Charles Wesley (1707–1788), a co-founder of Methodism alongside his brother John Wesley, was one of the most prolific hymn writers of the 18th century. Known for his theological depth and poetic finesse, Wesley penned over 6,000 hymns during his lifetime. Among his well-known works is the Easter hymn “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise,” which celebrates the ascension of Christ.

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In honor of St. Patrick’s day, this month’s tab is an arrangement of the traditional Irish ballad “Teddy O’Neill”. The words were written by the Victorian poet Eliza Cook in 1840 in response to the emigration wave that saw many Irish people leaving their homeland during and after the Great Famine. It became a favorite among music hall performers.

James Gaspard Maeder was a musician, composer, and director in the Irish American community in Boston. He was married to the singer and actress Clara Fisher, and wrote much of the music for the various stage productions she was involved in. He found the words to “Teddy O’Neill” in a book of Eliza Cook’s poetry, and decided to write music for it to better suit his wife’s vocal range.

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In honor of both Valentine's Day and Black History Month, this month's free tab is an arrangement of the 20th century song “Old Fashioned Love”, composed by James P. Johnson in 1925. He originally wrote it to be included in the Broadway musical “Runnin’ Wild”.  Another of his compositions from that same production became  part of the essential soundtrack of the so-called "Jazz Age" of the 1920s and launched a new dance craze: "The Charleston".

Johnson’s innovative “Stride Piano” style played a key role in the transition from ragtime to jazz during the period known as the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement in the 1920s that celebrated African American cultural, artistic, and intellectual achievements.

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