Tune Search Mrs Lincolns Polka

[John Beland]

I'm forwarding this request from Sherry Ladig,
[e-mail]

> > Hello All,
> >
> > I know this may be a real long shot, but here goes.
> >
> > I'm doing some research on music played during the Civil War,
> > particularly music that President Lincoln knew. There are references all
> > over the place to the "Mary Lincoln Polka" or alternately, "Mrs. Lincoln's
> > Polka", written by and played by Francis Maria Scala and the U.S. Marine
> > Band on February 5, 1862 at a White House reception. So far I have struck
> > out at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, The Abraham Lincoln
> > Presidential Library, and the Lester Levy sheet music collection at the
> > University of Indiana (I have a request in to the archivist at the U.S.
> > Marine Band, but no answer yet after several days).
> >
> > I am hoping that somehow this tune might have made it into the folk
> > repertoire and may be played by someone out there. I can either read the
> > notes or transcribe the tune if anyone knows of a recording.
> >
> > Anybody?