the Bartender's Polka

There are at least three different tunes called the Bartender's Polka, and they're all good!

First up is one with Polish lyrics, just posted yesterday! I think of this as Chicago style polka.

I remember hearing Walt Solek's "Bartender's Polka" when I was a kid:

The Bartender's Polka that Hank Thompson had a country western hit with in 1958 is popular with the Dutchman style polka bands that I love. Here is that tune, covered by Gary's Ridgeland Dutchmen:

At the beginning of this video, Gary Brueggen says it's the same tune as Fingertanz. I heard that and thought great, we've got that in our new books! — but it seems to be a different "Fingertanz".

Circling Pigeons

Here's a favorite of mine, a traditional tune for midwestern polka bands, with Czech roots: Circling Pigeons waltz (or ländler).

Tom Waits had some praise for this version:

I love these Czech-Bavarian bands that landed in Texas of all places... This music is both sour and bitter, and picante, and floating above itself like steam over the kettle. There's a piece called the 'Circling Pigeons Waltz', it's the most beautiful thing - kind of sour, like a wheel about to go off the road all the time.

Brian and the Mississippi Valley Dutchmen do a great rendition with a concertina solo. My other favorite would be the Romy Gosz recording, but since there's no footage of that group, the following tribute will do: 

Kinderhaus Weihnachtsfest

Our band will be playing at the Christmas party for KinderHaus, Saturday December 6th. The event starts at 3, we play at 6.

The Franz Klein library

I am pleased to announce that BlowMusik has acquired the Franz Klein music library. This is a set of arrangements from a band that was active in the Detroit area in the 1910's and 20s, according to the guy I bought it from, whose father acquired it in the 70s. There are about 80 hand-written arrangements, and 33 typeset, all nicotine stained but in decent condition. There are familiar pieces by Strauss and Sousa, some traditional tunes, and other things I hadn't heard of. Some may be originals by Klein, for all I know. There are books for Flugelhorns, Horns in Eb,  Bb clarinet, Eb clarinet, alto saxes, 'Eufonium' and Bass. It all arrived in a very old and hand-made briefcase of wood and leather.

I'll be trying out these on the piano, copying the pieces I like into Noteflight, and posting links here when I have time. The parts are notated beautifully and clearly, with a steel-nib pen. 

Where were you for game 6 of the World Series?

You probably weren't at the San Mateo Marriott, but if you were, you might have seen this:

Thanks to Melissa L. for sharing her video with us.