Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!

Subject: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 01:38 PM

Once more my dad made a tune/lyrics request of me, today. His granddad was from Nova Scotia and everytime my dad would go to their house to play music for them, his granddad would request one special song. Now, no one nearby knew the tune and granddad couldn't remember it. So, my dad started asking about it and has been, off and on, for seventy years.

When he told me what it was, I said, "I am sure someone at the Mudcat will have it; it's probably on there already. I'll go look."

Sure enough, I just got done printing out and reading the lyrics to him and playing Barry Taylor's fine midi of it, to him over the phone and he was almost reduced to tears. The tune which I now know many of you are familiar with? Maple Leaf Forever.:-)

So, THANKS a bunch from Kat's dad, Sparky. I am about to record the tune and send it off to him. He's been really getting into connecting with his memories from childhood and I know this is one more link which means the world to him. He will be 86 this May.

Thanks, from me, too. The Mudcat, oh, hell, the whole damn Internet, are simply amazing and every once in awhile they take my breath away.

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: Morticia
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 07:08 PM

I'm so pleased for him and for you,Kat....isn't it grand to hear some good news?

Subject: RE: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 08:25 PM

That's great Kat. So, there's some Canuck blood in you, eh? That explains a few things.

Subject: RE: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: open mike
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 08:57 PM

treasure those special moments with your dad-
i am happy for you that you can connect this
way! My dad used to enjoy making music, but
for the last 15 years of his life, that joy
was stolen from him by a disabling stroke.
I do have a 78 record of him singing, among
other things Ash Grove, and the line
" a host of kind faces is gazing on me,
the friends of my childhood again are before me"
has an eerie quality enters this song when
I listen now that he is gone:
"I find other faces fond bending to greet me"
didn't hit home til after he died!
enjoy life while you can!

Subject: RE: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 11:34 PM

You should be spending the winter with him KL. It could be your last solitice together. Don't mail it... you really should deliver it in person....honor him while you can, he won't be around much longer.

Besides, it is pretty cold in Colorado right now, you deserve a break.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 11:46 PM

Yeah, Steve, I guess it does explain a few things, huh? Like why I hang out with geeks!*bg*

Thanks, Mortee, it sure is.

Open Mike, thanks for those lines; their poignancy captures exactly what I was trying to say about dad. I do treasure every minute we have together, both on the phone and in person. I am sorry about your dad but how wonderful that you have him singing on a 78!

Garg, it's not cold, esp. compared to Wyoming! We do plan to go visit sometime soon, but to do more than that is not possible for a lot of reasons.

I mail things to him without delay because I know his time here is precious. He and I talk on the phone at least twice a week and I record those conversations for more material to include in the book I am working on of his stories and memories.

My dad and I never miss a chance to express our love and respect for one another and when he is gone there will be no regrets on his part nor mine at things left undone or unsaid. One of the things I am most grateful for is every phone conversation ends with both of us saying "thank you for being here and I love you."

Thanks, again, Mudcatters,

kat

Subject: RE: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: *daylia*
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 10:44 AM

Ah Kat this is such a sweet story! Thanks so much for sharing it and healthy blessings to you and your Dad.

and YES! The Internet is so amazing! In spite of the 'hard cold technology' it can be such a personal 'tool', uniting people heart to heart worldwide, nurturing what is most 'human' about us all. Love and Joy and Hope and Music and Creativity and Good Company via silicone chips ... I hope these wonders NEVER cease!

Re The Maple Leaf Forever - I've always loved that song! I remember in the 60's when they made the red-and white Maple Leaf our official flag, and we were taught a few of the runners-up for the national anthem in elementary school. I was disappointed that 'The Maple Leaf Forever' was not chosen - I always thought it had the best melody, the most endearing words. But as someone pointed out above, without the French element it was doomed ...

But I've always wondered if the melody came from an old British tavern song! Remember the musical Oliver! from the 60's? Well there's a scene in the tavern where 'Nancy' works - I think it's the final tavern scene before she spirits Oliver away to meet his uncle at London Bridge, just before she rouses the whole bar into a hearty "Oom Pa Pa!".

Everyone in the bar is singing a half-drunken song in the background, and I can't make out the words but the melody is definitely exactly the same as "The Maple Leaf Forever"! I've rewound the movie a couple times to listen more carefully, and I'm sure I'm right! Has anyone else noticed this? Is it possible that back in the 1800's Alexander Tain just used a very familiar - and wonderful! - British folk melody and wrote new words to reflect the history of 'British North America'?

daylia

Subject: RE: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: Willie-O
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 11:00 AM

I've always liked the melody too. I'm just wondering: was "The Maple Leaf Forever" the song in question, or was that the tune?

W-O

Subject: RE: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: *daylia*
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 11:20 AM

Willie-O I'm sure the words are different, but the melody is exactly the same! And that makes sense - why would they be singing the words to "The Maple Leaf Forever" in a London tavern in the 1800's? It seems a lot of care was taken in that movie to make it a 'true' reflection of life in London at the time ... and to do justice to the Dicken's story!

daylia

Subject: RE: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: radriano
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 11:21 AM

Lovely story, katlaughing, thanks for posting it!

Subject: RE: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: masato sakurai
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 11:47 AM

Kat, links for your dad:

Sheet music (1)

Sheet music (2)

Historic sound recordings (by Robert Price, by Victor Military Band, and by Kilties' Band)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 12:46 PM

Masato, thank you very much! I just called dad and told him I was printing out the actual sheet music for him and he was thrilled.

Thanks to you all for your comments and good wishes. Everytime this happens, for my dad, it just feels so good and makes me so grateful for this site and its members.

Off to record the sound file, now. Thanks, again, Masato.

kat

Subject: RE: Simply AMAZing - kat's dad says thanks!
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 02:38 PM

Here I am, again. Masato, I'd forgotten about that site for tunes and songs! I've spent the past couple of hours going through them all and making dad a tape of many of them, as well The Maple Leaf Forever. What an incredible resource! Thanks, again!