brya31 - Posted - 09/07/2010:  17:39:19

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Two tunes I am trying to find sheet music for are
1 Kentucky Waltz
2 Mama's not dead she is only sleeping <--dad said grandpa used to play this on fiddle and sing it to the family I have never heard of it.

drnathan747 - Posted - 09/07/2010:  18:46:24

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I don't have the sheet music for your second notation request, but there's a singer at our local pickin' parlor that sings a song called "Mama's Not Dead, She's Just Playing Possum" It's a very funny song, and belongs in the infamous possum category. It goes along with the "Five Pounds of Possum" song, and the many other possum songs.

Anyway, I am not familiar with the song title that you mentioned, perhaps this other title is the song you are looking for?

Good Luck,
Nathan

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Edited by - drnathan747 on 09/08/2010 08:56:08

drnathan747 - Posted - 09/07/2010:  19:24:37

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brya31-- you can find sheet music for the Kentucky Waltz at the following link:-- instituteofamericanmusic.com/f...esong.htm --with an mp3 of the song, as well as notation for other instruments.

Nathan

bottel31 - Posted - 09/07/2010:  22:28:49

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There is a well known bluegrass song called Mothers not Dead shes only asleepin',maybe that is the song your grandfather sang?There are some youtube videos of that song.

DougD - Posted - 09/08/2010:  05:31:18

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Here are the Stanley Brothers singing "Mother's Not Dead:" youtube.com/watch?v=G1nFVAKtF6M It has nothing to do with possums, and is not humorous either. Sounds like the singer at your pickin' parlor might be doing a parody of this song.

And here's Ricky Skaggs: youtube.com/watch?v=C8jUloCMLWg

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Edited by - DougD on 09/08/2010 05:42:29

coelhoe - Posted - 09/08/2010:  05:55:10

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"Kentucky Waltz" is copyrighted to Bill Monroe and was recorded by him several times. "Mother's Not Dead" is an older, fairly common gospel song, typical of "Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet," "Precious Memories" "Sweeter Than The Flowers" "A Few More Seasons Gone" "Victim to the Tomb" and many, many others. The fact that parodies of these songs even exist points to the extreme cultural uneasiness when these deeply emotional musical pieces are performed or even attempted by musicians from outside the upland South culture that produced and sustains these religious perspectives.

This has always been a problem for urban bluegrass groups, especially in the west and northeast, and the main reason why such groups emphasize instrumental technique over sincere vocals since their connection to the culture is intellectual and not emotional.

brya31 - Posted - 09/08/2010:  06:02:32

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very good info Dad said my grandpa would sit on the back porch and sing Mothers Not Dead She's Only Sleeping, gosh I dont think that sounds like a tune that I would sit back and sing to my family

OTJunky - Posted - 09/08/2010:  06:22:51

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quote:

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Originally posted by coelhoe

"Kentucky Waltz" is copyrighted to Bill Monroe and was recorded by him several times. "Mother's Not Dead" is an older, fairly common gospel song, typical of "Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet," "Precious Memories" "Sweeter Than The Flowers" "A Few More Seasons Gone" "Victim to the Tomb" and many, many others. The fact that parodies of these songs even exist points to the extreme cultural uneasiness when these deeply emotional musical pieces are performed or even attempted by musicians from outside the upland South culture that produced and sustains these religious perspectives.

This has always been a problem for urban bluegrass groups, especially in the west and northeast, and the main reason why such groups emphasize instrumental technique over sincere vocals since their connection to the culture is intellectual and not emotional.

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Anybody know what key Monroe recorded Kentucky Waltz in?

--OTJ

DougD - Posted - 09/08/2010:  06:31:41

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What I think is the first recording, Columbia 20013, with string band, is in D. I also found one with organ and electric guitar (probably Owen Bradley and Grady Martin) that's in F. I think that was Decca 46314.

He also recorded "Mother's Only Sleeping" in 1946 - Columbia 20107.

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Edited by - DougD on 09/08/2010 06:40:00

coelhoe - Posted - 09/08/2010:  07:01:57

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The 1951 recording of "Kentucky Waltz," with Tommy Jackson on fiddle, also included not only organ and / or piano (Owen Bradley, the producer) but also drums (!horrors!). This second recording was designed to have more of a smoother CW sound to mirror the unexpected hit that Eddy Arnold had with the song that year.

I've always played it in D, but we have a vocalist who can sing it there.

OTJunky - Posted - 09/08/2010:  07:08:39

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quote:

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Originally posted by brya31

very good info Dad said my grandpa would sit on the back porch and sing Mothers Not Dead She's Only Sleeping, gosh I dont think that sounds like a tune that I would sit back and sing to my family

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Most of us can't appreciate the death rate that occurred in the general population before the advent of modern anti-biotics - the introduction of penicillin just prior to the 2nd World War.

Before that any infection was potentially lethal - with the greatest impact among young children and the elderly. I well remember sitting around a wood stove with a collection of great aunts who were reminiscing about the children they lost within the first two years after child birth. They'd all had a lot children as is the custom in rural farming societies. My own Grandmother lost 3 out of 10. She lost her first husband and all of her two children in a two week period during one awful winter. Then she remarried and lost one more child out of seven.

People had to have a way to deal with this to avoid going crazy over it. The almost universal attitude adopted was the little time allowed with those children was a "gift". The other mechanism was the sentiment expressed in songs ( almost hymns actually ) like "Mother's Not Dead, She's Only a'Sleeping".

A faith in an "after life" and a 2nd coming was thought to be essential to keep everybody going - and to re-enforce the then current moral code. Even those who didn't believe in it always said they did....

Probably from your Grandfather's perspective these were not only reasonable but essential sentiments to share with his family. My Grandmother's favorite song was "Farther Along, We'll Know All About It". She sang it a lot.

--OTJ

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Edited by - OTJunky on 09/08/2010 08:03:20

OTJunky - Posted - 09/08/2010:  07:13:25

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quote:

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Originally posted by DougD

What I think is the first recording, Columbia 20013, with string band, is in D. I also found one with organ and electric guitar (probably Owen Bradley and Grady Martin) that's in F. I think that was Decca 46314.

He also recorded "Mother's Only Sleeping" in 1946 - Columbia 20107.

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Thanks - that sheet music link points to music that has it in A.

I thought that even Monroe would struggle in that key...

--OTJ

M-D - Posted - 09/08/2010:  08:04:36

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Death is a fact of life, and one that was not lost on our ancestors, as OTJ noted. Like other facets of a relatively austere life, it was taken in stride, and thus dealt with in ways that may seem morbid to modern sensibilities.

In Mexico, they have Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This recognises that death is a part of life, and honours that, remembering those who have passed on, as well as being a celebration of life. And, it is a celebration. For all the poverty, there is yet a passion for living. It is a cultural thing, and one not easily understood outside of that.

The same holds true, as coelhoe noted, for other cultures and their customs. It is much like watching a colony of ants, or a hive of bees. The obvious is easy to see, but we've really no idea of what really goes on, nor why. Or, easy to intellectualize, but no way to grasp the mental, emotional and spiritual components unique to a given culture. For that, one must live it, and thus be it. And, simply living amongst those in the culture is not the same thing, though certainly one has better insights because of that.

Gee, who knew a simple request for notation would develop to be a discussion on cultural anthropology? On the FHO? Naaah, never happen!

DougD - Posted - 09/08/2010:  08:57:22

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There seem to be more chords in that Institute of American Music version than I usually hear played too. There's a YouTube clip with Monroe and Emmy Lou Harris that's in E too.

eerohero - Posted - 09/08/2010:  15:12:27

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The most beautyful songs are often written about Death in so many cultures,
even in Scandinavia,it touches our senses more than anything else.

I´m very fond of Stanley brothers version of "Mothers not dead". Ralph Stanley`s sky high Tenor touches anyones heart.

Very nice topic with all replies, historical backgrounds for songs makes the whole thing a lot more interesting.

jak63 - Posted - 01/13/2011:  10:20:37

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The song Mother's not dead she is only sleeping was origionally written by Coy Parker and sent to Roy Acuff , who sent it back to her and said they had all the songs that they needed atthat time. Does any one know who the first person to record the song is?

coelhoe - Posted - 01/13/2011:  10:52:06

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I've usually heard it sung to the melody of "The Hills of Roane County" and I'm sure that melody pre-dates both lyrics.

hendrid - Posted - 01/13/2011:  13:17:19

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Interesting chasing this melody. A number of similar to songs pop up as noted by you learn-ed folks.... A number of old videos on youtube also.

ibiblio.org. VALSE À BELISAIRE (Belisaire's Waltz). Cajun, Waltz. USA, southwestern Louisiana. A Major. Standard tuning. One part. This popular song is not Cajun in origin. Related songs, according to Raymond Francois (1990), include Roy Acuff's "Precious Jewel," "Phil's Waltz" and "Hills of Roane County." Source for notated version: Nathan Abshire (La.) [Francois]. Francois (Yé Yaille, Chère!), 1990; pgs. 339-341.

Then I chased Hills of Roane County and came up with Rome (Rome seems another variation) County sheet music, bass clef, 3 flats in the Missouri State collections:

maxhunter.missouristate.edu/so...px?id=189

At least you can see the notes going up and down and how far and the verses separation and figure out an ending note if you want to develop your own sheet music version or whatever . Also ran across several sets of verses going with the different tune names including Mama's. Mudcat also had some forum discussion which got me going in my google search. Thanks Brya31, Rob

Don

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Edited by - hendrid on 01/13/2011 13:20:58

hendrid - Posted - 01/13/2011:  13:45:25

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Also look for Mother is Not Dead, Mama Ain't Dead and on and on....

Maybe something like this in ABC. Timing is off but maybe a taste of how it might run....

ROME (HILLS OF ROANE ) COUNTY MAMA/MOTHER AIN'T DEAD G 3/4 time

GG | Bd e d3/2 | d4 e d | B G D |
F G2 G | B d e | d2 B A |
G G A A B | A3 G | B d ed3/2 |
d2 ed3/2 | A BA G D | D G2 G |
B d e | d B G | A B A | G3 | ||

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Edited by - hendrid on 01/13/2011 13:46:46

DougD - Posted - 01/13/2011:  14:35:07

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Don, from the lyrics of that song its clear that its about East Tennessee. There's no Rome county in the state. so somebody misheard something somewhere along the line! You can hear the recording here: maxhunter.missouristate.edu/so...px?ID=516

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Edited by - DougD on 01/13/2011 14:36:32