Quick notes on Schumann : his parents were not musical but they encouraged his interest in music with piano lessons from the age of 10. However, his family was later to be beset by tragedy. When Schumann was in his teens, his father died and his sister committed suicide in quick succession, events that were to have a deep impact on the young musician. Initially music was to take a back seat in his life. For his main subject he studied law at Leipzig while simultaneously continuing his music studies. One of his music teachers was Friedrich Wieck whose daughter Clara showed a great talent at the piano while she was only 9 years old. A further tragedy was to hit Schumann when a mishap damaged one of his hands and spoiled his chances as a pianist. Some accounts blame a device he used to strengthen his fingers, but other theories suggest mercury poisoning as a side effect of his syphilis treatment. After the accident, Schumann was to concentrate more on composing.

Alexandre Brailowsky – Songes Troubles, Op. 12, No 7, Schumann < < PLAY

on the American Billboard charts . It was recorded by the sister-duo group

The Teen Queens , Betty and Rosie Collins . They sang the song which was written by their

brother , Aaron Collins . It was their only hit , which was great for a debut single ! They

would try for additional success over a few years’ time , but it couldn’t be repeated , and

the sisters hung it up , quietly , in 1961 . It is interesting , too , that the Chordettes ( of ” Mr .

Sandman ” fame ) also recorded “Eddie My Love ” in 1956 , and also had a chart hit with it in

the same year . Anyway . this tune is so catchy , and the harmonies are so tight , that  I will

sometimes be humming it for days -

go ahead and give it the ‘ol jukebox spin . . .

The Teen Queens – Eddie My Love < < PLAY

I ran into a pile of Brazilian 78s at a house-sale in Ravenswood Manor last summer. This one is

Narcisos, a ritmo de samba side, by Waldir Calmon, on the Star label out of Rio de Janeiro, 1952. He

made many recordings in his long career as a musician and innovator. Mr. Calmon (1919-1982) was the

first performer in Brazil to use the solovox, a small keyboard instrument that was the forerunner to the

synthesizer. His plaintive single note runs were widely imitated by the next generation of Bossa Nova

and Samba : and particularly by the iconic Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Nerd note: this take is doubly-so great because the shellac is in pristine condition and there is the

most minimal of hiss/surface noise.

Waldir Calmon – Narcisos <<<PLAY

and revered female singer Ascharyamoyee Dasi singing a traditional Urdu ghazal: Ham jaayenge

kasade dile divaannaa jahaan ho. This is devotional music: in praise of the Most High: with a backing

band of harmonium, hand drums, hand claps, and voices: this music seems to be related to the later art

of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (1948 – 1997) , master singer (genius) of Pakistani quawwali music.

Super rare in any format: a document as much as a song about a different time in India.

I can not determine the year of this recording. No idea. Maybe between 1935 and 1955?

Ascharyamoyee Dasi – Ham jaayenge kasade dile divaanaa jahaan ho <<PLAY

trumpet beauty. Just a fine lyric, too. Recorded on October 16,

1947,  right here in Chicago with his All Stars:

Jack Teagarden , trombone

Barney Bigard , clarinet

Dick Cary , piano

Arvell Shaw , bass

Big Sid Catlett , drums

Louis Armstrong – Before Long <<<PLAY

around America as a singer with the John Lair Cumberland Ridge Runners. His 1951 version of “Peace

in the Valley” was one of the first-ever-million-selling gospel hits. Throughout his recording life he sold

more than twenty-five million 78s and is an important figure in the history of country music.

He was also a big inspiration for a couple of future rock n’ rollers named Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis

Presley, both playing many of Red’s songs; and both absorbing Red’s country boogie style which would

be the foundation of all that 50s Sun Records rock-a-billy.

Lately, I havin’ been really digging his version of the little remembered Bob Russel tune “Church

Music.” On the Decca label from 1950, the melody is catchy and Foley’s baritone/tenor voice sounds so good around

this simple, genuine ditty.

Red Foley – Church Music <<PLAY

Together with Gerald Moore, who is regarding the piano accompaniment most tenderly, she sings this beautiful tribute to “the exquisite hour”.

This one is dedicated to my beautiful Venus, with whom I have listened to this side over & over again all throughout these last couple seasons.

Maggie Teyte – L’Heure Exquise <<<PLAY

I found this amazing 78 rpm folk recording, on the Japanese Victor label, at some junk store on Lincoln Avenue.

The song is entrancing, so musical & overwhelmingly meaningful, but I do not know what the record label says or what the lyrics hope to reveal. Will you help out with the translation and interpretation? so that we can all better understand this beautiful music??

Best & Regards,

K.J.

Japanese Victor 78 rpm – 52016-A <<<PLAY

UPDATE: Courtesy of Lucy (Akiyoshi) Dierks

The singer of this song is Koume Akasaka (1906-1992). She was a geisha in her young life and

later on became a renowned songstress, also appearing in movies. The title of this Victor side

alludes to a Japanese city, Sasebo. The stringed instrument heard is the shamisen, common in

Japanese folk and classic works.

Miss Akasaka’s version of the Kuroda Bushi is her most famous recording.

Thank you to Lucy for her insight, kampai!

Mestizo is the historical/traditional way to denote a person of mixed indigenous American and European blood.

A yaravi is a song form in triple meter, in the minor tonality, sung in the Peruvian Andes mountains; these are songs of passion and loss, complicated love affairs etc.

I put this song on today and, against a backdrop of full sun and slightest browning leaves, a bit hot and humid too, it completed a feeling which I can not explain, but which this beautiful music would explain to anyone with love in their heart.

It sounds like a three piece to me: harp, guitar, singing.

There is an old fire to this music which I have never experienced in person, and might never. And what a shame that most of us living now,together in the future that we had been hearing about for so long, will never either.

Music of Peru, Ethnic Folkways – Pajarillo Cautivo (mestizo yaravi) <<<PLAY

On the Rio de Janeiro label Copacabana from the early 50s, Ciganinha is a right example of this type of music and its intentions:warm, virtually always in a major key, and ever so swinging. A perfect warm weather tune., with or without the caipirinha.

Paschoal Melillo e Seus Guitarristas-Ciganinha <<PLAY