Some time after 1870 , the Pierponts moved to nearby Quitman in neighboring Brooks County . In Quitman , he served as the Presbyterian Church organist , offered private piano lessons and became a music professor at the Quitman Academy , according to sources .
He also reportedly composed the “ Quitman March ,” according to Pendleton . Pierpont ’ s daughter , Lillie Pierpont , became Quitman ’ s first librarian in 1880 .
There is a gap as to what happened to Pierpont in the ensuing years but he eventually moved to his son ’ s home in Winter Haven , Fla ., where he died in 1893 . Originally , he was buried in Florida and was later moved to Savannah ’ s Laurel Grove Cemetery .
During Pierpont ’ s life , “ Jingle Bells ” was not a popular song . With no religious theme , it was not played in church services . In truth , none of Pierpont ’ s three verses , nor the popular chorus , even mention Christmas . “ Jingle Bells ” is a winter song more than a holiday song . And as one writer has noted , looking at the full lyrics , “ Jingle Bells ” is really a song about riding around in “ a flashy vehicle , driving too fast , and picking up girls .” Or as another Internet commentator notes , “ Jingle Bells ” is the “ 19th century equivalent of ‘ Little Deuce Coupe .’”
“ Jingle Bells ” was reportedly written to be performed at a Boston church for a Thanksgiving service and was so popular that it was repeated for Christmas . No local or area research , however , backs this account . Some accounts claim Pierpont ’ s original composition did not include the popular chorus , but one that was “ less joyous and more classical , Mozart-like sounding .”
The song ’ s popularity grew through the years . After Pierpont ’ s death , it began appearing as an anonymous composition , but one of his sons renewed the copyright and restored Pierpont ’ s name as composer .
It was an early song recorded for the phonograph in the late 1800s and early 1900s . The song continued in popularity and , in 1943 , became Bing Crosby ’ s eighth million-selling record , according to falalalala . com .
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16 Valdosta Scene | December 2023