Music Mondays: In the Good Old Summertime, Music by George Evans; Lyrics by Ren Shields

January 24
In the Good Old Summertime, Music by George Evans; Lyrics by Ren Shields (1902)

This piece was originally published in Tin Pan Alley (see previous Music Monday post!), but it had trouble gaining ground. A popular actress of the day, Blanche Ring, pushed to get it included in her musical comedy show, in which it became immensely popular. It continued to gain popularity and was covered by many singers up through the 1950s, and the melody and a variation of the lyrics are even used in Baylor University’s school song. I include this one not only because it was so popular, but because it represents another commonality in this era - many songs became popular through their inclusion in musical theatre. Of course, we still see this today, though we have the added media of movies that help spring songs to popularity. In general, I feel like nowadays, songs from movies tend to get more popular than songs from Broadway, though there’s always the exception. It continued to be popular throughout the 1950s, partly due to its inclusion in a 1949 movie of the same name, starring Judy Garland.

In looking through popular songs from this era, I found that quartets (think barbershop quartet) were quite popular, too, so this recording is another good example of early 1900s popular music. I also thought those of us in the Northern hemisphere might enjoy thinking about the summer in the middle of winter. (We got snow again last night where I live.)

Youtube link:

Baylor University school song, That Good Ol’ Baylor Line:

(Reference link: http://greatentertainersarchives.blogspot.com/2012/07/history-of-song-in-good-old-summertime.html)
(Top 40 of 1902 here: https://playback.fm/year/1902)

September 2021 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge: Back to School

Appropriate (for those of us in the States), September's motif was "Back to School," and it asked us to "Read a book with a school setting, featuring a student or educator OR read a book to educate yourself on a topic you’re interested in learning more about." I chose to read a book to educate myself on a topic I had been thinking about and read Half the Sky, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. This book had me alternately enraged and inspired. It focuses on women in developing nations and both the plight that they face and their efforts to improve their situations. There were chapters during which I felt incredibly angry at the world and other chapters during which I felt inspired to help. Sometimes the problems feel so large that they are insurmountable, but the authors do a great job of trying to provide concrete ways that you can help. 

There is discussion of rape, prostitution, and other vicious violence, so it may trigger people who have histories with this. However, it is not "trauma porn" or whatever the term is. Indeed, the authors cite studies showing that when people hear about large groups of people suffering, i.e. "The women of XYZ country suffer rape at the hands of soldiers, who use it as a form of warfare," they tend to care less than when they hear specific stories about specific people. There is something about putting an actual name and personal story to an issue that makes people care more about the problem. So the authors use names and stories of women they have met in their journalistic travels to help tell their stories and impress their points. They also have some incredibly helpful appendices in which they share a whole list of organizations with which one can become involved to help women in the situations they describe in the book, as well as other resources.

One of my biggest takeaways from the book was the need to support education for women. Of course, education is important and should be available to all children, but there is an abundance of evidence showing that when girls are educated, poverty decreases and conditions for women (and everyone) improve. It really made me want to use my charitable giving opportunities to support education for girls around the world because this education is likely to improve all the other issues that they discuss in their book. Of course, that doesn't diminish the need to support other problems. For example, I was appalled to read about the state of maternal health in many developing nations. All women deserve basic care for their reproductive systems and child bearing, and some nations need support to improve those systems. However, some nations also do not fully grasp the importance of maternal health, and educating the women and girls in those nations will provide a group of citizens who will advocate for and make ways for improved systems.

I should note that the book is now over 10 years old, so it's possible that things have changed in the intervening time. Some of the figures are certainly outdated, and it's likely that some of the listed charities have changed. Sadly, I would guess that things have gotten better in a few places, worse, in some places, and stayed largely the same in most places. I would love to see an updated edition of the book with updated figures and resources. I found out the book has also been turned into a documentary, which is available on Amazon Prime, and it appears to be more recent than the book itself (which means it should have updated information on some of those 10 year old figures). I am planning to check it out soon, though I haven't yet had a chance.

Buy it here.

Music Mondays: The Mansion of Aching Hearts, by Harry von Tilzer and Arthur J Lamb

January 17

The Mansion of Aching Hearts, Music by Harry von Tilzer, 1902; Lyrics by Arthur J Lamb, 1902

Harry Von Tilzer started his own music publishing business in 1902, in the part of NYC known as Tin Pan Alley (read more about Tin Pan Alley here: Wiki Page). This was one of the first songs he released on his new label, and it became immensely popular. Sometimes people would have a chance to hear songs like this one in vaudeville acts or other stage acts in bigger cities around the US. More often, they would hear it on the radio, so generally, people didn’t have the option to play a song whenever they felt like it. However, this was a time when many people owned and played music on pianos in their homes, so sheet music was incredibly important in the music industry during this time. That’s why the music publishers in places like Tin Pan Alley were so important. It’s interesting to note that these publishers were often also composers, as in von Tilzer’s case.

I know I said I had intended to make my own covers of many of these songs, but 1) I haven’t felt the best this week, so it didn’t get done, and 2) I just feel like there’s something interesting about the original sound of these songs. However, I did find a lovely 2014 cover of this song by an artist named Rivers Rubin. You can hear his version here:

https://youtu.be/iYYJPdXiIjQ 

And here’s a recording as it might have sounded back in 1902:

https://youtu.be/Tln8-EKotHo 

If you love the song enough to try it yourself, you can download a copy here: https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1893&context=sheetmusic

(Research links: https://www.jewish-music.huji.ac.il/content/harry-von-tilzer)
(Top 40 of 1902 here: https://playback.fm/year/1902)

Music Mondays: Land of Hope and Glory, by Edward Elgar and Arthur C. Benson

January 10
Land of Hope & Glory, music by Edward Elgar, 1901; words by Arthur C. Benson, 1902

This was in the top 40 list I found for 1902, and it was one of two songs performed by a woman in the list. For most of us, the melody will be familiar as the one used in graduation ceremonies (“Pomp & Circumstance” is the title). The music was originally written by Edward Elgar in 1902; these words were written by Arthur C. Benson in 1902. This piece, also known as the “Coronation Ode,” was composed by Elgar, working closely with Benson, for the coronation of Queen Victoria’s successor, Edward VII, who appreciated Elgar’s music so much that he requested this composition. I’m not going to lie - I originally assumed this was for the US, since we are so well known for our patriotism, but it makes sense that a patriotic song would be composed for a coronation. A Youtube search showed me that this is still a popular patriotic song for many Britons. Also, dates in history are not my forte, so I didn’t actually know/remember that Edward VII was crowned in 1902. This song is a good example of how current events influence popular music of the time.

I’ve decided to share a Youtube recording of this for several reasons. One is because I think it really sort of needs the full symphonic band/orchestra behind it for the full effect, and I obviously cannot do that at home. Another is that I was able to find a recording of an old record (the description says it’s actually from 1902), and I think it’s interesting for us to be able to hear what music would have sounded like on a home player in the early 1900s. Finally, being only one of two women singers on the top 40 list I found for 1902, I want to give Ms. Thornton some air time. (Check out the lovely early 1900s portrait in the video as well!) It’s also interesting to me that the two women on the list both have this operatic style of singing, even though the other piece, “Always Do as People Say You Should", is from a musical. It makes me wonder if the most socially acceptable female singing voice at that time was the operatic style, as there seems to be more variation in the male singing style.

Also, if you were so enthralled with this piece that you’d like to download it and learn it yourself, it is in the public domain and can be downloaded here: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/5040/
(reference material: http://www.know-britain.com/songs/land_of_hope_and_glory.html)
(Here’s the top 40 for 1902 again: https://playback.fm/year/1902)

August 2021 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge: Bag of Tricks

August's motif was "Bag of Tricks," and it asked you to "Read a book featuring any kind of magic, illusion, super powers, or enchantments." I chose to read A Secret History of Witches, by Louisa Morgan. I really enjoyed this book. It walks through several generations of a family of witches and the good and bad that each woman experiences. It particularly focuses on the discrimination that women who practice witchcraft experience and how that affects current and future generations of women. It's also interesting to see how the choices the women make affect their futures and the futures of their children. Each woman discovers that there is a cost to their magic and has to deal with the consequences, which sometimes happen immediately and other times happen after years. The book is richly detailed, drawing me into the lives and settings, and I was impressed by how much information there was about the practice of witchcraft. I do not personally practice Wicca (which I think is the correct term for modern people who practice traditional witchcraft?), but the rituals and terminology in this book seemed to me to be correct.

The characters are relatively well-rounded, having both flaws and virtues, and most of them are likable and easy protagonists. The only true villains in the story are what can basically be called witch-hunters. Some characters are more likable than others, and the various ways in which mothers and daughters interact are well represented. I particularly liked the author's idea that each new generation has a whole history of forebears who go with her, providing help in their own way (sort of reminds me of the Christian idea of the "cloud of witnesses"). These forebears give their descendants strength to continue the craft and make it through difficult times in their lives. There are also some objects that pass through the various generations, which appeals to the romantic part of me that finds meaning in heirloom objects.

In general, it's a good book, and I would recommend it, especially if you have an interest in witchcraft and/or generational histories.

Buy it here.

Music Mondays: "The Entertainer," by Scott Joplin

Welcome to Music Mondays for 2022!
I had the idea to try to learn more about music throughout the 20th and 21st centuries by choosing songs from each decade for the last 120 years each month. January will focus on a few songs from 1902. I will attempt to represent a variety of music from each decade, including at least one instrumental piece per month. For some songs, I will make my own versions, and for others, I will provide links for listening. I also plan to provide a bit of history for each song/decade so we can walk through the history of music (mostly in the US) together. I've used a top 40s list from here: https://playback.fm/year/1902, but I've also tried to focus on pieces that were actually published in the year on which I'm focusing. I hope you enjoy!

January 3 "The Entertainer," by Scott Joplin, 1902
I want to include an instrumental piece from each decade, if I can find a popular one, so we’re starting off with Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer.” Joplin published his first rag, “Maple Leaf Rag,” in 1899, which is when ragtime music started to become popular. “The Entertainer” was published in 1902. This was the first piece I ever played for an audience, and I have pretty much always loved it. The version I played was simplified for a still-learning child to play, but that didn’t ruin my appreciation for the piece. I cannot do the piece justice, so I am providing a link to a Youtube video that will play his entire “Ragtime” album, if you want. “The Entertainer” is the first piece, so you can just listen to that, but I recommend giving the whole thing a listen. It’s only about 35 minutes long, and ragtime music really does have a unique and enjoyable sound.