Lyr Req: While the Band Is Playing Dixie (J Hortiz

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band Is Playing Dixie (J Hortiz
From: GUEST,Ann Schmitt
Date: 18 Jan 17 - 07:12 PM

Jpseph F Hortiz
Joseph is one of my relatives   Here is some info
Joseph formed a minstrel team and also sang and wrote music. He also published music under Jos.F Hortiz -711 Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia,PA.
We have several of his published pieces of sheet music. He also sang with Neil O'Briens Minstrels and his own group called Joe Hortiz and his Royal Commanders. The music we have is "The River Of Life" sung by Joe in a show called "Our Friend Fritz"-he also wrote the music and published this. The next piece is called "I Never Shall Forget You"-words and music by Joe and sung by Joe and the Neil O'Briens Minstrels. The last piece we have is called "Just An Old Fashioned School House In Old Tennessee"-Sung by Joe Hortiz and Royal Commanders, also written and published by Joe.
Pretty cool that people are talking about him

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: Ron Davies
Date: 19 Jul 08 - 12:07 PM

It's interesting. I played the sheet music with the link here--that is, with the original melody. It works on the piano, but outside of that I'll have to say I prefer the Carter Family/ Red Clay Ramblers watered-down melody by a lot. It's sure a lot easier to sing--and throw in harmonies.   I've found the same thing in some other 19th century songs--like Faded Coat of Blue.   On the other hand, what the bluegrassers did to Mother Was A Lady is an abomination.

Anybody else have thoughts on this? Maybe it needs its own thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 05:26 PM

beardedbruce -

The LOC PAE site lists 5 titles for him: Hortiz search results.

There's also one at Duke: When I Walked Home From School With You.

Glen Emery "credits his songwriting and music abilities to his grandfather, Joseph Hortiz, who made his living in the minstrels in the early 1900's".

References at genealogybank.com suggest he did appear in blackface - the heading is Minstrels at Penn Joe Hortiz and Company of Black-Face Artists Features. Unfortunately, without a subscription, you can only see the headings (some 400+ from newspapers though) and a small piece of the article scan.

Mick

Subject: ADD Version: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 04:54 PM

OK, one more. This is from the Bear Family CD titled Sara & Maybelle Carter (1991), a reissue of a cut recorded June 16, 1966; released on the Columbia label on an album titled An Historic Reunion: Sara and Maybelle The Original Carters. You'll see that it is very close to the Red Clay Ramblers version (or vice-versa).

WHILE THE BAND IS PLAYING DIXIE
[I'm Humming Home Sweet Home]
(Joseph F. Hortiz, 1900)

It was on a day when soldiers wrote a line to those they loved
To mothers, wives and sweethearts far away
When a fair haired boy sat dreaming of a far-off southern town
Of a dark-eyed maid who's waiting day by day

CHORUS
While the band is playing Dixie, I'm humming "Home Sweet Home"
It takes me back to Georgia though I'm far across the foam
Once again beside the river with my Mary dear I roam
While the band is playing Dixie, I'm humming "Home Sweet Home"

Be it ever so humble, no place like home
Be it ever so humble, no place like home

On that night when all were sleeping came the bugle call to arms
With flashing eyes they plunged into the fray
And among the first to give his life all for the flag he loved
Was the boy who dreamed of Dixie far away

CHORUS


They found within his pocket, a bloodstained little note
A bullet hole had pierced it through and through
It began with "Darlin' Mary, if I don't come back again
Just remember that my last thoughts were of you

CHORUS



TRANSCRIBED BY EAR
(also transcribed by Joe Offer)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 03:32 PM

Apologies to Masato - I hadn't noticed he'd already posted the link to the sheet music at LOC.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: beardedbruce
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 03:24 PM

That looks like what I read on the sheetmusic.


So what else did Hortiz write?

Does "the Joe Hortiz Minstrels in blackface, and the "Million Dollar Pier" in Atlantic City where they performed" give any leads? Altavista gets no other hits on the name.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHILE THE BAND IS PLAYING DIXIE (Hortiz)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 03:09 PM

Here's my transcription of the sheet music. Note that it is not the same as the lyrics in the recordings. I can't find the CD box for the Red Clay Ramblers recording, but I listened to the MP3 and I've italicized places where I think Severn's transcription may be wwong.

WHILE THE BAND IS PLAYING DIXIE
[I'm Humming Home Sweet Home]
(Joseph F. Hortiz, 1900)

It was on a day when soldiers write a line to those they love,
To mothers, wives and sweethearts, far away,
When a fair haired boy sat dreaming of a far-off Southern town,
Of a dark-eyed maid who's waiting day by day.
The strains of down in Dixie softly floated o'er the breeze,
With tear-dimmed eyes he drank in every note,
For his thoughts were back in Georgia with the girl he left behind,
And that day these simple words to her he wrote:

CHORUS
While the band is playing Dixie, I'm humming home sweet home,
For it takes me back to Georgia though I'm far across the foam,
Once again beside the river with my Mary, dear, I roam,
While the band is playing Dixie, I'm humming home sweet home.

On that night when all were sleeping, came the bugle call to arms,
With flashing eyes they plunged into the fray,
Among the first to give his life all for the flag he loved,
Was the boy who dreamt of Dixie far away.
They found within his pocket there a bloodstained little note,
A bullet hole had pierced it through and through,
It began with darling Mary, if I don't come back again,
Just remember that my last thoughts were of you.

CHORUS


(added in Carter & Red Clay Ramblers recordings)
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: beardedbruce
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 03:03 PM

from MCP's post, Hortiz also wrote
"A Lad Cannot Forget His Mother's Love"

chorus:

Someday when I am gone
You'll wish you'd stay's at home
My prayers will follow you where'er you rove

And no matter how one tries
To break dear old home ties,
A lad cannot forget his mother's love

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: beardedbruce
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 02:55 PM

further interest:

"
$281913 Blackface Minstrels Song, "You're My Girl"
Collectibles:Black Americana:Other
This sheet music song is called "You're My Girl", and it was written by Bobby Heath. The cover has a picture of the Joe Hortiz Minstrels in blackface, and the "Million Dollar Pier" in Atlantic City where they performed."

Anything else known about Joseph F. Hortiz?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 02:54 PM

Here's a link to the sheet music: While The Band Is Playing Dixie (cover page of the page turner at the LOC Performing Arts Encyclopedia).

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: beardedbruce
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 02:45 PM

Masato,

Looks like we pinned it down- Sheet music printed in 1900, cylinders and discs released in 1902.

Spanish-American War

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 02:41 PM

While the band is playing Dixie / Joseph F. Hortiz [sheet music]

Title: While the band is playing Dixie [sheet music]
Composer: Hortiz, Joseph F.
Place of Publication/Creation: Philadelphia
Publisher(s): Joseph F. Hortiz
Date issued: 1900
Form: sheet music

Subject: ADD: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: Severn
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 02:26 PM

The words are given in the notes to the CD "Meeting In The Air: Songs of the Carter Family sung and played by Jim Watson, Tommy Thompson & Mike Craver of the Original Red Clay Ramblers" (on CD as Barker/Sapsucker Records 2326 and on LP as Flying Fish FF 219)



WHILE THE BAND IS PLAYING DIXIE
(Joseph F. Hortiz)

It was on a day that soldiers wrote a line to those they loved
To mothers, wives and sweethearts far away
When a fair haired boy sat dreaming of a far-off southern town
Of a dark-haired maid who's waiting day by day


(chorus)
While the band is playing Dixie, I'm humming "Home Sweet Home"
It takes me back to Georgia though I'm far across the foam
Once again beside the river with my Mary dear I'll roam
While the band is playing Dixie, I'm humming "Home Sweet Home"


That night when all were sleeping came the bugle call to arms
With flashing eyes they plunged into the fray
And among the first to give his life up for the land he loved
Was the boy who dreamed of Dixie far away

(chorus)


They found it in his pocket, a bloodstained little note
A bullet hole had pierced it through and through
It began with "Darlin' Mary, if I don't come back again
Just remember that my last thoughts were of you

(chorus)

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home



Published by Melody Lane Music obo Copper Creek Music BMI






Have fun with it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 02:25 PM

Sara and Maybelle Carter - While The Band Is Playing Dixie is on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: beardedbruce
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 01:36 PM

http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=@attr+1=1020&num=1&start=1&query=cylinder2439

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: beardedbruce
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 01:35 PM

Matrix [Pre-matrix A-]654. While the band is playing Dixie, : I'm humming 'Home sweet home' / Harry MacdonoughPrimary Title Source
While the band is playing Dixie


Authors and Composers Notes
Joseph F. Hortiz (lyricist)
Joseph F. Hortiz (composer)





Primary Performer Notes
Harry Macdonough (vocalist: tenor vocal)


Description: Male vocal solo
Type: Vocal
Title Note: The original EDVR database listed "McCarver and Peters" as lyricist and composer. The title cited is from the original sheet music.

Take Date and Place Take Status Label Name/Catalog Number Format Note
2/6/1901 1 Master Victor A-654 7" disc Returned: 4 Dec.'01: 1431 cps.
2/6/1901 1 Master Berliner (Canada) 86 7" disc
11/20/1901 2 Master Victor A-654 7" disc Returned: 8 Oct.'02: 1362 cps.
6/6/1902 3 Master Victor A-654 7" disc

Subject: Lyr Req: While the Band is Playing Dixie
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 01:31 PM

While the Band is Playing Dixie (I'm humming Home Sweet Home)
is the full name of the song.
I received a request for lyrics of this song, identified as a Carter Family Song. Well, I found out it's not exactly a Carter family song - it was recorded on an album called An Historic Reunion: Sara and Maybelle The Original Carters. This page (click) indicates the song was written by Joseph F. Hortiz. I haven't found the publication date of the song, or the Carter recording date - it may be somewhere in the fine pring on this page (click), which gives a fragment of the lyrics:

They found it in his pocket, a blood-stained little note
A bullet hole had pierced it through and through
It began with, "Darling Mary, if I don't come back again
Just remember that my last thoughts were of you".
While the band is playing Dixie, I'm humming Home Sweet Home
It takes me back to Georgia, though I'm far across the foam
Once again beside the river with my Mary dear I roam
While the band is playing Dixie, I'm humming Home Sweet Home
Be it ever so humble, no place like home...


Can anybody post the lyrics?


I'm not sure I can link to this, but the Country Music Discography shows a song called "While the Band Is Playing Dixie" recorded June 16, 1931, but Russell and Louis Burton, who performed as The Burton Brothers.

-Joe-