Introducing Catchy Tune Tuesday!

[Library Lady]

Before Gordon Lightfoot and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a very popular song by the prolific songwriter Henry C. Work (Marching Through Georgia, The Ship that Never Returned, My Grandfather's Clock) told the story of the wreck of the Lady Elgin in 1860 wherein around 300 people died. Most were from the Irish Third Ward in Milwaukee. They'd chartered the Lady Elgin for a cruise to Chicago for a day of parties, politicking and gun shopping. Governor Randall had been making noises about pulling Wisconsin out of the Union if the Federal Government didn't outlaw slavery (or, alternatively, if Lincoln didn't win the 1860 presidential election). The Irish militia unit didn't think that was legal, so the governor confiscated their guns. They were looking to buy replacements. Contrary to the popular story, they weren't in Chicago to hear Stephen Douglas because he wasn't in town at the time. So there's the Civil War connection. As alluded to in the penultimate verse, locals from the towns along the Illinois shore tried to save victims of the wreck. Northwestern students took part in this endeavor. Northwestern would run a lifesaving station on Lake Michigan from 1871 to 1916 when the Coast Guard took over. It was the only lifesaving station run by a college.

Lost on the Lady Elgin

 

[Library Lady]

This song first appeared in Slave Songs of the United States in 1867 under the title The Good Old Way. Another version appeared in The Story of the Jubilee Singers; With Their Songs in 1880 under the title Come, Let Us All Go Down. The words vary: Sometimes "down to the river", sometimes "down in the river" and sometimes it's a valley, not a river. It was repopularized in the film Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? in 2000. Here it is sung by Alison Krauss.

 

[rebelatsea]

Here are a couple of my favorites: "Shenandoah" circa 1850 performed by James Galway and one much younger, but Civil War related-- "Ashokan Farewell" performed by Jay Unger

You will be humming them later. Just close your eyes and listen

Ashoken Farewell has been adopted as a concert and display piece by the the Royal Marines band service, both for the Marching bands and the orchestras and choirs.

 

[rebelatsea]

There's one tune for every instrument that's especially challenging--for fife, it's "Downfall of Paris." Long, fast, full of 16th note runs, high notes, and challenging fingerings, it's also known in the fife and drum world as "Downfall of Fifers." Many, including myself, have crashed and burned trying to get through it. Drummers like to push the tempo just to make the fifers suffer. And there's always that one annoying guy, who doesn't play the fife, but knows the tune's reputation for difficulty, who asks "So, can you play Downfall of Paris?" Here it is from the Camp Chase Fife and Drums.

When Christs Hospital School Band played it with rope tensioned drums and flutes it took on an entirely different sound, I have been trying to find the recording on you tube but no luck - so far.

 

[lupaglupa]

This song first appeared in Slave Songs of the United States in 1867 under the title The Good Old Way. Another version appeared in The Story of the Jubilee Singers; With Their Songs in 1880 under the title Come, Let Us All Go Down. The words vary: Sometimes "down to the river", sometimes "down in the river" and sometimes it's a valley, not a river. It was repopularized in the film Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? in 2000. Here it is sung by Alison Krauss.

I love this one! Alison Krauss is terrific.

 

[connecticut yankee]

Here's a very young Civil War singer with quite the voice. Do you agree?

 

[Pollaco]

There is another video of this young lady singing "Amazing Grace".