Tennessee Waltz / Rose of Tralee-Are they related?

Subject: Tennessee Waltz/Rose of Tralee
From: Helen
Date: 07 Apr 99 - 11:33 PM

Hi all,

Our music session group is just starting to play Tennessee Waltz and every time I hear it I can hear a close similarity to The Rose of Tralee. Does anyone know anything about the history of TW and or have any opinions about whether the 2 songs could be related, e.g. TW is a variation of Rose of Tralee?

Thanks Helen

Subject: RE: Tennessee Waltz/Rose of Tralee
From: Don Meixner
Date: 07 Apr 99 - 11:40 PM

Hi Helen,

I have to say that I can see no comparison between the two. The Tennessee Waltz is a very recent tune really, moreso than Rose. There is no reason you couldn't companion the two tunes however. They might sound nice as a medely. We discussed this idea of companion tunes awhile back in a thread I thot would run much longer than it did.

Don

Subject: RE: Tennessee Waltz/Rose of Tralee
From: Gene
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 12:24 AM

You could try a LANDLINE to Pee Wee King
or Redd Stewart in Louisville, Kentucky
co-authors of The Tennessee Waltz...
maybe they can answer that question
Check at: http://www.switchboard.com

Subject: RE: Tennessee Waltz/Rose of Tralee
From: musicman
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 01:55 PM

I remember reading somewhere, I think in a Readers Digest songbook, that the Tennessee Waltz was written after the writers were listening to the radio, hearing "the Kentucky Waltz" commented that there wasnt' a song about Tennessee., so they wrote one.

Sounds good to me.

Subject: RE: Tennessee Waltz/Rose of Tralee
From: Bruce O.
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 02:11 PM

Rose of Tralee, 1870, is in the Levy collection (Mudcat's Links)

Subject: RE: Tennessee Waltz/Rose of Tralee
From: Curtis & Loretta
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 06:05 PM

both waltzes...that's the only similarily I hear.

Curtis & Loretta (really Loretta)

Subject: RE: Tennessee Waltz/Rose of Tralee
From: Helen
Date: 09 Apr 99 - 11:53 PM

Hi again,

It's mainly in the second part of Tennessee Waltz and the chorus of The Rose of Tralee that I hear the similarity.

THE ROSE OF TRALEE

Chorus: She was lovely and fair, as the rose of the summer,
It was not her beauty alone that won me.
Oh no, t'was the truth in her eye ever dawning,
That made me love Mary, my Rose of Tralee!

TENNESSEE WALTZ
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz.
Now I know just how much I have lost.
Yes, I lost my little darlin'
The night they were playin'
That beautiful Tennessee Waltz.

If you can manage the mental gymnastics, try singing the words of one to the tune of the other.

Don,

I think that they would make a nice medley - I haven't sat down and tried playing them together yet, though.

Helen

Subject: RE: Tennessee Waltz/Rose of Tralee
From:
Date: 10 Apr 99 - 06:58 PM

Yeah, we can credit ol' Bill Monroe with instigating the Tennesee waltz -- he had a hit with the Kentucky Waltz which prompted those two guys to write one for Tennesee. I'm sure Bill would have traded royalties any day. You want to hear a real mover by the best rock 'n roll/soul singer ever, check out the Tennesee Waltz by Sam Cooke. Naturally, it is in a hard-swinging 4/4 time.

James.

Subject: RE: Tennessee Waltz/Rose of Tralee
From: bob schwarer
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 11:07 AM

Read this morning that Frank "Pee Wee" King died yesterday He was 86 years old. He was born Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski in Abrams WI.

Bob S.

Subject: RE: Tennessee Waltz/Rose of Tralee
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 01:19 PM

nice comparison, helen! and I think it is clear.... that subconcious creation draws from the far and quite near.... and when we hear traces of one in the other.... the connection, though subtle is,... one common mother?

I dont think that people write (TAKE) songs intentionally, more often, a muse gets kicked into life eventually; by the sound, feeling, rythym, melody, and sway; that sticks with 'em clearly untill the next day.

AFTER BEING MOVED!!!!!

Subject: RE: Tennessee Waltz/Rose of Tralee
From: Helen
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 05:57 PM

Thomas-t-r, Thanks for your rhyming comments. I hope no-one thought that I was implying a direct "steal" from the Rose of Tralee. I had just been struck by the similarity and I like the sound of the two tunes played together, they meld into each other in a very beautiful way, like variations on a theme.

I will play the Tennessee Waltz today on my Celtic harp to honour Frank "Pee Wee" King.

Helen