Angelica Polka and De Charleston Gals.

Comment by Ian Bell on January 30, 2010 at 11:19am

I was figuring out Charleston Gals from the 1868 Buckley's Book. A curious little tune - I thought I'd check to see if It had been recorded - and of course it had. Thanks Tim. I also found a very different version of it in "Slave Songs Of The United States" 1867. (available from Google Books) You can see where the "Hi Ho The Charleston Gals" chorus falls in the banjo versions. The rest of the words are a great mash-up of folk lyrics. You can spot phrases that also turn up in "Buffalo Gals" "New York Girls" (Can't You Dance The Polka) and the sea chantey "Old Horse". I'll see if I can figure out how to upload a JEG of the music.

Comment by Tim Twiss on January 31, 2010 at 6:38pm

I had not noticed that it was doubled up...and so close a match, in the Buckley 1868. Do you have another more traditional version of this tune with lyrics and melody? All I saw was the piano versions in Levy's.

Comment by Ian Bell on February 1, 2010 at 8:41am

Did you see the one I posted the photo of the other day? It is the only one I've found - so far. The book it came from was compiled in 1867 from oral sources, so as far as being trad. it's actually got pretty good credentials. (A neat example of early folklore collecting) I'll bet there's music out there for a minstrel/stage version, somewhere. It must have been relatively well-known. A cruise through Youtubeland shows that it's survived in the American old-timey repertoire. (There are a few - including one of the "Haints" stringband with words) It seems to have weathered the years with its main musical hooks intact - the "Hi ho" for Charleston gals" chorus and the unusual cadence at the end of the parts.
One of my favorite things about fooling around with about old music is finding the places where the ancient creatures still walk among us in disguise - like dinosaurs and birds.

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