Sheet music:House of Flowers

Long before contemporary personal music downloads, and beginning before radio and sound recording, sheet music allowed people to share popular tunes and enjoy songs and singers. Pianos graced the parlors of many hard-working American households and often became the center of family musical play. While early printed music focused on religious songs and classical solos, popular tunes soon became more commonplace. The growth of musical theater and the names of singers associated with it as well as the invention of phonographs and radio, made home musicians more eager to play a version of songs they'd heard. Publicists hurried to produce songs varying from schmaltzy to comic to serious, in hopes of getting a hit. And the printing industry added fantastic cover images to tempt musical devotees. A picture of a pretty girl or a romantic starlit scene hinted at luscious lyrics and moving melodies.