Add/Origins: Maid of Monterrey

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Maid of Monterrey
From: Lighter
Date: 27 Sep 19 - 10:42 AM

I see I'm repeating myself myself....

Subject: RE: Add/Origins: Maid of Monterrey
From: Lighter
Date: 27 Sep 19 - 10:13 AM

And here's the square-dance version, from North Carolina in 1942:


https://www.slippery-hill.com/recording/maid-monterey

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: Lighter
Date: 25 Jul 18 - 09:11 PM

A field recording (1942) of a folkified version of the tune. "The tradition" in action:

https://www.slippery-hill.com/recording/maid-monterey

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: Lighter
Date: 25 Jul 18 - 08:47 PM

Beautiful performances of both "The Maid" and "The Field" - to virtually the same tune:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J5-odwv6uI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfdPhmNbKsQ

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: GUEST,pablo ramos benitez
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 09:22 PM

Su documento fechado el febrero de 1837 no ocurrio pleitos entre monterrey y Estadounidenses esto sin lugar a dudas ocurrio el 21 de Septiembre de 1846 en Monterrey Mexico en el fortin de las tenerias existe una noticia en el periodicoi Lousville Curier donde narra este heroico hecho de una regiomontana que curo a los heridos de ambos bandos y les dio comida y agua en una hida a su casa fue muerta y enterrada al dia siguiente.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: GUEST,Anne Watters
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 09:36 PM

I am thrilled to have found this thread on the lyrics/poem "The Maid of Monterrey". In going through my husband's grandmother's estate (she was a history teacher and died at age 100) nearly 3 years ago I found the poem/song, "The Maid of Monterey" written in very flowery handwriting with great flair on plain paper. It looks very old. The paper has been folded several times but I hope to have it restored. It is still completely readable. The lyrics are nearly identical to "Q" as posted above on September 09,2003. The most interesting bit of information I can add is that my document is very clearly dated at the end: February 18th, 1837. I can not verify that this was indeed written by hand on this date but when you look at the handwriting, it seems completely feasible. This pre-dates any research I have uncovered concerning this poem/song. My research does not place US (English speaking) soldiers in Monterrey, Mexico in 1837. I can find no post-Alamo battles being fought as far south as Monterrey, Mexico. Please note that my version is 'Monterey'. Here is my version:

The Maid of Monterey

The moon was shining brightly across the battle plain;
The gentle breeze fanned lightly the features of the slain;
The guns had hush'd their thunder, the drums in silence lay.
Then came the Senoretta, the Maid of Monterey.

She cast a look of anguish on dying and on dead,
Her lap she made the pillow of those who groaned and bled.
And when the dying soldier for one bright gleam did pray,
He blessed the Senoretta, the Maid of Monterey.

She gave the thirsty water, and dressed the bleeding wound,
And gentle prayers she uttered for those who sigh'd around.
And when the bugle sounded, just at the break of day,
We blessed the Senoretta, the Maid of Monterey.

For tho' she loved her nation, and prayed that it might live,
Yet for the dying foeman, She had a tear to give;
Then here's to that bright beauty, who drove deaths pangs away,
The meek-eyed Senoretta, the Maid of Monterey.

Feb. 18th 1837


I would love to hear from anyone out there. 3/23/2009

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 05:33 PM

en este año monterrey recordara el 160 aniversario de la " batalla de mONTERREY 1846, DONDE SE REALZARA A ESTA BELLA HEROINA HUMAITARIA PARA LOS DOS EJERCITOS.
SALUDOS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Nov 05 - 11:51 PM

Escamillo, I doubt that I would have found this information without your translation. It seems that the name 'Selavia Arista' may be correct. I hope that Dr. Ramos Benitez can come up with more material.

Mirabeau B. Lamar, once President of the Republic of Texas, joined General Taylor's army in 1846 at Matamoros. An amateur poet, he wrote two poems dedicated to Mexican women, "Carmelita," and "To a Mexican Girl."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Nov 05 - 11:42 PM

Very interesting excerpts in a website sponsored by "Sons of DeWitt Colony Texas"
"Texian Songs, Hymns and Poetry"
From the diary of DeWitt Colony area resident, J. W. Nichols, recalling his experiences in the U. S.-Mexican War.
"...About ten days after my arrivel [in Monterrey] the citizens gave the officers a ball or fandango. There was none invited but commissioned officers, and this young senorita, SELAVIA ARISTA, was there and her dress and jylery was veriously estimated at about 5000 to 25,000 dollars. I had made her acquaintance a few days before, and as I could speake the Spanish language well, she seemed to look to me for protection and I had to interduce her at least fifty times that night. She was saught after and admired by many a young officer of Tailors army. She was the noted senorita, the Maid of Monterey. She was the one that acted the charitable part to the wounded soldiers that caused DAVID CULE, the little Irishman, who was wounded thare to compose the song known as "The Maid of Monterey." She dressed herself in peon or servent cloaths and went ministering among the wounded soldiers, I will here insert the song."

["This piece appears elsewhere in historical records and is credited to various authors"]

Lyr. Add: THE MAID OF MONTERREY

The moonlight shone but dimly
Upon the battle plaine
A gentle breeze fanned softly
O'er the features of the slain
The guns had hushed their thunder
The drums in silence lay
Then came the senorita.

She gave a look of anguish
On the dying and the dead
And she made her lap a pillow
For him who moaned and bled
Now heres to that bright beauty
Who drives deaths pangs away
That meek eyed senorita
The Maid of Monterey.

Although she loved her country
And prayed that it might live
Yet for the wounded foreigner
A tear she had to give
And when the dying soldier
In her bright gleam did pray
They blessed the senorita
The Maid of Monterey

She gave the thirsty watter
And dressed each bleeding wound
A fervent prayr she uttered
For those whom death had doomed
And when the bugle sounded
Just at the break of day
They all blest the senorita
The Maid of Monterey.

(spelling preserved)

http://dl.tamu.edu/Projects/sodct/texianpoetry2.htm
Texian Songs

Compare with the lyrics posted from "More Ballads of the Frontier Folk," J. Frank Dobie, at the beginning of this thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: Escamillo
Date: 01 Nov 05 - 10:54 PM

Dr.Ramos Benítez included her name in an earlier post: de una señorita llamada selavia arista que ocurrio el 21 de Septiembre de 1846 "

I guess that he mispells the name and it could be Selvia Arista or Selva Arista, though no reference could be found by Google for such name.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 06:18 PM

Many, many thanks, Escamillo.
And thank you, Dr. Ramos Benitez. I am sorry that my poor attempt at translation distorted your messages.
We look forward to a summary of the investigation, and will see that it is properly translated. Is there any indication of her name?

(I don't believe anyone placed the event in Monterey, California. Confusion is the result of mis-spellings of the Mexican city's name on sheet music and in various articles. The sheet music of J. l. Hewitt, 1851, has the mis-spelling 'Monterey,' and this mistake often occurs in American papers.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: Escamillo
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 05:36 PM

Translation of the first message from Dr.Ramos Benítez

I wrote the article published by El Norte on 23 sep 2005 in Section "Life". The Maid of Monterrey was a heroine who on 21 sep 1846 left his house near the Tenerías and the Santa Lucía River,in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México (not in Monterrey Calif. as erroneously said), she observed the soldiers and then started to serve food and water to men of both armies, also helping those wounded and praying along with those who were dying, until a bullet reached her and hurted her to death. The soldier who sent this news to the Louisville Courier on Oct 1846 mentioned that she raised her eyes to the sky and claimed "Oh,God, this is the war". She was buried in the surroundings of the battle, later Hewwit composed a song for her, and a novel was created by Ned Buntline. An investigation on the remainings (found 9 years back) is currently in progress.

The second post confirms that the Maid of Monterrey has been real, not fictional, as witnessed by the soldiers in Oct 17 1846, later on a fictional character was composed in the novel by Buntline, but the person is real. He makes reference to Crónica de los Gringos, Juda 1965.

Hope this helps, un abrazo
Andrés (in Buenos Aires, fortunately 400 km far from the city where Mr.Bush is coming to :)))

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Oct 05 - 08:02 PM

dear Q, iam dr Ramos the menciono the to maid to monterey is REAL no fictional, the mirror in papers NILES the OCTUBER 17 the 1846 is testigo they un soldiers in fort TENERY in MONTERREY NUEVO LEON MEXICO>, in 1850 ned butnile compuso novel the volunteer o the maid to monterey the is FICTIONAL pero de papers del lousville curier the octuber 17 1846 ver book"cronica de los GRINGOS the JUDA 1965,
the battle Monterrey the near year recuerda 160 aniversario the lucha y museo in palace estate NUEVO LEON .

gracias.

atte dr pablo ramos benitez.
aficionado the history

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Oct 05 - 08:35 PM

My ignorance of Spanish prevents me from understanding the message from Dr. Ramos Benitez. I think he is saying that the story appeared in the Louisville Courier, October 1846; was used by Ned Buntline in a novel, and also in the song by Hewitt. If this is correct, then, as we had assumed, the 'maid' is fictional.

I hope Escamillo or someone else can make a proper translation.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: Warsaw Ed
Date: 18 Oct 05 - 08:27 PM

A MIDI [three clefs] and Lyrics [1851] are contained in the Public Domain Music [Sequence by Benjamin Tubb] of John Hill Hewitt[1848]
http://www.pdmusic.org/hewitt.html
Ed

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: GUEST,dr. pablo ramos benitez(pedro)
Date: 18 Oct 05 - 07:52 PM

yo escribi el articulo que pun}blico el NORTE el 23 de septiembre de 2005 en la seccion vida la maid to monterey esta heroina que el dia 21 de septiembre de 1846 por la tarde salio de su casa cerca de las TENERIAS Y EL RIO DE SANTA LUCIA EN monterrey nuevo leon mexico, no en monterey caslif como erroneamente se ha mencionado, lo observo un soldado que se encontraba en las tenerias, y acudio en varias ocasiones para entregar agua y comida a los soldados de ambos ejercitos, asi como curaba sus heridas y daba oraciones a los soldados que estaban a punto de morir pero una bala la mato, este soldado que envio al periodicvo lousville curier en octubre de 1846 esta noticia, mernciona que elevo los ojos al cielo y dijo " dios mio esto es la guerra", posteriormente la enterraron cerca de donde la mataron, despues se le compuso una cancion por hewwit, y se realiza una novela por ned buntline, esta en proceso la investigacion de restos oseos encontrados hace 9 años.
saludos y gracias por su interes, cualquier correp [e-mail]

Subject: Lyr Add: FIELD OF MONTEREY
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Sep 05 - 01:39 PM

I didn't think to check for variations in the title; I have both Randolph and Heart Songs. Thanks for posting the Randolph version.

American Memory has both the sheet music "The Field of Monterey" by M. Dix Sullivan (1846), pub. Oliver Ditson, Boston, and an undated song sheet "Field of Monterey," As sung in the public schools of New York."

Neither the undated song sheet nor the version in "Heart Songs" have the same third verse as the one published by Sullivan.
Sullivan:
The flowers of spring are faded now
The woods are sear and cold,
The persimmon's cheek is flushing
And the papaw shines in gold.
But he in earliest manhood
Has sadly passed away,
And now in death is sleeping
On the field of Monterey.
(The repeat is shown only after the first verse)

Heart Songs:
The persimmon is blushing now,
The pawpaw's fruit is red,
But he, the loved and manly one,
Lies low among the dead.
And bitter tears are falling
For the gallant and the gay
Who now in death are sleeping
On the field of Monterey;
On the field of Monterey,
Who now in death are sleeping
On the field of Monterey.
(The repeat is shown with each verse)

Song sheet, no publisher or date:
Third verse same as sheet music. Just three verses:
Fourth verse, ("The bugles swell...") omitted.

The "señorita" does not appear in Sullivan's sheet music nor in the song sheet and "Heart Music" versions.

Interesting is the fact that the 'heroine' or 'Señorita" of the Monterrey battle appears in Mexico, sometimes as real (see post above) or as a folk myth. I checked several small collections, but could find no song. I would be surprised if there isn't one.
   


American Memory has the sheet music to "The Maid of Monterey," 1851, by J. H. Hewitt (see posts above).

Subject: Lyr Add: FIELDS OF MONTERREY (from Vance Randolph)
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 24 Sep 05 - 11:54 AM

Interesting! The scansion is the same as for a song I've known seemingly forever, the great "Fields of Monterrey," reported by Vance Randolph in Ozark Folk Songs, with the following lyrics:

FIELDS OF MONTERREY

The bugle horn is chanting now
A chorus wild and free,
And everything rejoices for
The glorious victory.
The American flag is waving high,
The troops have gained the day,,
And everything rejoices on
The field of Monterrey.

But now a stranger's voice I hear
Above the shouts of joy,
It is a mother weeping for
Her loved and only boy,
A cannon ball was passing by
And snatched his life away,
And now in death he's sleeping on
The field of Monterrey.

The pale moon, the beauteous moon,
Is climbing yonder sky,
To view the dying and the dead
As on the field they lie.
But now she's sinking in the west,
She bows her head to see
The loved and lost now sleeping on
The field of Monterrey.

The bugle's loud shrill notes have died,
The cannon's ceased to roar,
But still a stranger voice I hear
Than that I heard before.
For yonder walks a lovely maid,
Across yon bloody sea,
Her broken heart now weeping on
The field of Monterrey.

Close by a soldier's side she kneels,
And loud the mourner cries,
She wrings her hands in agony,
And says her lover dies.
Alas, fair maid, the die is cast,
In sadness faints away,
And now in Death she's sleeping on
The field of Monterrey.

Kind of a nice anti-war song with its turnaround from wild patriotic fervor to gloom and tragedy.

Randolph refers back to a related original, Boston, 1846, by M. Dix Sullivan in the 1909 edition of Heart Songs. Checking that, Sullivan's version is a bit more effete, and so's his tune -- very much a parlor song. Randolph's, collected in 1940, is a great brawny tune, and the folk process has smoothed the elegant edges off the lyrics.

Looks like "Maid of Monterrey" got written in imitation of "Fields of Monterrey." But the tune of "Maid" is, oddly enough, similar to the tune of "Common Bill" or "Silly Bill." Makes me wonder whether the latter song got put to J.H. Hewitt's tune, or whether Hewitt indulged in a little borrowing from folk tune tradition.

(Tough to check up on; I know of no "Common Bill" version going anywhere near back that far.)

Thanks, Q, for posting this -- it's a great companion to a song that's always been among my favorites.

Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Maid of Monterrey
From: GUEST,Antonio R Alanis Canales (Monterrey,Mx.)
Date: 24 Sep 05 - 12:30 AM

El Periodico EL NORTE de la Ciudad de Monterrey,Nuevo Leon,Mexico en su edición del día de hoy (23 sept 2005) ,publica un articulo sobre la Leyenda y canciones que se refieren a esta Señorita de Monterrey,se propone una invwstigacion a fondo para buscar el nombre y raices verdaderas de esta Heroína mexicana.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: MAID OF MONTERREY
From: GUEST,dr pablo ramos
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 10:45 PM

esta bella narracion es de una señorita llamada selavia arista que ocurrio el 21 de Septiembre de 1846 en la tarde en el fuerte de las tenerias en Monterrey Nuevo Leon Mexico fue escrita en el luisville el 17 de Ocrubre de 1846 y fue enterrada en alguna calle de Monterrey por los soldadops americanos que ayudo.
gracias

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAID OF MONTERREY (J. H. Hewitt, 1851
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Sep 03 - 02:08 PM

To complete the comparison, here are the differences in lyrics in the Hewitt 1851 sheet music, which is arranged for the guitar. Parts of verses changed around. Original spelling preserved.

THE MAID OF MONTEREY
J. H. Hewitt, 1851.

1. The moon was shining brightly,
Upon the battle plain;
The gentle breeze fann'd lightly
The features of the slain;
|: The guns had hush'd their thunder,
The drum in silence lay;
When came the Senoretta,
The maid of Monterey. :|

2. She cast a look of anguish,
On dying and on dead;
Her lap she made the pillow
Of those who groan'd and bled.
And when the dying soldier
For one bright gleam did pray,
He bless'd the Senoretta,
The maid of Monterey.

3. She gave the thirsty, water,
And dress'd the bleeding wound;
And gentle prayers she uttered,
For those who sigh'd around.
And when the bugle sounded,
Just at break of day,
We bless'd the Senoretta,
The maid of Monterey.

4. For, tho' she lov'd her nation,
And pray'd that it might live;
Yet-- for the dying foemen
She had a tear to give.
Then, here's to that bright beauty,
Who drove death's pang away,
The meek-eyed Senoretta,
The maid of Monterey.

The little dramatic repeat at the end of the first verse has the note 'ad lib.', so it could be used as a chorus if desired.
I would guess that the song is post-war, the date 1851 close to date of composition, when relations with Mexico were just being renewed.
The sheet music was published in Baltimore and New Orleans by F. D. Benteen. Was it ever distributed in the North?
Note- At American Memory, the entry is found with Hewitt, J. H., or the incorrect spelling of the Mexican city (which has two 'r's' in the name), "Maid of Monterey" (American towns with the name mostly spelt with one 'r'). "Maid of Monterrey" brings up zero.

It is one of 500 songs that can be brought up with "Songs for Guitar" at American Memory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: MAID OF MONTERREY
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Sep 03 - 01:13 AM

Q sent me the tune from Ballads and Songs of the Frontier Folk, and that's the tune that's posted. The sheet music at the American Memory Collection has lyrics that are almost the same. the tune on the sheet music has a repeat of the last line with a slightly different melody the second time - but I don't think it's different enough to warrant another transcription.
-Joe Offer-

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Not much in the Traditional Ballad Index:

Maid of Monterrey

DESCRIPTION: A senorita comforts the fallen Americans on the field of Monterrey. "Although she loved her nation And prayed that it might live Yet for a dying foeman She had a prayer to give"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1856 (Thompson-Pioneer)
KEYWORDS: battle mercy death Mexico soldier
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
Sept 20-24, 1846 - Battle of Monterrey (part of the Mexican War). General Zachary Taylor captures the city, but the fight is bloody
FOUND IN: US(MA)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Thompson-Pioneer 55, "Maid of Monterrey" (1 text)
Roud #2828
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Field of Monterey" (subject)
File: THP055

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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: MAID OF MONTERREY
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Sep 03 - 12:01 AM

Interesting. Strange that Dobie didn't pick this up. The music is somewhat different from that given in the Texas Folk-Lore article.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: MAID OF MONTERREY
From: masato sakurai
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 11:25 PM

An 1851 sheet music is at American Memory.

The Maid of Monterey -- written by J. H. Hewitt (Baltimore: F. D. Benteen, 1851)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: MAID OF MONTERREY
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 08:33 PM

Hi, Q - yes, please e-mail me a scan of the song. I'll be glad to post the tune.
-Joe Offer-
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: MAID OF MONTERREY
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 08:32 PM

Roud 2828; at present he lists two examples: Dobie, Publications of the Texas Folklore Society, and Thompson, The Pioneer Songster (1958, 127-30, text only), this from the Stevens-Douglass MSS collection, dated 1841-1856. I didn't buy the latter when I had the chance, as it was over-priced for its condition; but I probably should have.

Subject: Lyr Add: MAID OF MONTERREY
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 08:11 PM

MAID OF MONTERREY

The moon was shining brightly
Upon the battle plain;
The gentle breeze fanned lightly
The features of the slain.
Our guns had hushed their thundering,
Our drums in silence lay;
Then came the señorita,
The Maid of Monterrey.

She cast a look of anguish
On dying and on dead;
Her lap she made a pillow
For those who groaned and bled;
And when our bugles sounded
Just at the break of day,
All blessed the señorita,
The Maid of Monterrey.

She gave the thirsty water,
She dressed the bleeding wound;
Her gentle prayer she uttered
For those who groaned around.
And when the dying soldier
One brief prayer did pray,
He blessed the señorita,
The Maid of Monterrey.

Although she loved her nation
And prayed that it might live,
Yet for the dying foeman
She had a tear to give.
Then cheers to that bright beauty
Who drove death's pangs away,
The meek-eyed señorita,
The Maid of Monterrey.

A Mexican War song?
Mr James Hatch claimed that the song was written by James T. Little, author of "The Ranger's Song" (Mount! mount! and away o'er the green pastures wide). It was reported by Noah Smithwick that in 1854 ("The Evolution of a State," 1900, pp. 315-316) he heard the song at a 4th July celebration at Marble Falls, Texas. Two songs in "Lone Star Ballads," 1874, Francis D. Allan, were "sung to the air of 'The Maid of Monterrey.'" A. G. Emerick, 1852, "Songs for the People," has six songs from the Mexican War, but not this one. The song existed prior to 1874, but was it composed at the time of the Mexican War, 1846-?
The version above (there are several) was provided by Mrs. Hal B. Armstrong to the Texas Folk-Lore Society along with a number of songs her father, W. D. Hunter, collected in the 1850s and 1870s.
Sheet music from Mrs. C. F. Austin, who said that she never saw the song in print.
(If someone wishes to post the music, pm and I will email a scan).

From J. Frank Dobie, "More Ballads of the Frontier Folk," pp. 155-180,
in J. Frank Dobie, Ed., 1928, "Follow De Drinkin' Gourd," Pub. Texas Folk-Lore Society, No. VII.
The six songs in Emerick, 1852, from the Mexican War, include three on the battle of Buena Vista, one on the battle of Palo Alto, one on he battle of Churubusco and one on "Uncle Sam and Texas."

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