven's Robin Hood was referred to as the greatest American opera in his time. None of his other operas became as popular as Robin Hood.
De Koven's Major Songs
- Oh, Promise Me
- A Winter's Lullaby
- Cradle Song
- Indian Love Song
- Little Doris
- My Love Will Come Today
- Persian Love Song
Other Operettas by Reginald de Koven
- The Fencing Master 1892
- The Algerian 1893
- Rob Roy 1896
- The Highwayman 1897
- Maid Marian 1901
Other Best-Loved Parlor Songs:
- Beautiful Dreamer, Stephen C. Foster
- Home, Sweet Home, John Howard Payne, (lyrics/words), Sir Henry Rowley Bishop (music)
- I Love You Truly, Carrie Jacobs-Bond
- In the Gloaming, Meta Orred (words), Annie Fortescue Harrison (music)
- Love's Old Sweet Song, C. Clifton Bingham (words), J.L. Molloy (music)
- Silver Threads Among the Gold
- When I Grow Too Old To Dream
Sources:
"Oh, Promise Me" recorded circa 1900, on Edison Bell Indestructible Record, Sung by Harry McDonough
The World's Best Music, various editors, The Oceanic Publishing Company (1907)
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