Jenny Lind polka

Source: an gaoth aduaidh (the north wind) - solo flute playing from the irish tradition
Transcription: gian marco pietrasanta

i came across the original version of this from a mid-Western USA source for chemnitzer concertina. Jenny Lind was originally a three parter but the third part is naff and it works much better as a two parter.

TRhere is a suggestion that the tune may have been written in america (as Jenny lind “The Swedish nightingale” did tour the music halls in the States but its likely to have been composed in England. its most certainly not Irish an it does work well as a Southern English polka or even as a northumbrian Rant.

I ave been to Jenny Linds country retrat in the malverns. She had a pair of quite oridnary English farm cottages rerrofed in the steep swedish style and had an an industrial strength Victorian heating system installed. The cellars are very hot and make an ideal breeding site for the rare lesser Horsesho Bat - hence my visit.

Angels of the North link Jenny Lind with Dark Girl dressed in Blue and La Russe for La Russe and similar dances.

Noel
Angels of the North

I think Mary Custy recorded a very similar tune with Sharon Shannon.

Versions usually played at English sessions are much less ornamented, and I have never come across this B Part. There is a Shetland polka which is nearly the same as the trad English one.

I used to play the Shetland one but lost the sheetmusic years ago, and the name with it. Did it have a different name? Can you put it in abc?

Born in Stockholm, Johanna Maria Lind, October 6, 1820 – November 2, 1887, a coloratura soprano, considered by many to be the greatest ever, she was known by the name “Jenny Lind”, and referred to by many as “The Swedish Nightingale”. She toured throughout Europe, including Eire / Ireland…where they also adored her. Several tunes and versions and dances (sets of quadrilles) survive there…

http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/lind-jen.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Lind

http://ok.essortment.com/jennylind_rtiv.htm

http://chnm.gmu.edu/
http://chnm.gmu.edu/lostmuseum/searchlm.php?function=find&exhibit=nightingale&browse=nightingale

“In September 1850, P. T. Barnum ( YES! ~ that Phineas Taylor Barnum of ‘Barnum and Bailey Circus’ fame, famous and infamous 19th Century showman, promoter and circus man) embarked on a nationwide tour with a Swedish opera singer that would bring him a vast fortune and create a new cultural phenomenon: the celebrity. Barnum succeeded in building such great public anticipation about the ”Swedish Nightingale“ that 40,000 people showed up to greet the arrival of her ship in New York harbor. From her opening concert in New York Citys Castle Garden to subsequent performances in cities and towns across the country, Barnum fueled public fascination with Lind by orchestrating events and negotiating Lind-endorsed products (including Jenny Lind songs, clothes, chairs, and pianos). ”Lindomania“ lasted until 1852, when the partnership collapsed over logistical and financial issues. Barnum shrewdly promoted Lind’s character--her modesty, benevolence, and selflessness--as much as her artistry. One scholar contends that because of Barnum’s promotion, Lind became ”the standard for measuring not just sopranos, or even women artists, but women“ throughout the 1850s.”

She even had a locomotive engine named after her, “The Jenny Lind”:

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RAjenny.htm

& food ~ “Jenny Lind Soup”

http://www.soupsong.com/rjennyli.html

Yeah, I have a lot of versions of this one, even Shetland somewhere. I’m damned surprised it has taken this long to get on the site here. I’ve also seen a 19th Century transcription for the tune and will see if I can find that too…

Some promised early sources ~
Music for some of the many tunes given her name, from “The Jenny Lind March” to “Jenny Lind’s Bird Song” :

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/mussmhtml/mussmTitles225.html

More here, as always:

http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/JENN.htm

Dances were also choreographed in her honour, from a couple polka, “The Jenny Lind Polka”, recorded by Elias Howe, to a full set, “Jenny Lind’s Set of Waltz Quadrilles”…

Someone’s search for the source:

http://home.tiac.net/~cfiddle/jennylind.html

“The first reference to the Jenny Lind ”Polka“ is in a collection of ”popular“ tunes for cornet orchestras, published in 1846. However, in this collection, the composer of the tune was not listed. A dance was later composed to fit the tune, and was published by inventor Elias Howe in 1858, as part of a ball room dance book. Its possible that the ”reel“ version also comes from this time period. ~ ”

I think the Shetland variant that people have mentioned is “Da Boannie Polka”

X:197
T:Da Boannie Polka
S:Various sources
Z:Nigel Gatherer
M:2/4
L:1/16
K:D
AG|F2 A2 G2 B2|A2 f2 fafd|B2 e2 efec|A2 D2 D2:|
fe|d2 B2 BcdB|A2 F2 F3 A|G2 E2 EFGE| F2 D2 D2:|

Thanks Nigel. I took the liberty of posting that here https://thesession.org/tunes/5559.

my grandad (a fiddle player) always sang johny and his camera,camera,camera to this tune!
Up jumped johnny with his camera,camera,camera!He was born 1918 and went to school with Jimmy Power the fiddler.
He had lots of words to remember tunes, some of them bawdy!

Vivian Williams takes a bow to it, Phil Williams accompanies on guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKga_qpUN30

play video

“This polka was written in the 1840s, and is believed to be the tune used by New York dancing master Alan Dodsworth in 1844 when he introduced the polka to America. Today, only the first two parts of this tune usually are played, and it is often used for the ”Heel & Toe“ polka, which we danced to as kids. Vivian plays the original four part version, backed up by Phil Williams, guitar. Video by Shirley Calvert at the District 9, Washington Old Time Fiddlers Show, Chehalis, WA, September, 2006.”
http://www.wotfa.org/

Phil and Vivian’s music is available on CD from Voyager Recordings at http://www.voyagerrecords.com/

The Bassett Street Hounds - a mixed border morris team
from Syracuse, New York, U.S.A.
http://bassett-street-hounds.org/
http://bassett-street-hounds.org/dances/jenny_lind.php

Doubling the parts they give and a few minor other adjustments ~

X: 3
T: Jenny Lind Polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: DMaj
|: A/G/ |\
FA GB | Af f/e/f | Ge e/d/e | Fd dA/G/ |
FA GB | Af f/e/f | ge c/d/e/c/ | df d :|
|: F/A/ |\
dB B/c/d/B/ | AF F/G/A/F/ | GE E/F/G/E/ | FD DF/A/ |
dB B/c/d/B/ | AF F/G/A/F/ | GE E/F/G/E/ | DF D :|
|: F/G/ |\
AA dF | AG G/F/G | AA gc | ed d/c/d |
AA dF | AG G/F/G | AA gc |[1 df d :|[2 df d>d ||
K: GMaj
|: B/c/d B/c/d | eF F/E/F | eF F/E/F | ge d2 |
B/c/d B/c/d/B/ | eF F/E/F | eF dF |[1 GB G2 :|[2 G2- G |]

http://www.goess.org/
http://www.goess.org/mason/other-abc/
http://www.goess.org/mason/other-abc/pdf/jennylindspolka.pdf?key=&t=0

X: 4
T: The Jenny Lind Polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: DMaj
|: A/G/ |\
FA/F/ GB | Af f/e/f | Ae e/d/e | Ad d/c/d/A/ |
FA/F/ GB | Af f>f | ge e/c/A/c/ | ed d :|
K: GMaj
|: (3d/e/f/ |\
gg/f/ e/f/g/e/ | dB B/A/G/B/ | cA A/F/D/F/ | AG G (3d/e/f/ |
g>f e/f/g/e/ | dB B/A/G/B/ | cA A/F/D/F/ |[1 AG G :|[2 AG G2 ||
K: DMaj
|: AA dF | AG G/F/G | AA gc | ed d/c/d |
AA dF | AG G/F/G | AA gc | df d2 :|
K: GMaj
|: B/c/d B/c/d | eF F/E/F | eF F/E/F | ge d2 |
B/c/d B/c/d | eF F/E/F | eF DF |[1 GB G2 :|[2 GB G |]

X: 4
T: The Jenny Lind Polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: DMaj
|: D/E/ |\
FA GB | Af f/e/f | Ae e/f/e | Ad d/c/B/A/ |
FA/F/ GB/G/ | Af fe/f/ | Ae e/g/f/e/ | dc d :|
|: (3A/B/c/ |\
dB B/c/d/B/ | AF F>F | GE E/F/G/E/ | FD DF/A/ |
dB Bd/B/ | AF FA/F/ | GE A,/B,/C/E/ | DF D :|
K: GMaj
|: B/c/ |\
d/^c/d g/d/B | dc c/B/c | d/^c/d =c’f | ag g/f/g |
d/^c/d gB | dc c/B/c | d/^c/d =c’/a/f |[1 gg g :|[2 gg g2 ||
|: B/c/d B/c/d | ec c/B/c | A/B/c A/B/c | gd d/^c/d |
B/c/d B/c/d | ec c/B/c | A/B/c a/g/f |[1 g2 g2 :|[2 g2- g |]

This is similar to what Vivian Williams plays, only she plays it AABBACCDD…

X: 5
T: Jenny Lind Polka
B: “Kerr’s Third Collection of Merry Melodies”, page 50, tune #439
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: DMaj
|: FA GB | Af f/e/f | Ge e/d/e | Fd d/c/d |
FA GB | Af f/e/f | Ge e/d/e |[1 dd dz :|[2 dd da ||
|: d’b b/a/b | af f/e/f | ge e/d/e | fd d/c/d |
d’b b/a/b | af f/e/f | ge e/d/e | df dz :|

The tune is attributed to Anton Wallerstein of Germany. It seems that it may have been composed for Jenny Lind’s tour of the US.

http://pictures.abebooks.com/PETRILLA/571115018.jpg

See the publishers misspelled his name too!

Submitted on December 27th 2011 by ceolachan.
https://thesession.org/tunes/11663

Clearly related, but different enough to survive on its own?

Apparently, the publication date is 1840 - most sources date it later.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=571115018&searchurl=bi%3Ds%26tn%3Djenny%2Blind

“I firsy learned the Jenny Lind Polka from Alastair Anderson’s wonderful album Concertina Workshop (1972).” - Nigel
http://www.nigelgatherer.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=513

X: 6
T: Jenny Lind Polka, The
S: http://www.nigelgatherer.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=513
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: DMaj
|: A/G/ |\
FA GB | Af f/e/f | Ge e/d/e | Fd dA/G/ |
FA GB | Af f/e/f | ge e/g/f/e/ | df d :|
|: z |\
gg/f/ e/f/g/e/ | dB B/A/B | =cA A/G/A | BG G2 |
gg/f/ e/f/g/e/ | dB B/A/B | =cA A/c/B/A/ | GB G :|

X: 7
T: Jenny Lind Polka, The
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: DMaj
|: A/G/ |\
FA GB | Af fe/f/ | Ge ed/c/ | Ad d/c/B/A/ |
FA/F/ GB/G/ | Af f2 | ge ce/c/ | dc d :|
|: F/A/ |\
dB Bd/B/ | AF F2 | GE EF/A/ | BA AF/A/ |
dB B/c/d/B/ | AF FA/F/ | GE e/f/e/c/ | df d :|

# Posted on December 27th 2011 by nigelg
https://thesession.org/discussions/29035

https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/12168

I’d meant to return here ages ago and to add more information on the quadrille and the music, from a publication on a set of the quadrilles for ‘Jenny Lind’ and a date in the 1800s… I’ll keep looking and will try to remember to add it, and an Irish set dance take on the figures for comparison.

born 1813, died March 26th, 1892, age 78, was a German violinist and composer of dance music, writing 275 works (Grove’s: 1945).
http://parlorsongs.com/bios/composersbios.php#awallerstein

Published by Oliver Ditson - sometime in the1840s?

Here’s a transcription of the previous link, and a simpler one in a more accessible key will follow later ~

X: 8
T: Jenny Lind’s Favorite Polka, The
C: Anton Wallerstein
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: EbMaj
|: ([EG[[GB]) ([FA][Ac]) | .[GB].d (g/^f/.g) | ([FA]f) (f/=e/.f) | [(EG]e) (e/d/.e) |
([EG[[GB]) ([FA][Ac]) | ([GB]d) (g/^f/.g) | ([FA]f) (f/=e/.f) | [GBe][GBe] [GBe] z :|
|: .e‘.c’ {d/}c/=b/c’ | bg {a/}g/^f/g | .a.f {g/}f/=e/f | ge {f/}e/d/e |
.e‘.c’ {d/}c/=b/c’ | bg {a/}g/^f/g | .a.f {g/}f/=e/f | .[GBe].[GBe] .[GBe] z :|
|: ([EG[[GB]) ([FA][Ac]) | .[GB].d (g/^f/.g) | ([FA]f) (f/=e/.f) | [(EG]e) (e/d/.e) |
([EG[[GB]) ([FA][Ac]) | ([GB]d) (g/^f/.g) | ([FA]f) (f/=e/.f) | [GBe][GBe] [GBe] z ||
P: Trio
|: (3f/g/f/ (=e/f/) .b.d | .f.e {f/}(e/d/e) | (3f/g/f/ (=e/f/) ._e‘.a | .c’.b {c’/}(b/a/b) |
(3f/g/f/ (=e/f/) .b.d | .f.e {f/}(e/d/e) | (3f/g/f/ =e/f/ ._e‘.a | {c’/}.b.b .b z :|
|:([f/a/]b/c‘) ([f/a/]b/c’) | {b/}.d‘.c {a/}(g/^f/g) | {b/}.d’.c {b/}.d‘.c | a’f‘ {d’/}(c’/=b/c |
([f/a/]b/c‘) ([f/a/]b/c’) | {b/}.d‘.c {a/}(g/^f/g) | {b/}.d’.c {b/c’/}(ba/g/) | .f.f .f z :|
(3f/g/f/ (=e/f/) .b.d | .f.e {f/}e/d/e | (3f/g/f/ (=e/f/) ._e‘.a | .c’.b {c’/}(b/a/b) |
(3f/g/f/ (=e/f/) .b.d | .f.e {f/}(e/d/e) | (3f/g/f/ (=e/f/) ._e‘.a | {c’/}.b.b .b z |]


http://www.voyagerrecords.com/
http://www.voyagerrecords.com/ws.htm
Fiddle Tune Repertoire Builder VRCD 1l0:
25 Couple Dances: Schottisches, Polkas, Two-Steps, and Pattern Dances
http://www.voyagerrecords.com/LN110.htm

22.) Jenny Lind Polka - This tune was written by German composer Anton Wallerstein in the 1840’s and was named after Jenny Lind, the popular soprano who was known as the “Swedish Nightingale.” It was popularized by Allan Dodsworth, a dancing master who brought the polka from Europe to America. It’s often known in America as "Heel and Toe Polka, and if you use this for that dance, the music will fit the dance better if you don’t repeat the parts. For a regular polka, play it however you want to. There are actually two more parts to the tune – one of these days I’m going to learn them!

CORRECTION - Trio, second part, 4th bar, I forgot to notate that last c as c’…

As promised, for the sake of making comparison easier. staccato markings (.) also removed ~

X: 8
T: Jenny Lind’s Favorite Polka
C: Anton Wallerstein
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: EbMaj
|: GB Ac | Bd g/^f/g | Af f/=e/f | Ge e/d/e |
GB Ac | Bd g/^f/g | Af f/=e/f | ee ez :|
|: e‘c’ c/=b/c’ | bg g/^f/g | af f/=e/f | ge e/d/e |
e‘c’ c/=b/c’ | bg g/^f/g | af f/=e/f | ee ez :|
K: DMaj
|: FA GB | Ac f/^e/f | Ge e/^d/e | Fd d/c/d |
FA GB | Ac f/^e/.f | Ge e/^d/.e | dd dz :|
|: d’b b/^a/b | af f/^e/f | ge e/^d/e | fd d/c/d |
d’b b/^a/b | af f/^e/f | ge e/^d/e | dd dz :|

P: Trio

K: EbMaj
|: (3f/g/f/ =e/f/ bd | fe e/d/e | (3f/g/f/ =e/f/ _e‘a | c’b b/a/b |
(3f/g/f/ =e/f/ bd | fe e/d/e | (3f/g/f/ =e/f/ _e’a | bb bz :|
|: a/b/c‘ a/b/c’ | d‘c g/^f/g | d’c d‘c | a’f‘ c’/=b/c’ |
a/b/c‘ a/b/c’ | d‘c g/^f/g | d’c ba/g/ | ff fz :|
K: DMaj
|: (3e/f/e/ ^d/e/ ac | ed d/c/d | (3e/f/e/ ^d/e/ =d’g | ba a/g/a |
(3e/f/e/ ^d/e/ ac | ed d/c/d | (3e/f/e/ ^d/e/ =d’g | aa az :|
|: g/a/b g/a/b | c‘b f/^e/f | c’b c‘b | g’e’ b/^a/b |
g/a/b g/a/b | c‘b f/^e/f | c’b ag/f/ | ee ez :|

Arranged by H.P. Weller, published by W.C. Peters, 1850


The following includes the introduction, the opening four bars ~

X: 9
T: Jenny Lind’s Favorite Serenading Polka
T: National Schottische, The
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka / schottische
K: GMaj
[d/d’/] |\
[dd‘]>[dd’] [dd‘]>[dd’] | [d2d‘2]- [dd’]>[dd‘] | [dd’]>[dd‘] [dd’]>[dd‘] | [d2d’2]- [dd’] ^c/d/ | d2- d ||
|: B/c/ |\
.d.b .c.a | .Bg- g/d/B/G/ | .Fe- e/d/c/A/ | .Gg- g/d/B/c/ |
.d.b .c.a | .Bg- g/d/B/G/ | .Fe- e/d/c/A/ | G{A/}G/F/ G :|
|: A |\
.g.f .eA | .f.e .d(d | .e).B .^c.A | f2 dA |
.g.f .eA | .f.e .d(d | .e).B .^c.A | d2- d/c/B/c/ ||
.d.b .c.a | .Bg- g/d/B/G/ | .Fe- e/d/c/A/ | .Gg- g/(d/B/c/) |
.d.b .c.a | .Bg- g/d/B/G/ | .Fe- e/d/c/A/ | G{A/}G/F/ G :|
K: CMaj
|: (e/f/) |\
.g.e a>g | (gf/e/ f)(d/e/) | .f.d g>f | (fe/^d/ e(e/f/) |
.g.e c‘>b | (ba/^g/) a(d/c/) | B/c/d/e/ f/g/a/b/ | c’c‘ c’ :|
K: GMaj
.d.b .c.a | .Bg- g/d/B/G/ | .Fe- e/d/c/A/ | .Gg- g/(d/B/c/) |
.d.b .c.a | .Bg- g/d/B/G/ | .Fe- e/d/c/A/ | G{A/}G/F/ G |]

Just learning the last track off the Slan Le Loch Eirne CD and after looking here have become a bit confused. Quinn/Hastings play The Heel and Toe as Gian Marco posted it here: https://thesession.org/tunes/4467. The B parts of that tune and Jenny Lind’s are nearly identical. Quinn/Hastings then follow the first tune with Devlin’s which appears to be this: https://thesession.org/tunes/5559. Consequently, that tune shares the A part with Jenny Lind’s. So, basically they play one tune that has the A part of Jenny Lind’s and a second tune that has the B part of Jenny Lind’s, but they never actually play Jenny Lind’s. Am I missing something here or is this just another case of the tradition doing its thing?

This polka appears in the Larry Smyth MS c.1880s-1920 under the title of the “Bridal Polka”. Smyth was from Abbeylara, Co Longford. The only other version of it with this title is found in Ceol Rince na hEireann Vol. 5 (1999). The source is accredited to a Thomas McGuire MS from the late 1800s. McGuire was from Lisduff, Co. Cavan. Interestingly its the exact same version as that of Smyths! So either its a case that both McGuire and Smyth had the exact same tune, note for note, or else the book has referenced the McGuire MS by mistake. I’ll need to check that manuscript to verify it. Smyth also has another version of the tune entitled as “Jenny Lind”.

More Longford connections to the tune - Frank Quinn (1893-1964) of Greagh, Drumlish, Co. Longford recorded the first two parts of this tune in the key of D on the accordion in February, 1923 under the title “Quinn’s Irish Polka”.

I also just found a three part version of the tune in the key of G entitled “Jenny Lind Polka” in the Patrick O’Farrell MS of Aughadowry, Ballinamuck, Co. Longford written around the 1860s-70s.

All of the Longford versions mentioned (except “The Bridal Polka”) correspond very closely to one another which is not surprising given the geographical proximity of the musicians to one another and also the fact that they were all connected to the fiddle master Thomas ‘Blind’ Kiernan (c.1807-1887) of Cartron, Drumlish, Co. Longford.

I got this version from a recording of my great-grandfather, who hailed from Ballydesmond and learned the fiddle from Tom Billy. He plays it after what is now known as Dennis Murphy’s, and ends with the Rakes of Mallow. I like the set as I am not a particular fan of any of the listed polkas, but they come together nicely. If you’re a fiddler, go wild with the drones, it helps!

This is a Swedish tune called ‘Polkett efter Bohlin’ (i.e. ‘from the playing of . . .’ or ‘associated with . . .’). It is so similar to ‘Jenny Lind’ that I wonder if, by any chance, they are related? I guess it’s possible that, like Ms Lind herself, the tune we all know travelled from Scandinavia: or maybe this setting is an ‘Engelska’ - a Swedish version of a tune originating in the UK. (Väsen play this on one of their early recordings, along with a polka called ‘Tobopolketten’ - a good session set if you like that sort of thing. Dots at: www.rudemex.co.uk).

I understand that August Bohlin was a musician in the early part of the C20th, from a family with previous generations of connections to traditional music. So if this tune is originally Swedish, it could go back long before his dates. (Bohlin was apparently very influential in the development of the modern configuration of the nyckelharpa from earlier forms).

Should add . . . the harmony part and chords are mine. Use or disregard as desired.

Related:
https://thesession.org/tunes/4467

From the playing of Eoin O’Riabhaigh.