Tune Req: Maiden's Prayer

Subject: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From:
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 08:55 PM

I am trying to find Maiden's Prayer for my husband. (May have 'a' or 'the' at beginning of name). I have looked for quite some time. And y'all helped me find "Colorado" last year. Maybe someone here will know of the version I am looking for.

We have looked everywhere. Amazon has 46 different listings:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/103-1940421-6667045

Of the ones we could listen to at the above link, none of them are the correct version. My husband is just going by memory.

It is not Bob Wills, nor is it texas swing, nor is it country western, nor is it Eddie Cantor. And it is not the lovely irish song about a lady who has hung herself, and sings: make my grave both wide and deep, put a marble stone at my head and feet.

There is no guitar, or band accompaniment in the version we are looking for. It is instrumental only.

It sounded more like an orchestral or symphonic version, no band, no guitar, ONLY violins. Twin fiddles did the major tune, and it sounded like 50 violins in the background.

The version that Bob Wills plays is the correct tune, but this sounded sweeter, almost melancholy, from what my husband says. My husband is thinking the version might be from around 1959 or so.

This was popular at the time, and was played frequently on the radio. Unfortunately my husband cannot remember who sang the song. But he would recognize it in a minute. At the Amazon site, is one listing is called "16 Fiddlers' Greatest Hits" and another called "30 Fiddler's Greatest Hits". My husband says that is about the right tempo, but it isn't the one.

If anyone could come up with any other leads, or any other web sites I could search, we sure would appreciate you emailing us at the above address. I have exhausted all my resources.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely, Maria Kinsey

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 09:14 PM

Sounds to me like a Pops Orchestra arrangement/setting of the Bob Wills tune, midi (tune) here. The tune has been recorded many times, both with and without lyrics. Just slow down the Wills setting, and do it without the "swing" rythym.

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Mark Clark
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 09:15 PM

I dunno, it sounds to me as though you're looking for a copy of "101 Strings Play Bob Wills Greatest Hits" if such a recording actually exists. Do you want to learn the piece for performance purposes or do you just need that particular recording?

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 09:19 PM

Great minds run on the same track, eh Mark? LOL! An orchestral arrangement of a Swing Tune.......hrruuumpph. Swing it, baby!

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From:
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 09:43 PM

Thanks for all your quick replies!!!

Really appreciate it!!

No we don't need it for performance purposes. Would like to identify the piece, just to purchase. Yes, it was a "pop" tunes for the times. Have checked string orchestras, just no luck so far. Funny, how one can remember a tune from many years ago, but not who performed it!? Memories get fuzzy as the years go by(sigh).

Mike says the tempo in the midi is perfect for tempo and sweetness, but imagine two violins playing it, not fiddles, violins. (his quote).

It did exist once upon a time, but finding it now, after all these years......???!!!

Thanks so much for your offers of help. What nice people and what a great forum!!

Maria

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 09:56 PM

You want to buy this specific recording? Good luck. I'll bet it was indeed something like the Boston Pops, or 101 Strings. Since they weren't big sellers, I doubt if they have been re-released.

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From:
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 10:03 PM

Good luck. Yeah, the story of my life. Well, you guys were able to help me find one song last year. Maybe something will come up. For now, I guess it's looking in all the used record stores I can find, huh!!

Thanks a bunch, tho.

Cav

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 10:15 PM

:>( Well, we tried. We found the tune......I's sorry, honey. The only recording I have is Bob hisself, and it swings. If I had it, I would send it to you.....

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From:
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 10:36 PM

Many thanks. I appreciate your kindness. I'll find it one day, and surprise hubby on his birthday someday. Thanks anyway. You folks are too kind! Maria

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Mark Clark
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 10:38 PM

Sorcha, I must've been composing my response while you were posting yours. I love the Texas Playboy's version too but I have a really nice rendition of the tune by Kenny Baker recorded by me during a wee hours jam session many years ago. Harley Gabbard used to to a great version on the Dobro too. (Now we'll wait for Rick to come along and be surprised that someone remembers Harley Gabbard. <g>)

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 10:40 PM

LOL, Mark! Actually, we will wait for Rick to tell us that The Philly Philharmonic recorded it in 19....:)

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Mark Clark
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 10:48 PM

Yeah, and he'll have been on a first name basis with the concert master more than likely.

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 10:53 PM

No doubt. (not shagging Rick here, ya'll unnerstand) Maybe it was the London Symphony with Andre Previn.....??Ok, Ok, I'll go look up the discography. See if I can find anything likely.......

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 11:06 PM

Well, I found the Bob Wills one, the Classical one, something on Grandmother's Piano rolls and several cocktail (drink) recipes---not much help I'm afraid.

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Ebbie
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 11:25 PM

Maiden's Prayer by Bob Wills is in the Fiddlers Fakebook. According to it, Jay Ungar with Lyn Hardy and Chubby Wise also recorded it (separately). We play it with fiddle lead only. Does this help?

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 11:41 PM

I don't think so, Eb. They are looking for an orchestral type arrangement with a LOT of violins, in the Classical style......a specific recording/arrangement that has vanished into the ether........thanks for trying, tho.

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Ebbie
Date: 14 Jan 01 - 11:56 PM

Sounds awesome.

Eb

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From:
Date: 15 Jan 01 - 02:08 PM

All the versions you guys were talking about really were nice, but this one version sticks out in my husband's memory. Tried 101 Strings, and Boston Pops, but had not thought of London Symphony. I have found piano version and even one done on pan flute (on napster), but have yet to get to a large town and a used record store. We have the Bob Wills version. My husband would just like to find this version, just like I was able to find the Up With People Version of Colorado, thanks to you kind folks. Realize fully that songs from so long ago will be hard to find, probably was not reissued. Real needle in a haystack. Sure do appreciate all the feedback!

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From:
Date: 15 Jan 01 - 05:05 PM

The words sound like the Butcher Boy or one of its variants.

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: mousethief
Date: 15 Jan 01 - 05:10 PM

Guest, if you figure out who performed it, a great place to look online for used vinyl is at: gemm.com.. I've bought quite a few things through them (it's a listing service for many used record stores, actually) and have been quite pleased.

Alex

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: Night Owl
Date: 16 Jan 01 - 12:40 AM

THANK YOU for the link mousethief....VERY helpful here!!!

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for 'Maiden's Prayer' Tune
From: GUEST,TS , Lewes England
Date: 16 Jan 01 - 03:15 PM

The tune "The maiden's prayer" is in a book called "The fake fiddler's tune book" -haven't got the details with me, as I'm not writing from home, but can send them if you don't know the publication.