Original tunes

Subject: Original tunes
From: GUEST,JMR
Date: 10 Apr 00 - 12:34 PM

Recently while perusing an old piano lesson book I found two tunes which were the original tunes for the better known published works "Those Were the Days" and "Anversary Song". The song which was the tune for the "Aniversary Song" had the title of "Waves of the Danube" The tune for "Those Were the Days" was simply referred to as a folk song. Does anybody know any more about these tunes? Any help would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: Original tunes
From: Mbo
Date: 10 Apr 00 - 12:45 PM

JMR, "Anniversary Song" is difficult to explain to people. It has been given those familiar lyrics, and is often believed to be a "Jewish" piece, but it is in reality a waltz composed in the late 1800's by a Romanian composer named Victor Ivanovici, who said that the rhytms of the piece symbolizes the ebb and flow of the waves of the Danube, in his homeland.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Original tunes
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 10 Apr 00 - 01:05 PM

Not a Jewish piece? But it's from Romania!!!! Written at a time when it was very popular for composers to use folk melodies, especially in Austra-Hungary--where the itinerant musicians tended to Gypsies and Klezmorim-

Subject: RE: Original tunes
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 10 Apr 00 - 03:35 PM

http://ingeb.org/songs/thosewer.html

Jon

Subject: RE: Original tunes
From: GUEST,JMR
Date: 11 Apr 00 - 01:53 PM

I received the dEnglish translation and the two melodies for "Those Were the Days" but am thoroughly puzzled over the original lanquage and name of the composer. I could not begin to pronounce the person's name. Any help there? Also my fake book gives as composer of both melody and words Gene Raskin. Thanks for you help. JMR

Subject: RE: Original tunes
From: Chocolate Pi
Date: 11 Apr 00 - 05:12 PM

AFAIK, it's a Russian tune, and the orignial words are much more morbid and have to do with seeing the friend's funeral instead of meeting him at a tavern. However, I don't have any references for that.

Chocolate Pi