Origins: Westphalia Waltz

Subject: 'Westphalia Waltz' origin?
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 02:27 PM

Anyone have evidence showing where this jam session standard came from? I've seen it listed as "traditional Polish." The "Handbook of Texas Online" in the section on Westphalia, Texas, says "Cotton Collins, a fiddle player for the Lone Star Playboys, composed a "no-name" waltz in 1946. After a dance[in Westphalia, Texas], local citizens suggested the song be titled the "Westphalia Waltz." It was first recorded by the Lone Star Playboys."

Any evidence of this tune before 1946?

Subject: RE: Help: 'Westphalia Waltz' origin?
From: honestfrankie
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 05:56 PM

To Nathan,

Westphalia is part of Europe that as far as I know has sort of passed back and forth between Poland and Prussia/Germany over the years. Texas also boasts the earliest Polish American settlment in a place called Panna Maria(The Virgin Mary). I have heard Polish words sung to this tune that go on about a woman asking a doctor when is the best time for loving. that's all I can spew off about the song except that lots of early settlers in America were not Irish/Scotts so not all the old folk songs are derived from those sources.

Subject: RE: Help: 'Westphalia Waltz' origin?
From: Willie-O
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 07:56 PM

That's interesting to hear, because Westphalia Waltz is popular in the upper Ottawa Valley, and I've wondered about the name too. And there's a settlement called Wilno which was the first Polish settlement in Canada in the mid-1800's.

Bill C

Subject:
From: _gargoyle
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 09:28 PM

Researching family history it has become confusing....
We always said, "We are German"
But others said "We are Prussian"
However, the map says that as of today "We are Polish" (something we NEVER will accept!!!)

A little like the "Alsace region of France" the area becomes whoever the current occupiers are.

Here are a few leads to other web sites with the Waltz:

WESTPHALLIA WORDS

Westphallia MIDI

Westphallia TAB

Subject: RE: Help: 'Westphalia Waltz' origin?
From: _gargoyle
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 09:46 PM

Sorry, as usual, this is a double post. The Real Audio(concertina) is found here Westphalia Concertina

Subject: RE: Help: 'Westphalia Waltz' origin?
From: _gargoyle
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 09:47 PM

Well lets make this a TRIPLE POST....go to http://letsche.inav.net/genealogy/ripke/ for the recording.....Concertina Westphallia

Subject: RE: Help: 'Westphalia Waltz' origin?
From: Les B
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 10:38 PM

And all these years I thought it came from the German settlements near Westphalia, Missouri. You learn something new every day here at the Mudcat ! I also believe the tune was used a few short years ago for a country/western weeper called "The Last Cheater's Waltz".

Subject: RE: Help: 'Westphalia Waltz' origin?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 06:07 AM

Westphalia is in the west of Germany and has never ever been in dispute between Germany and Poland.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Help: 'Westphalia Waltz' origin?
From: Bob Landry
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 08:45 PM

My Dad played the Westphalia Waltz for as long as I remember (the 1950's). He once said to me that they weren't allowed to play it during WW II. He was in the Canadian army at the time, stationed throughout various posts in Nova Scotia. I have no idea if his comment was true or not.

Bob

Subject: RE: Help: 'Westphalia Waltz' origin?
From: GUEST,Dan
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 10:53 AM

Hello,

my mother in law is named Jackie Collins who was related to Cotton Collins. The family story is that he indeed wrote the Westphalia Waltz around 1946 for a dance in Westphalia, Texas. The family still plays it and dances at our reunions today.

Subject: RE: Origins: Westphalia Waltz
From: GUEST,Clay Barker
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 12:15 PM

I just want to hear a very pleasant and dreamy piano verson on this internet in the form of midi or wav etc, I wanted one for a webpage but can only find raw sounding mechanical versions or tutorial type versions. Its a very beautiful song regardless of its origin.

Clay

Subject: RE: Origins: Westphalia Waltz
From: Scoville
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 02:22 PM

As per GUEST, Dan--it's a common tune here in Texas and I've always heard it claimed that it was from here. Not that that makes it true, but it's hardly surprising considering how many Germans settled here. I don't even live in the REALLY German part and the schools in my area are named things like Wunsche, Hildebrandt, Wunderlich, Klein, etc. All of them. You get the picture.

Subject: RE: Origins: Westphalia Waltz
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 02:34 PM

although its been stuck with an undeserved bad reputation
and does take seriuos liberties with historical accuracy..

the less butchered DVD edit of "Heaven's Gate" movie

is a magnificent evocation of those days of east european migration..

..and one of the best movie OST's ever..

Subject: RE: Origins: Westphalia Waltz
From: Sorcha
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 06:33 PM

And I am soooo tired of playing it.....

Subject: RE: Origins: Westphalia Waltz
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 09:04 PM

Mickey Newbury recorded it as "Westphalia Texas Waltz" because there were so many inquiries about it.
Sorcha, give them the "Euthanasia Waltz" by Phil Collins.