• SEA IDYL for the Piano by Opal Louise Hayes Sheet Music ©1947
  • SEA IDYL for the Piano by Opal Louise Hayes Sheet Music ©1947
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Oliver Ditson Company | Theodore Presser Company

1947 Sea Idyl for Piano – Opal Louise Hayes – Nautical Cover – Oliver Ditson

1947 Sea Idyl for Piano – Opal Louise Hayes – Nautical Cover – Oliver Ditson

$25.00 USD
$25.00 USD
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AT A GLANCE

Title:
Sea Idyl
Publisher:
Oliver Ditson Co., Philadelphia
Type:
Sheet music
Performance medium:
Piano
Composer:
Opal Louise Hayes
Era:
Post-War Popular (1946 - 1960)
Date:
1947
Material:
Paper
Dimensions:
9" x 12"
Condition:
Good (G)
Color:
Green

Sea Idyl — Mid-Century Nautical Piano Composition with Art Deco Sea Motif

Collector’s Note

Composed in 1947 by educator and composer Opal Louise Hayes, Sea Idyl reflects the postwar era’s blend of academic piano writing and decorative modern design. Published by Oliver Ditson Co., this edition features its original green nautical cover artwork and represents the work of a distinguished mid-20th-century female composer and teacher.

Original 1947 sheet music for Sea Idyl (for the Piano) by Opal Louise Hayes, published by Oliver Ditson Co., Philadelphia.

The cover presents a stylized sea-themed illustration in green ink: a classical Neptune-like sea god reclining among treasure, accompanied by a mermaid and oceanic elements. The composition blends academic illustration with subtle Art Deco influence in both typography and layout, creating a visually striking mid-century design.

Opal Louise Hayes graduated in 1912 from Howard-Payne Junior College (now part of Central Methodist University) in Fayette, Missouri. She later returned to serve as Associate Professor of Piano from 1925 to 1960, influencing generations of students. This piece is dedicated “To Catherine Babcock Coghill,” one of her pupils — suggesting a personal and pedagogical connection.

Hayes was later honored with the institution’s Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of her contributions as educator and composer. Local college lore adds to her legacy: it is said that the ghost of Hayes occasionally joins her colleague Nannie Louise Wright in Recital Hall for a spectral piano duet — a charming part of campus tradition.

The sheet music measure 9" x 12' and the condition is near excellent. Light pencil notations inside, small browning area on lower edge, minimal edge wear. Clean and well preserved overall. Examples of this edition appear scarce in current marketplace searches.

Framing Appeal

The elegant green nautical illustration and classical sea imagery make this an exceptional coastal display piece. Beautiful matted in ivory or sea-glass tones and framed in natural wood — ideal for a beach house, music studio, or coastal bath.

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Why Collect Vintage Sheet Music

Collecting old sheet music invites you into a world where history, art, and melody intertwine. Each piece is more than printed notation—it's a preserved moment in time. For music lovers, history buffs, and creative minds alike, building a collection offers both personal satisfaction and the possibility of uncovering items of real value.

From classical masterpieces to the spirited energy of the Jazz Age, vintage sheet music reflects how music shaped culture across generations. First editions of composers like Chopin or Gershwin are especially coveted, treasured for their historical and monetary worth. As Smithsonian Magazine notes, these artifacts provide a vivid window into America’s musical and cultural evolution.

Collectors often cherish sheet music not only for its sound but for its striking cover art. Displayed as décor, it brings warmth and character to any room. Others breathe new life into old pages through creative projects—turning them into artwork, journals, or crafts that merge nostalgia with personal style.

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