Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)

Subject: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: GUEST,Baz Parkes
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 07:55 AM

I went to a Christmas brass band concert on Friday. The closing item was an allegedly Bavarian tune, involving swaying, standing up and sittting down (don't ask)
Imagine my surprise when the bit that didn't involve any physical activity was virtually identical to Springtime in Battersea.
Any one come across this piece before...it said trad Bavarian when I stole a look at the notes.

Ralphie? Anahata? Anyone with a brass band background?

Baz

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 08:05 AM

I was told by the latter of the above-named suspects that the Duet Concertina player Tommy Williams nicked the oompah tune to compose/cobble together Springtime In Battersea. I also happen to have a private recording of the former suspect playing this tune at a concert in a Belgian church when the congregation/audience unexpectedly joined in, football crowd stylee. Such jolly fun . . . but I'll leave it for them to expand on the details.

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 08:44 AM

Our Iris plays "Springtime in Battersea" on exquisitely.

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: treewind
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 02:05 PM

Iris Bishop was also the source of my information, and as she knew Tommy Williams I assume it's fairly trustworthy. The story as I understand it is that Tommy most likely heard the tune on (German) radio, and added the middle section where it changes key and retitled the result.

I learned one or two ideas about harmonies for the tune from listening to Iris too.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: a gud ole bwoy
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 02:28 PM

Ah, so, you have also come across the Schneewaltz also know as the Apfel Strudel Waltz and probably a lot of very uncomplementary names if you don't like doing it.

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 04:31 AM

Time to Fess up.
Yes it was me in that Belgian church. I couldn't understand why the tune produced such hilarity. After all, it's not exactly funny!
Carried on playing in a slghtly confused way, thinking these Belgians are wierd!
After the gig, I was told that it was indeed German in origin, and the hilarity was because it's used by Belgian Footie fans to taunt any German side they happen to be playing (I'm assuming it must have some rude lyrics, but haven't heard them!)
Interestingly, the first time I met Anahata he played Springtime on his Anglo...(Still don't know how!).
Also Tim Laycock plays a version on his Crane Duet. All 3 of us have subtle differences in our arrangements! Can't recall having heard Iris's version, but it's probably different again! Ah the Folk process at work!
Maybe the 4 of us should get together one day, and see what would happen.
Toodle Pip Ralphie

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: Surreysinger
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 11:08 PM

Having heard this tale already, and just reread this, I decided to have a peek at Youtube, and came up with this sung version with lyrics apparently composed at the beginning of the 20th century ... regrettably I don't speak German, so have no idea what they tell!
Try this one out!

However for sheer campness ... this one has to be seen as well!!
Cowbells!
(There are another couple using the same instruments but they are much too serious in comparison!!)

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: Surreysinger
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 11:23 PM

And a bit more googling reveals that it's pretty well known in brass band circles all over the place ... witness this plea for the lyrics in German and in English (horrible translation effort BTW)
Lyrics
And also some information about the chap who appears to have composed the piece (although it seems to be credited in some circles as trad...)
Thomas Koschat

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: Surreysinger
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 11:42 PM

This looks a bit like what you described Baz ... its a brass band from Weston Super Mare

Brass band version And after that lot I felt a bit seasick. It's amazing how many versions of this tune are out there - a rather strange electronic version on MySpace, various versions with cowbells, etc etc... and there is no doubt from the number of credits that it was composed by Thomas Koschat at the turn of the 20th century ... so not even traditional Bavarian ...

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: Surreysinger
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 11:45 PM

Or come to that German - actually Austrian!!!

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 03:39 AM

That's totally ruined the tune for me.
Henceforth I can only think of it as Hundscheiße im Schee or Throwing Up Over Battersea Bridge.

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: GUEST,baz parkes
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 05:24 AM

oh the fun an innocently posed question can bring:-))

I'll be asking about national musical instruments or English culture next (not, as the young people used to say)

Baz

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: treewind
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 05:48 AM

Oh, I'm going to have to do a U-tube of my version now!

A.

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: Surreysinger
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 08:45 PM

That would be really good. I have to say that having ferreted all that lot out I vastly prefer the two renditions on concertina that I've heard - yours and Ralphie's. It seems well suited to the instrument, and is a pleasing piece, despite the weird renditions it appears to receive elsewhere.

I really did NOT like the oompah band renditions ... not to mention all that swooping ducking and diving with the brass band. Reading some other comments about the piece made by brass band fraternity members, it's quite clear that it's one of those "familiarity breeds contempt" jobs .. a Christmassy oompah thing for snowy weather, and that it incites a yawn ... much like my feelings for the Holst version of "In the Bleak Midwinter" - a carol that choral singers frequently have to perform at Christmas ... I've never liked it much, but I do my duty (as I shall on Sunday at the Festival Hall).

I find it interesting that Schneewalzer is clearly a very well known piece in the brass band world, and yet players of other instruments in a different field have little knowledge of it's treatment elsewhere, or, indeed , of it's true origins!!

Incidentally, I have to say that those videos were by no means the worst ... there was one interesting little item which involved three men wearing raincoats, flashing and doing weird things with what appeared to be cooking utensils ... oh the joys of YouTube. All that aside, I still like the piece and shall continue to do so. What intrigues me is just how much of the Battersea version is actually new, and how much is actually the work of it's original composer, Mr Koschat.

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 07:44 AM

Bring it on Baz...
We haven't had a discussion about Englands National Instrument or indeed Culture, for ages...
Why not start one????
Ralphie (Seasons Yeah Yeah!!)

Subject: RE: Springtime in Battersea/Schneewaltz (sp)
From: Old Vermin
Date: 15 Jul 09 - 10:04 AM

Ralphie, the reason that the English haven't had a rebellion recently is that we're all to damn' busy with squeezeboxen of one sort or another. Just as well?

The English national instrument seems to be the acoustic dreadnought with one pick-up on it, at least to judge from the local open-mike evening a day or two ago. After the Acoustic Lounge at Guilfest as well plus a 2nd-stage set, I have gone right off the young females who all sound exactly the same with self-penned words and and repeated ah-hah-hah-ing.

That said, Nonny Tabbush sang a very good song about her sailor bouy - er, boy - very well, Tristan Seume accompanying - actually got the whole attention of a noisy pub. And Tristan did a very nice Michael Turners's that I shall strive to emulate.