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.

July 2021 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge: Short But Fabulous

July's motif was "Short But Fabulous," and said to "Read a novella, comic, graphic novel, manga, or short book of poetry." I'm not gonna lie - I'm just not a huge fan of poetry. Like, I feel like I should be because it makes me more cultured or something, but I'm just not really. And I'm most certainly not a fan of it when it's for a reading challenge. I mean poetry books are not the sort of thing you just sit down and read, right? They're for occasional browsing when you want to think and be inspired. Anyway, I went with a graphic novel because that's a genre I really just don't read much. I suppose I should have gone with manga if that was my criterion because I have read basically no manga. Anyway, graphic novel it was.

I was really excited to find the graphic novel Nimona, by Noelle Stevenson, because Stevenson is the creator of the new She-Ra and the Princesses of Power series on Netflix. I absolutely adore the new She-Ra and have watched all the episodes with Junior Mate. (My co-captain has also watched them with us and enjoyed them, so not just for girls, btw.) Anyway, I felt pretty sure I would enjoy this novel, after having enjoyed the storylines and characters from She-Ra so much. I was not disappointed, though I will say that I felt like it ended a little abruptly for me. Actually, I guess it's not so much that it ended abruptly as that I kind of wanted more, which I guess is a good thing!

The story is about a shapeshifter named Nimona, who becomes the "sidekick" to the villain, Lord Ballister Blackheart. It has a sort of...medieval but futuristic setting, which makes it interesting. There's also lots of complexity in the characters and plotline - like, who really *is* the bad guy in the story? And what does evil actually look like? How do events in our past shape us into who we are today? I know these sound like some big questions for the graphic novel format, but I feel like this is something that Stevenson does quite well. The drawing is inviting, and the storyline is engaging and easy to follow, while also making you think. I was able to read it all in a few spurts over a couple of days, and I found the panels themselves easy to follow. Sometimes I find myself frustrated with graphic novels because I can't always tell which panel is next in the action, but this book's panels are clear.

I enjoyed the interactions between the various characters and managed to become invested in them, even in such a short format. To be honest, I would be interested in a sequel, mostly because I'd be interested in seeing more from the characters after the events of the book. However, there was one character in particular that I'd like to see again (don't want to give away the ending, so I'll leave out names) because their loss felt sudden and slightly unresolved to me. I mean, I guess that's how the world works sometimes, right? There are times when you get to say goodbye to someone and know that they are going into a happy future and other times when you don't really get to say goodbye or say goodbye but don't get to know anything about how their future goes. Perhaps this is a personal issue I have - I like to know that the characters to which I've become attached do alright in the end, though there are hints about this character, I'd love to just see them again and smile. But again, I suppose that's the reality of life; sometimes we're left wondering. Anyway, I'd say that if you're a fan of graphic novels, you should give this one a read, obviously. However, if you're a fan of strong female characters and/or blurred lines between good and evil and/or futuristic medieval settings (is that a thing?), you would probably also enjoy this book.

Buy it on Amazon here