The Music
Bright Summer Days
This is the second recording by the Sons of Dixie. We have endeavored to present a program that includes some old favorites, and some that might not be so well known. Whichever the case, we hope that you enjoy them.
The title of this recording, Bright Summer Days, is derived from the Stephen Foster song, Our Bright Summer
Days Are Gone (1861). We were struck with the variety of images this phrase conjured up in terms of the era represented here. It could refer to the memories of childhood and growing up in relatively peaceful surroundings in the early 19th century; it could refer to the days of courting and marriage; it could refer to the exciting, early days of battle before the terrifying realities of war finally hit home. Regardless of the picture it brings to mind, we trust these songs will give the listener some insight into the minds and hearts of those who fought and those who waited at home so many years ago.
Days Are Gone (1861). We were struck with the variety of images this phrase conjured up in terms of the era represented here. It could refer to the memories of childhood and growing up in relatively peaceful surroundings in the early 19th century; it could refer to the days of courting and marriage; it could refer to the exciting, early days of battle before the terrifying realities of war finally hit home. Regardless of the picture it brings to mind, we trust these songs will give the listener some insight into the minds and hearts of those who fought and those who waited at home so many years ago.
In addition to Our Bright Summer Days Are Gone, we have chosen two other Stephen Foster songs for this recording. Hard Times, written in 1854, is likely the most familiar, since it has been recorded several times in recent years. The Glendy Burk (1860) was a popular song for many years, but somehow faded away. Although he was to die almost penniless, Foster's music was extremely popular during his lifetime, and his songs have gained a place of honor in American popular music
2. The Glendy Burk
3. Nearer, My God, To Thee
4. Stonewall Jackson's Way
6. Tramp Tramp Tramp
7. Old Joe Clark
8. Dixie's Land
9. Riding A Raid
10. Coronation
11. Goober Peas
13. Hard Times Come Again No More
14. Rose Of Alabamy
To illustrate how folks in the 1860's did have a sense of humor, we have included three "comic songs" (as they were known at the time) for your amusement. Goober Peas has long been a favorite campfire sing-along, and probably started out that way. Rose of Alabamy sounds like a minstrel number and is still a favorite among Civil War re-enactors. Jordan Am A Hard Road To Travel was written by Dan Emmett (the author of Dixie) in 1848 for a long-forgotten minstrel show. After the Battle of Nashville, another version, Richmond Am A Hard
Road To Travel, was written as a parody. In the 1920's, Uncle Dave Macon recorded another version with updated lyrics. Our rendition is a mixture of Dan's version and Uncle Dave's version, and we think our audience will approve.
Road To Travel, was written as a parody. In the 1920's, Uncle Dave Macon recorded another version with updated lyrics. Our rendition is a mixture of Dan's version and Uncle Dave's version, and we think our audience will approve.
Some of the most popular music among the troops on both sides were the hymns that were so familiar to them from childhood. We are particularly gratified to include our rendition of Nearer, My God, To Thee (1856). This hymn was played on the afternoon of July 3rd 1863, as the wounded and defeated confederate soldiers retreated from the field of battle at Gettysburg. Coronation (1793) is better known these days as All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name. We have recorded this hymn as it would have been performed in the 1860's, unaccompanied and in the old quartet style. Incidentally, a Northern composer, Lowell Mason, wrote the tune for Coronation.
Our sole venture into instrumental music is a banjo and fiddle version of Old Joe Clark, a very popular dance tune down to the present day. In fact, our version comes from a fiddler in our home county, the late Jesse Padgett, who learned it from his grandfather, whose music dated from the time of the War.
The balance of the songs is patriotic in nature and familiar to most people with an interest in the period.
Tramp,Tramp,Tramp is the Southern version of a George F Root favorite by the same title. Riding A Raid and
Stonewall Jackson's Way enjoyed great popularity during the War. Maryland, My Maryland is the state song of Maryland, which we have shortened from its original nine verses. Bonnie Blue Flag could be called the alternate Southern National Anthem, second only to Dixie's Land which needs no introduction to those with an appreciation of Southern tradition.
Tramp,Tramp,Tramp is the Southern version of a George F Root favorite by the same title. Riding A Raid and
Stonewall Jackson's Way enjoyed great popularity during the War. Maryland, My Maryland is the state song of Maryland, which we have shortened from its original nine verses. Bonnie Blue Flag could be called the alternate Southern National Anthem, second only to Dixie's Land which needs no introduction to those with an appreciation of Southern tradition.
For information on ordering this CD, please visit our Store!
Our Dixie Forever!
Much of the material in this recording is familiar to anyone who has an interest in the War Between the States or American folk music of that era. When The Roses Bloom Again, Molly Mae, The Old North State, and Bright
Sunny South, however, have all come to us from a variety of sources. When The Roses Bloom Again is an old song which has been popular for many years in the old-time and bluegrass traditions, notably from recordings by Mac Wiseman and Reno & Smiley. Molly Mae was written by our good friend, Roger Alvis, who was instrumental in helping us become the group we are today. Bright Sunny
South a ballad from around Watauga County in western North Carolina, comes to us from the singing of Doc Watson via Jim Tayor of Mars Hill, NC. His recordings of this and other songs of the War period have been an inspiration to us. The Old North State is the North Carolina state song and has not been recorded nearly enough.
There Is A Fountain and Amazing Grace were among the favorite hymns of both sides during the War Between the States. The arrangement for Tenting Tonight owes much to the creative abilities of engineer, Mr. Steve Dyer, who made this project among the most enjoyable in memory. Many of the remaining selections have been arranged in ways which might not be exacty the way you remember them. We take credit or blame, depending on how you feel about it. This is the way they sound best to us -- in the spirit of soldiers of every era singing to boost their spirits.
Sunny South, however, have all come to us from a variety of sources. When The Roses Bloom Again is an old song which has been popular for many years in the old-time and bluegrass traditions, notably from recordings by Mac Wiseman and Reno & Smiley. Molly Mae was written by our good friend, Roger Alvis, who was instrumental in helping us become the group we are today. Bright Sunny
South a ballad from around Watauga County in western North Carolina, comes to us from the singing of Doc Watson via Jim Tayor of Mars Hill, NC. His recordings of this and other songs of the War period have been an inspiration to us. The Old North State is the North Carolina state song and has not been recorded nearly enough.
There Is A Fountain and Amazing Grace were among the favorite hymns of both sides during the War Between the States. The arrangement for Tenting Tonight owes much to the creative abilities of engineer, Mr. Steve Dyer, who made this project among the most enjoyable in memory. Many of the remaining selections have been arranged in ways which might not be exacty the way you remember them. We take credit or blame, depending on how you feel about it. This is the way they sound best to us -- in the spirit of soldiers of every era singing to boost their spirits.
For information on ordering this CD, please visit our Store!
2. Lorena
3. When The Roses Bloom Again
4. Vacant Chair
5. Molly Mae
7. Amazing Grace
8. The Old North State
9. Just Before The Battle, Mother
12. Dixie
13. Tenting Tonight
