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Subject: Humoresque and Swannee River From: Wesley S Date: 18 Oct 07 - 10:10 AM I was just reading on another forum that Humoresque by Dvorak was written as a counterpoint for "The Old Folks at Home" also known as "Way Down upon the Swannee River". I don't have an instrument handy but I can hear that they would mesh together. Also - Chet Atkins was once heard to play both pieces at the same time. Hmmm...Is this news to anyone else? |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: Midchuck Date: 18 Oct 07 - 10:14 AM Many years ago, in the old Club 47 in Cambridge, MA, I SAW, as well as heard, Bill Keith play them both at once ON THE BANJO. I swear I am not making this up. Peter. |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: kendall Date: 18 Oct 07 - 02:40 PM Trivia alert! Originally, Steven Foster called that piece "Way down upon the PEE DEE river which, I think is in Georgia, or possibly South Carolina. Guess he figured that SUWANNEE sounded more romantic. Also, I dream of Jeannie was not Jeannie, but INEZ. |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: Bob the Postman Date: 18 Oct 07 - 04:37 PM I thought it was "Way down upon the Yazoo River". |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: Wesley S Date: 18 Oct 07 - 05:10 PM Actually - Here in Texas it's "Way Down Upon the Rio Grande" |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: Cruiser Date: 18 Oct 07 - 05:23 PM Interesting comparison. These were 2 of the first songs I learned to play on the fiddle. (Humoresque is a Suzuki Method standard) They definitely do mesh very well and it never occurred to me before with these favorites of mine. |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: Artful Codger Date: 19 Oct 07 - 02:42 AM Er, the first parts may fit, but you'd have to torque the second parts to make them fit. As well as dropping Humoresque's third part (which goes into minor) entirely. |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 19 Oct 07 - 05:24 AM Mr. S.....second attempt.....the first one vanished (clones on the thrones)
Re:just reading on another forum
Would you PLEASE post the url (thread too would be nice) for the OTHER forum.....where you discovered this titilating idea?
Sincerely, |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 19 Oct 07 - 11:45 AM This might, more properly, belong in the "Unprintable Songs" thread, but might work here: "Every evening, after dark, We goose the statues in the park. If Sherman's horse can take it, Why can't you? Washington stood very firm, And Lincoln didn't even squirm. If they can take it, darling, Why can't you?" I'm certain Dvorak is turning over in his grave... |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: Wesley S Date: 19 Oct 07 - 01:31 PM Gargoyle - as requested from The Woodshed |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: greg stephens Date: 19 Oct 07 - 01:36 PM Then there is: Passengers will please refrain From using toilets when the train Is standing in the station I love you |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: greg stephens Date: 19 Oct 07 - 01:43 PM There are literally(I imagine) thousands of tunes written on this harmonic structure. I vaguely remember somebody discussing this point mentioning that an Elizabethan piece called "Gregory Walker" was the first published. If you wish for a pleasing incongruity, sing "Swanee River", "Humoresque"(to the words in my preceding post) and the chorus of "The Wreck of the Old 97"(it's a mighty rough road from Lynchberg down to Danville etc). |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 19 Oct 07 - 02:34 PM I once learned that an old family friend, a retired Navy doctor named Bill Vann, was actually at the scene of the "Wreck of the Old 97." He had mentioned that he was from Danville, Virginia. When I asked him if he was familiar with the song, he said, "Yes, but they got some of the facts all wrong." It turns out that his father was one of very few doctors in the area. Bill, at the age of 13, had hitched horses to a wagon and had driven his father to the site of the wreck. Bill assisted while his father treated,where possible,and administered morphine to the injured, many of whom would not survive. He was 98 when he told this to me, many years ago. It's not often that you get to meet someone who is that close to the origin of a well known folk song. |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: Joe_F Date: 19 Oct 07 - 08:10 PM We encourage constipation While the train is in the station. Moonlight always makes me think of you. Persons working underneath Will get it in their hair and teeth.... |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: Cruiser Date: 20 Oct 07 - 01:26 PM Wesley S Thanks for that link. Elman's arrangement of Humoresque is superb. |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: Newport Boy Date: 20 Oct 07 - 03:05 PM On the "Old 97" sidetrack - Guest TJ in San Diego's story of Bill Vann's father assisting at the crash rang a bell with me. Sure enough, the name is confirmed by Katie Letcher Lyle in her book "Scalded to Death by the Steam". "One eye-witness, a Danville weaver named Chappell, remembered a Dr L L Vann of Danville moving among the victims with a hypodermic needle adminstering morphine to the suffering." Phil |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: GUEST,americansnackfiend Date: 31 Oct 07 - 08:12 AM The 2 songs were performed together in counterpoint on an episode of "I Love Lucy". First Ricky and Fred carry it off pretty well, but eveytime Lucy tries she drifts off and starts singing the lyrics of Swannee to the tune of Humoresque, or vice versa. it's wonderful when it works. But who wrote the lyrics to what obviously was a pop tune incarnation of Dvorak's piece ? And what are they ? i have the Comdeina Harmonists singin something in german ( eine kleine fruhlingswerke ) but i don;t know the relationship to anything in English. |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: folkwaller Date: 31 Oct 07 - 04:51 PM During the late fifties/early sixties an American comediene played several times at the London Palladium and finished his act by humming and whistling both these tunes simultaniously. Fasinating. |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: GUEST,Susan Date: 07 Apr 11 - 11:08 PM My favorite verse is "We encourage constipation While the train is in the station Ooooh, Humoresque!" Yes, that is a verse. I can play Humoresque on violin. I like Swanee River better than Humoresque. "Way down upon the Swanee River Far, far away. That's where my heart is turning ever That's where the old folks stay." I love the I Love Lucy episode where Ricky and Fred sing a duet and Ricky sings Swanee River and Fred sings Humoresque. Then when lucy tries to sing it she always ends up singing the song to the tune Rickey's singing!! LAUGH OUT LOUD FUNNY!!! If you've never seen I Love Lucy (and you probably have) check it out weekdays at 6:00 am on Hallmark Channel. Can't....Stop....LAUGHING!! XD |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: kendall Date: 08 Apr 11 - 07:01 AM Pedant alert! it's Suwannee, not Swannee. |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: Trevor Thomas Date: 08 Apr 11 - 07:11 AM I actually did this very combination of tunes only last February in Hawaii at the instigation of luthier Dennis Lake who was playing a fretless banjo. It's something he's been doing for a long time, and I think he said that he'd got the idea from the I Love Lucy programme. |
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Subject: RE: Humoresque and Swannee River From: kendall Date: 09 Apr 11 - 07:08 AM Mabel Mabel fresh and able Get your fat ass off the table Go on out and find yourself a man... |
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