Mahar and Early Minstrel Tune List

[Tim Twiss]

I had this going as a blog, but I think it gets buried, so i would like to keep it open as a topic.

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Mahar%20list%202.jpg

More...Next I see "A Life By The Galley Fire". I've done this as an instrumental, but I can't see a way of making this work vocally. Then there is "Dearest Mae"...seems like an ultra-typical song of this time..anybody do this one? Tempo suggestions??

[Tim Twiss]

Anybody else want to try "Dearest Mae"? Certainly a "typical" song, but we could find some interesting interpretations...room for creativity with the accompaniment and tempo. Buckley 1868 gives us some perspective.

[John Masciale]

Dearest Mae is another on my list.  I have not had a lot of time for recordings recently, but I'll see what I can do.

[Tim Twiss]

Does anybody have the lyrics to "Git Up In De Morning"? Another one we all play, but rarely sing. I recall having it once, but can't find it now. Not in Levy's, is it? Maybe LOC?

[Dan Gibson]

"Get up in the Morning" lyrics?

I ran across something that may or may not be what we’re looking for.  But, the lyrics contained in an article in the Literary Digest, May 27, 1916, “Canning Negro Melodies,” do fit the rhythm of the tune fairly well, although they might not be related at all.

Here’s the link to the article in Google Books, a quote from the text and the lyrics contained in the article:

http://books.google.com/books?id=sol334hPuRoC&pg=PA109&lpg=...

“Mandy, Tilly and Louvinia were fieldhands, and as they went up and down the long cotton rows, there are the words they used to chant in unison, keeping time with their hoes:"

 

Somebody buried in the graveyard,

Somebody buried in de sea;

Gwine ter git up in de mournin’ shoutin’

Gwine to sound de jubilee.

If you git dare befo’ I do,

You run an’ tell de Lord I’m er comin’ on too oh!

Somebody dyin’ in de mount’in

Somebody dyin’ in de bald

Gwine ter git up in de mornin’ shoutin’

Gwine ter rise up from de daid

If you git dare info’ I do

You Hunan’ tell de Lord, I’m er comin’ on too.

 

There’s a thread on the music lyrics site, Mudcat.org, that includes some discussion and the same lyrics:

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=40272

And the search continues.

:-)

[Tim Twiss]

Not quite the ones I was looking for, but thanks.

[Tim Twiss]

Okay, I just found it in Levy's under the title "Wake Up In De Morning".

This is the one.

 

[Tim Twiss]

Next up I see one called "Suzy Brown".  Can't find this one. Levy collection pulls up "Stop Dat Knockin" because Suzy Brown is in the introductory lyric. Not in Glee Book. I did find the lyrics in Christy's Nigga Songster...no melody. Anybody got some clues???

[Tim Twiss]

Can't find that one. Next...
"Happy Are We Darkeys So Gay"

Okay....who has done THAT one. Can't say I have.

I just want to see all of these...get more into seeing what makes it all tick.

[Tim Twiss]

I'll try this one. I think these would all sound better with an awesome group singing and playing it. I think these early tunes depended on it. The medium is part of the  content.

[Stanley Coombes]

Can someone tell me what Levy's is. Thank you.

Tim Twiss said:

Okay, I just found it in Levy's under the title "Wake Up In De Morning".

This is the one.

 

[Tim Twiss]

It is an online collection of music at John Hopkins. Public Domain material is free to download. It is mostly sheet music collection. It is a good way to source material.

John Hopkins University, The Lester S Levy Collection of Sheet Music. Retrieved from http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/

[Stanley Coombes]

Tim, what are the lyrics you sing on your video. Where did you get those.

Tim Twiss said:

Does anybody have the lyrics to "Git Up In De Morning"? Another one we all play, but rarely sing. I recall having it once, but can't find it now. Not in Levy's, is it? Maybe LOC?