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Items While the convent bells were ringing

While the convent bells were ringing

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Library division & collection with this item:

LIBRARY DIVISION
Music Division

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COLLECTION
American popular songs

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SUB-COLLECTION
Sheet music, 1901

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This Item

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Title
While the convent bells were ringing
Additional title: The convent bells were ringing, and o'er the western sea. [first line of song]
Additional title: While the convent bells were ringing, soft and sweet across the sea. [first line of chorus]
Names
Witt, Max S. (Composer)
Roden, Robert F. (Lyricist)
Collection

American popular songs

Sheet music, 1901

Dates / Origin
Date Issued: 1901
Date Issued: 1920
Place: New York
Publisher: Edward B. Marks Music
Library locations
Music Division
Topics
Songs
Separation (Psychology)
Nuns
Fathers and daughters
Genres
Scores
Notes
Content: Summary: The narrator ponders the sweet sound of the bells as he contemplates his former love who is becoming a nun because her father would not let her marry him; he recalls a happier time when they had hope.
Ownership: Gift of the Columbia Broadcasting System Inc., [1974].
Content: Collective cover page: Well-known ballads of sentiment and love by well known writers.
Statement of responsibility: words by Robt. F. Roden ; music by Max S. Witt
Date: Copyright dates: 1901, 1920
Physical Description
Extent: 6 p. ; 31 cm.
Type of Resource
Notated music
Languages
English
Identifiers
NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b10826013
NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b21695015
NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b21695100
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 7840bba0-c599-012f-a5ad-58d385a7bc34
Rights Statement
The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries. Though not required, if you want to credit us as the source, please use the following statement, "From The New York Public Library," and provide a link back to the item on our Digital Collections site. Doing so helps us track how our collection is used and helps justify freely releasing even more content in the future.

Item timeline of events

  • 1901: Issued (Approximate)
  • 2016: Digitized
  • 2026: Found by you!
  • 2027

MLA Format

Music Division, The New York Public Library. "While the convent bells were ringing" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1901 - 1920. https://old-digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/97dcccce-de18-22bd-e040-e00a18064cb6

Chicago/Turabian Format

Music Division, The New York Public Library. "While the convent bells were ringing" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 7, 2026. https://old-digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/97dcccce-de18-22bd-e040-e00a18064cb6

APA Format

Music Division, The New York Public Library. (1901 - 1920). While the convent bells were ringing Retrieved from https://old-digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/97dcccce-de18-22bd-e040-e00a18064cb6

Wikipedia Citation

<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=https://old-digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/97dcccce-de18-22bd-e040-e00a18064cb6 | title= (notated music) While the convent bells were ringing, (1901 - 1920) |author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library |accessdate=October 7, 2026 |publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>

While the convent bells were ringing