Origins: Lucy Neale

Subject: Origins: Lucy Neale
From: Snoozer
Date: 08 Feb 04 - 04:03 PM

I'm looking for the origins of the tune: Lucy Neale
This tune was apparently used a lot to write other songs, including The Song of Texas (which is in the DT, with a midi of the tune), and minstrel songs. I have one source that says The Song of Texas was written in 1845, so the tune would have to predate that.
But does anyone know where the tune originated?
Thanks,
Susan

Subject: RE: Origins: Lucy Neale
From: masato sakurai
Date: 08 Feb 04 - 08:54 PM

These (from the Levy collection) seem to be the ones; the first two (and others in the collection) were published in 1844:

Title: Miss Lucy Neale (A Favorite Ethiopian Song).
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Written, Sung, & Dedicated to His friends of his own native city, Philadelphia, by James Sanford, The Celebrated Negro Singer & Dancer.
Publication: Philadelphia: A. Fiot, 196 Chesnut St., 1844.
Form of Composition: strophic with chorus
Instrumentation: piano and voice
First Line: I was born in Alabama, My master's name was Meal
First Line of Chorus: Oh! poor Lucy Neale, Oh! poor Lucy Neale

Title: Lucy Neale. A Celebrated Negro Melody
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Adapted & Arranged for the piano Forte By Charles Von Bonnhorst, Jr., Banjo Melodist.
Publication: Philadelphia: J.G. Osbourn's Music Saloon, 112 S. 3d. St., Near the Exchange, 1844.
Form of Composition: strophic with chorus
Instrumentation: piano and voice
First Line: Oh! I liv'd down with my Master, His name was Mister Beale
First Line of Chorus: Oh Miss Lucy Neale, Poor Miss Lucy Neale

Title: The Virginia Minstrels' Cotillions. (1) Lucy Long; (2) Dandy Jim; (3) Boatman's Dance; (4) Lucy Neale; (5) Dan Tucker Jig. [Includes Dance Step Instructions]. Series Title Music of the Ethiopian Serenaders. Nine Songs and a Set of Cotillions.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Arranged by Old Dan Tucker.
Publication: Philadelphia: E. Ferrett & Co., 68 South Fourth Street, n.d..

Subject: RE: Origins: Lucy Neale
From: masato sakurai
Date: 08 Feb 04 - 10:40 PM

Lyrics & midi for "Lucy Neale" are at Minstrel Songs, Old and New ("Lucy Neal"; 1844; words: James Sanford; music: James Sanford).

Subject: RE: Origins: Lucy Neale
From: masato sakurai
Date: 08 Feb 04 - 11:02 PM

I'm not sure which was the original, but this 1844 edition bears the composer's name; (1) at Levy, (2) at American Memory.

(1) Title: Miss Lucy Neale (A Favorite Ethiopian Song).
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Written, Sung, & Dedicated to His friends of his own native city, Philadelphia, by James Sanford, The Celebrated Negro Singer & Dancer.
Publication: Philadelphia: A. Fiot, 196 Chesnut St., 1844.
Form of Composition: strophic with chorus
Instrumentation: piano and voice
First Line: I was born in Alabama, My master's name was Meal
First Line of Chorus: Oh! poor Lucy Neale, Oh! poor Lucy Neale

(2) Miss Lucy Neale, a favorite Ethiopian song / by James Sanford (Philadelphia: A. Fiot, 1844)

On James Sanford (1814-1855), click here (with a portrait): "James Sanford, born in Philadelphia in 1814, was one of the first generation of minstrel performers. He performed with the Virginia Serenaders."

Subject: RE: Origins: Lucy Neale
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 10:23 PM

The tune is memorable; in 1844 several claimants published music.
(The details below I wanted for my notes, I apologise for adding volume to this thread).

James Sanford is accepted by most writers as the composer. A midi to his sheet music is at pdmusic, linked by Masato, 08 Feb. 04. In the sheet music published by Fiot, Sanford is called "The celebrated NEGRO singer and dancer." He was a blackface minstrel. Pdmusic took the midi from sheet music in a London edition, "Lucy Neal," also pub. in 1844, but apparently Sanford is credited.
In the Fiot copy, the master's name was 'Meal,' in the English copy it was 'Beal.' This is the tune usu. associated with the "Song of Texas."

Also in 1844:
"Miss Lucy Neale or the Yellow Gal" was pub. by Geo. Willig, arr. for piano by James W. Porter. Here, the master's name is 'Deal.' The music is somewhat different. "Philadelphis concerts." Lyrics different from those of Sanford.
"Miss Lucy Neale or the Yellow Gal" pub. Atwill, NY, arr. for piano by N. Barckley. From the Congo Melodists. Master's name is 'Deal.' Music differs slightly from Sanford's and Porter's sheet music.
"Lucy Neale," pub. J. G. Osbourne, Philadelphia, arr by banjoist Charles Von Bonnhorst. Master's name Beale. Music seems closer to Sanford's. Lyrics different from those of Sanford, and Porter. American Memory have a copy they date later.

"Oh Poor Miss Lucy Neale," pub. Oliver Ditson, Quickstep by Edward L. White. Catalogued as 1844, but deposited Feb., 1845. Seems more akin to the Porter arrangement; combined with "Dandy Jim."

"Miss Lucy Neale," pub. Firth and Hall, 1845, arr. piano by W. R. Coppock. These are variations, departing from the usual melody.
"Miss Lucy Neale and Dandy Jim," 1846, Quickstep, pub. F. D. Benteen, arr. D. Tucker.
"Miss Lucy Neale," pub. Saml. Carusi, Baltimore, n. d., music similar to Porter. (Levy Sheet Music)
"Miss Lucy Neale," E. Ferrett & Co., Phila., n. d., The Virginia Minstrels Cotillions (Boatman's Dance, Dandy Jim, Lucy Long, Dan Tucker (jig), with dance instructions). Ethiopian Serenaders, arr. by Old Dan Tucker.

Subject: LYR. ADD: MISS LUCY NEALE
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 05:29 AM

Lyrics to "Lucy Neale" are generic minstrel, not worthy of the tune.

Lyr. Add: Miss Lucy Neale
James Sanford version, 1844

I was born in Alabama,
My master's name was Meal,
He used to own a yellow gal,
Her name was Lucy Neale.

Chorus:
Oh! poor Lucy Neale,
Oh! poor Lucy Neale,
If I had her in my arms,
How happy I would feel.

Miss Lucy she was handsome,
From de head down to de heel,
And all de niggas fell in love,
Wid my pretty Lucy Neale.

She used to go out wid us,
To pick cotton in de field,
And dar is whar I fell in love,
With My pretty Lucy Neale.

I asked Miss Lucy would she have me,
How glad she made me feel,
When she gave to me her heart,
My pretty Lucy Neale.

My massa he did sell me,
Because he thought I'd steal,
Which caused a separation,
Of myself and Lucy Neale.

My boat it was a pine log,
Widout eder rudder or keel,
And I floated down de ribber,
A crying poor Lucy Neale.

De niggas gave a ball,
Miss Lucy danced a reel,
And none dar could compare,
Wid my poor Lucy Neale.

Miss Lucy she was taken sick,
She eat too much corn meal,
The Doctor he did give her up,
Alas! poor Lucy Neale.
One day I got a letter,
And jet black was the seal,
It was de announcement ob de death
Of my poor Lucy Neale.

Pub. A. Fiot, Philadelphia, and W. Dubois, NY, written and sung by James Sanford of Philadelphia.

Variant verses from other versions:

Master he won't give us rum
When we work in de field,
But when I'm done at night
I runs to Lucy Neale.

Twas on a monday morning
De sun shone nice and keen,
I got a letter of the death
Of my sweet Lucy Neale.

Subject: RE: Origins: Lucy Neale
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 06:02 AM

The Bodleian Library presents ten copies, all with the title Lucy Neal (no 'e'). Some have the same "I was born in Alabama" beginning as the American printings, but a second group begins with "Come all you..." Both groups by various printers, London and Preston.