The Colonial Music Institute at Mount Vernon

We are proud to announce the gifting of the Colonial Music Institute to Mount Vernon!

Founded in 1999 by the late Kate Van Winkle Keller and husband Robert M. Keller, in conjunction with David and Ginger Hildebrand, the Colonial Music Institute (CMI) is grounded upon primary research enlightened by interdisciplinary scholarship.  This organization has for more than 20 years published leading edge scholarly music and dance books, and also authentically informed sound recordings made to the highest standards.  CMI has promoted and encouraged the understanding of early American history through music and dance, including publications like George Washington: Music for the First President.

This new section of the Shops at Mount Vernon's online store features these publications -- thousands of copies of books and CDs, just donated by the surviving founder of CMI along with the rights to keep these titles in print in perpetuity.  The entire proceeds of sales will go directly to further the Mount Vernon Ladies' Associations' mission to preserve and educate about George Washington and his broader world. 

Learn more about the CMI, Founders, Databases, Essays, etc.

Music for the First President - CD - The Shops at Mount Vernon - The Shops at Mount Vernon
$8.00

Music for the First President - CD

This recording includes songs and instrumental tunes familiar to our first President. Thoroughly researched and performed on reproduction instrumen...

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$8.00
Songbook - Music for the First President - The Shops at Mount Vernon - The Shops at Mount Vernon
$6.00

Songbook - Music for the First President

By Kate Van Winkle Keller. ISBN 1-877984-24-8. Copyright 1999. Softcover with 32 pages.  Kate Van Winkle Keller writes about music that George Wash...

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$6.00
Colonial Social Dancing - Book and CD Set - DAVID & GINGER HILDEBRAND - The Shops at Mount Vernon
Colonial Social Dancing - Book and CD Set - DAVID & GINGER HILDEBRAND - The Shops at Mount Vernon
$19.95

Colonial Social Dancing - Book and CD Set

The Book contains 31 longways dances; two cotillions; music with chords; 20 diagrams of steps and figures; quotes and illustrations from period sou...

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$19.95
Over Hills and Far Away: a Collection of Music from 18th Century Annapolis - CD - DAVID & GINGER HILDEBRAND - The Shops at Mount Vernon
$8.00

Over Hills and Far Away: a Collection of Music from 18th Century Annapolis - CD

Over five years of extensive research into the music and instruments of 18th-century Annapolis went into the making of this recording. The selectio...

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$8.00
Songbook - Music in the Life of Benjamin Franklin - DAVID & GINGER HILDEBRAND - The Shops at Mount Vernon
$6.00

Songbook - Music in the Life of Benjamin Franklin

Companion book to recording by David & Ginger Hildebrand and Julianne Baird. Period reproduction instruments including Franklin's glass harmoni...

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$6.00
Music Life of Ben Franklin - CD - DAVID & GINGER HILDEBRAND - The Shops at Mount Vernon
$8.00

Music Life of Ben Franklin - CD

Recording by David & Ginger Hildebrand and Julianne Baird. Period reproduction instruments including Franklin's glass harmonica are featured on...

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$8.00
Music of the War of 1812 - set of 2 CDs - DAVID & GINGER HILDEBRAND - The Shops at Mount Vernon
$15.00

Music of the War of 1812 - set of 2 CDs

Rigorously researched, the music and lyrics herein bring life to the issues, thoughts, and stories of this critical period of American history—auth...

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$15.00
Songbook from the American Revolution - DAVID & GINGER HILDEBRAND - The Shops at Mount Vernon
$6.00

Songbook from the American Revolution

Written into a personal notebook by an officer in George Washington’s Army, each song, including a "Song Compos’d by an American Officer at West Po...

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$6.00
Songbook - The Richmond Assemblies, 1790-1797 - DAVID & GINGER HILDEBRAND - The Shops at Mount Vernon
$6.00

Songbook - The Richmond Assemblies, 1790-1797

The Richmond Assemblies were founded soon after the seat of Virginia's government moved from Williamsburg to Richmond in 1780. Government officials...

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$6.00
Songbook - New Country Dances from Maine (1795) - DAVID & GINGER HILDEBRAND - The Shops at Mount Vernon
$6.00

Songbook - New Country Dances from Maine (1795)

This is a collection made by Joseph Merrill of Topsham, Maine around 1795. He copied from a small booklet filled with country dances that had been ...

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$6.00
"No Kissing Allowed in School" - A 1784 Virginia Dancing School Book - DAVID & GINGER HILDEBRAND - The Shops at Mount Vernon
$6.00

"No Kissing Allowed in School" - A 1784 Virginia Dancing School Book

by Kate Van Winkle Keller & George A Fogg. Dance instructions and music with chords. 18th-century dance techniques. Period illustrations; 44 pa...

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$6.00
Songbook - If The Company Can Do It - DAVID & GINGER HILDEBRAND - The Shops at Mount Vernon
$5.00

Songbook - If The Company Can Do It

by Kate Van Winkle Keller, Sandy Hook, CT: The Hendrickson Group, 3rd edition, 1997. ISBN  1-877984-14-0. 48 pages This study was first presented a...

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$5.00