Favorite Songs

[kevinw33]

It appears that this branch of the AC seems to be geared more toward instrumentation and instruction, but...


What are some of your favorite songs from the time period? Do you like the political marches, patriotic songs, or down home folk songs?

What bothers me is when you go to a battlefield or somewhere like that and want to purchase a music cd, and it is filled with songs written in '62 or '63. I think it is safe to assume that the average johnny was not singing Stonewall Jackson's Way and the average Billy was not singing Marching Through Georgia. Maybe I am wrong though, that is why I posted this!

My favorites are:

Arkansas Traveller
Nelly Bly
Garryowen
Waitin' for the Federals
Rose of Alabama
Yellow Rose of Texas
Rosin the Bow
Rocky Road to Dublin
Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye
Keemo Kimo


What about you?

[AZReenactor]

I generally favor the pre-war favorites of home. With my impression, that frequently means songs of the California Gold Rush of the 1850s, many of which also gained popularity across the country preceding the war.

Some of my favorites include:
Hangtown Gals
Joe Bowers
Sweet Betsy From Pike
To the Loved Ones at Home
I'm Sad And Lonely Here

I agree that it is important to consider the back ground of the soldier you are depicting and what songs they would have known and preferred. Too often reenactors willingly accept the singing of songs that do not match the dates of the event or that would be relatively unknown to the men they are depicting. I find though that the right music can provide quite a lot of insight into the time and culture being explored.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Hi,

For me it would have to be the following:

"Old King Crow"
"Rose of Alabama"
"Yellow Rose of Texas"
"Old Dan Tucker"

[Indianabugles]

The Union Wagon.
The why and the wherefore.
Drink it down
Johhny is my darling
Goober peas
Over the hills ad far away
The Army of the free.
Tramp Tramp

These are the ones we sing, we play shed loads more.

[BorderRuffian]

Well,


I concur that a lot of songs would have been from the soldier's civilian experience and what they grew up with.
There has also been some speculation on other threads as to the popularity of Irish tunes at this point in history,hence their performance for select groups rather than general audiences.

My .02

[Chris Montague]

Hearing a good fife and drum "Minstrel Boy" always fires me up.

[Lone Guard]

I generally favor the pre-war favorites of home. With my impression, that frequently means songs of the California Gold Rush of the 1850s, many of which also gained popularity across the country preceding the war.

Some of my favorites include:
Hangtown Gals
Joe Bowers
Sweet Betsy From Pike
To the Loved Ones at Home
I'm Sad And Lonely Here

I agree that it is important to consider the back ground of the soldier you are depicting and what songs they would have known and preferred. Too often reenactors willingly accept the singing of songs that do not match the dates of the event or that would be relatively unknown to the men they are depicting. I find though that the right music can provide quite a lot of insight into the time and culture being explored.

Troy,

I seem to remember us singing A Ripping Trip quite often at events too.

Occasionally at an event, I will strike up De Boatman Dance.

[AZReenactor]

Martin, that's just 'cause it is the first song in the front of my songster. Besides, even I can remember the tune to Pop Goes The Weazel. ;-)

I seem to remember us singing A Ripping Trip quite often at events too.

[jessejames70]

By far the 33rd AL favorite songs would be Jenny, Banks of the Ohio, and a medley of Comin' Round the Mountain, Working on the Railroad and Are You Washed In the Blood of the Lamb. We have a special one in our hearts for a "retired" Captain who just LOVED Goober Peas, I quote "This song sucks!" I don't know why, but obviously he doesn't care for it.

Paul Wolbeck
Cpl, 33rd AL

[Devilishmary]

I'm glad to see that we play a lot of those songs! and some i've never heard, that I am now going to go look up and learn!!!