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A Collection of Dad's Essay's & Writings - Welcome

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Peerce and Nelson Eddy featured a truly remarkable song called simply “A Dream” by Bartlett which seems to have<br />

almost disappeared from public consciousness. This attractive ballad was written by John Carroll Bartlett, a native <strong>of</strong><br />

Harmony, Maine. He later toured with violinist Camilla Urso but his reputation rests solely on this exquisite little<br />

concert song.<br />

The late Paul Robeson kept one <strong>of</strong> those stunning compositions <strong>of</strong> Sir Charles H. H. Parry alive in concert and on<br />

disc when he rendered "Jerusalem”, one <strong>of</strong> Parry's most inspired creations. Robeson also <strong>of</strong>fered four ballads in the<br />

1935 film, “Sanders <strong>of</strong> the River”, based on a story by Edgar Wallace set in Africa which has been sadly neglected. The<br />

music is credited to a composer named Spoliansky.<br />

Some American and British opera stars have been successful with musical comedy, operetta and popular songs,<br />

but for the most part they have not matched the European opera stars like McCormack, Tauber, Wunderlich, Pinza<br />

and others when it comes to lighter fare. Richard Crooks, Jan Peerce and a few other Metropolitan stars were quite<br />

successful in rendering light ballads. One <strong>of</strong> the most successful though was Gladys Swarthout, whose mezzo soprano<br />

voice lent itself to fine renderings, particularly <strong>of</strong> Arthur Schwartz's, “Dancing in the Dark” and Vincent Youmans,<br />

"Through The Years."<br />

Prior to the First World War, two Yale students created “The Long, Long Trail” and one <strong>of</strong> them, Stoddard King,<br />

won a literary prize for the verses. The music was composed by Zo Elliot. When the composer went to Oxford in<br />

England it became very popular with students over there and eventually it was published in Britain and it was sung by<br />

British troops during the First World War. There are also reports that it was a favorite with the Kaiser's troops during<br />

the First World War<br />

The Second World War brought out a vast number <strong>of</strong> popular ballads. In Britain it was “The White Cliffs <strong>of</strong><br />

Dover” and in Germany it was “Lili Marlene”, which Allied soldiers first heard when serving in Africa. Composer<br />

Norberr Schultz, who also wrote operas and other serious works, contributed the music to this ballad. Interestingly<br />

enough, the words go back to 1915 during the First World War when it was written by Hans Leip, a German soldier<br />

with poetic bent. Apparently he had two girl friends, Lili and Marlene.<br />

But perhaps the one outstanding composition from the war years that is completely forgotten because it was<br />

strictly a wartime story is from the film, “Shipyard Sally”. Gracie Fields, the coloratura soprano, was unique in that<br />

she was not noted for her singing <strong>of</strong> the great coloratura roles such as the “Daughter <strong>of</strong> the Regiment” but pop songs.<br />

In "Shipyard Sally” she warbled in grand style a selection called "Wish Me Luck". Fields played the role <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

many women who worked in the shipyards while the men were at war and her recording <strong>of</strong> the song was hit parade<br />

material. She also sang a number <strong>of</strong> novelty pieces but among pop tunes, “Wish Me Luck” was unique in that she<br />

displayed her high coloratura notes in real Lili Pons fashion. In her retirement years, Gracie Fields lived on the Isle <strong>of</strong><br />

Capri.<br />

From the days <strong>of</strong> Britain's Empire building comes poet Rudyard Kipling's, “Road to Mandalay”, set to music by<br />

Ohio-born Oley Speaks, who also gave the world the charming “Sylvia”.<br />

Radio programs were sometimes responsible for bringing songs to the public attention. One such number is<br />

Ernesto Lecuona's, “Siboney” which was featured by Jessica Dragonette in her popular radio show many decades ago.<br />

This lovely song was written in 1929.<br />

With St. Patrick's Day celebrations in many cities around the world, it is certain that Irish ballads are not among<br />

the neglected, but there are a few that could stand more exposure. The late Frank Patterson was responsible for<br />

keeping many <strong>of</strong> them alive, but for the ultimate is the truly inspired interpretation <strong>of</strong> “A Soldier's Dream” in an<br />

arrangement by Ludwig van Beethoven. Among the many vocal compositions <strong>of</strong> the German composer, is a large<br />

collection <strong>of</strong> Irish, Scottish and Welsh songs which he arranged for George Thomson <strong>of</strong> Edinburgh who <strong>of</strong>fered<br />

Beethoven a sizable sum. It has been said that the composer only did it for the money, but the marvelous<br />

arrangements show that the composer gave each piece careful attention. “A Soldier's Dream” was one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

collections which incidentally also included a lovely arrangement <strong>of</strong> “Auld Lang Syne”.

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