"Aloha Oe" is a song written in 1878 by (at the time) Princess Liliuokalani of Hawaii.
The Hawaiʻi State Archives preserves a hand-written manuscript by Liliʻuokalani, dated 1878, with the score of the song, the lyrics, Liliʻuokalani's English translation, and her note evidently added later: "Composed at Maunawili 1878. Played by the Royal Hawaiian Band in San Francisco August 1883 and became very popular".
The story of the origin of the song has several variations. They all have in common that the song was inspired by a notable farewell embrace given by Colonel James Harbottle Boyd during a horseback trip taken by Princess Liliʻuokalani in 1877 or 1878 to the Boyd ranch in Maunawili on the windward side of Oʻahu, and that the members of the party hummed the tune on the way back to Honolulu. Different versions tell of alternate recipients of the embrace — either Liliʻuokalani's sister Princess Likelike Cleghorn or a young lady at the ranch. SEE: Aloha Oe
According to the most familiar version of the story:
This tender farewell set Liliʻuokalani to thinking, and she began humming to herself on the homeward trip. Overhearing, Charles Wilson observed, "That sounds like "The Lone Rock by the Sea". a comment with which Liliʻuokalani is said to have agreed. When the party paused to rest in an orange grove on the Honolulu side of the Pali, the others joined in the hummings, and the song was completed later at Washington Place.
The tune of the verse of "Aloha Oe" resembles "The Rock Beside the Sea", recalled by Charles Wilson as "The Lone Rock by the Sea" and composed by Charles Crozat Converse and published in 1852 by Lee & Walker in Philadelphia.
Listen here to a midi of "Rock Beside The Sea":
The Serbo-Croatian folk song, "Sedi Mara (Na Kamen Studencu)" (Girl On The Rock), credited to Mita Popovic (1841-1886), also resembles "The Rock Beside The Sea".
On the internet we often read that "Aloha Oe" / "The Rock Beside The Sea" was derived from "Sedi Mara", but I think it's the other way round.
"The Rock Beside The Sea" was published in 1852 in Philadelphia, and the composer of "Sedi Mara", Mita Popovic, was only 11 years old then. Most likely he composed the song years later, when he got hold of sheet music of "The Rock Beside The Sea", which, as we see above here, pictures a girl on a rock on the frontpage.
In 1926 a Serbo-Croation Male Quartette recorded "Sedi Mara" in New York.
(o) Male Singing Quartet (1926) (as "Sedi Mara")
accompanied by Tamburaški Zbora "Jorgovan".
Recorded June, 1926 in New York City.
Released on Columbia 1043-F (USA)
Also released as "Sedi Mara (Седи Мара)" on Columbia D 8469 (UK)
Captain Heinrich Berger, a Prussian military bandmaster, may be responsible for introducing the melody to Hawaii.
Berger knew the tune from popular 19th century Austrian song "Die Träne" (The Tear), supposedly adapted from same former Serbo-Croatian source.
In 1872 Captain Berger was summoned by Prince Kalakaua, the (then future) king of Hawaii, to come and set up a local music program and to lead the Royal Hawaiian Band. Berger stayed in Hawaii for the rest of his life, also composing what became the local national hymn Hawaii Ponoï, based on Prussian hymn Heil Dir im Siegerkranz and inspired by God Save The King/Queen. He conducted some 32.000 concerts and became close with queen Liliuokalani, who dubbed him "The father of Hawaiian Music".
"Aloha Oe" was first introduced in America in 1883 by the Royal Hawaiian Band with Heinrich (Henry) Berger conducting.
Musicologist Sigmund Spaeth noted that the first two measures of the melody of the chorus of "Aloha Oe", (which are arpeggiated IV-I chords) also resemble the chorus of George Frederick Root's 1854 song "There's Music In The Air", but measures 3 and 4 differ from it. Published by Mason Bros. in the musical monthly called "The Musical Review".
Click on "view" and then go to page 98 and page 253 of the next link:
The chorus begins at 32 seconds in the YT below:
According to the book, "From Edison to Marconi: The First Thirty Years of Recorded Music," the first recording of "Aloha Oe" was already made in 1898 on Berliner cylinder 515. Details of the performer are not given, only "Orchestra" being indicated."
A catalogue issued by Columbia Records in 1901 mentioned two wax cylinders labeled "Vocal Solos in Hawaiian", containing recordings of "Aloha ʻOe" (# 30200) and "Kuʻu Pua I Paoakalani" (# 30201). Neither on the labels nor in the catalogue was any further information given regarding the performer(s). It is uncertain if this was recorded in Hawaii or New York.
In 2020 this cylinder recording of "Aloha Oe" was offered in a record auction.
SEE PAGE 112 of the next pdf file: VINTAGE RECORD AUCTION #14
See also next link: https://archive.org/stream/
A more detailed documented version was recorded in 1904
(c) Quartet of Hawaiian Girls from Kawaihao Seminary (1904) (as "Aloha Oe")
Recorded July 1904
Matrix 1174
Released on Victor 15038
Or here:
(c) Ellis Bros. Glee Club Quartet (1904) (as "Aloha Oe")
Recorded July 1904
Matrix 1189
Released on Victor 15052
Listen here:
(c) Royal Hawaiian Troubadours (1905) (as "Aloha Oe")
Recorded March 1905
Released on American Record Company # 30936
Columbia Records recorded a duet of the song by Nani Alapai and Henry N. Clark in 1911.
"Aloha Oe" features Madame Nani Alapai, reputed to have been the first singer for the Royal Hawaiian Band, and Henry N. Clark, brother of Harry.
"Aloha 'Oe" includes violin and flute accompaniment, instruments largely replaced by the steel guitar in the typical Hawaiian ensemble of the 1910s. Charmian London wrote of Nani Alapai's unique voice after hearing her sing in 1907
Listen here: Aloha Oe - Madam Alapai and Mr. Henry N. Clark.mp3
Or here:
(c) Sousa's Band (1911) (as "Aloha Oe (Farewell")
Recorded December 14, 1911 in Camden, New Jersey
Released on Victor 17035
Listen here:
(c) Toots Paka's Hawaiians (1913) (as "Aloha Oe (Farewell To Thee)")
Recorded April 26, 1913
Released on Edison Blue Amberol: 1812
Listen here: 9000/9022/cusb-cyl9022d.mp3
(c) Hawaiian Quintette (1913) (as "Aloha Oe")
Recorded April 11, 1913 in Camden, New Jersey
Released on Victor 18577 and Victor 65348
Listen here:
(c) Arthur Pryor's Band (1913) (as "Medley Hawaii Ponoi - Aloha Oe")
Recorded June 16, 1913 in Camden, Nerw Jersey
Released on Victor 18579-B and also on Victor 65440
A 1913 score can be seen at the Levy Sheet Music Collection.
(c) Toots Paka Hawaiian Company (1914) (as "Aloha Oe")
Recorded June 19, 1914 in New York
Released on Columbia A 1616
(c) Ford Hawaiians (1917) (as "Aloha Oe")
Released on Edison Blue Amberol #3149 and Edison # 5105
Or here:
(c) Alma Gluck (1917) (as "Aloha Oe (Farewell To Thee)")
Recorded June 26, 1917 in Camden, New Jersey
Released on Victor (Victrola) 74534 and 6143
Or here:
(c) Ferera's Hawaiian Instrumental Quintette (1924) (as "Aloha Oe (Farewell To Thee)")
TOP 10 Hit USA
Recorded October 18, 1923
Released on Columbia 21-D
Listen here:
(c) Hilo Hawaiian Orchestra (1927) (as "Aloha Oe")
Recorded February 21, 1927
Released on Victor 20516
In 1927 Johnny Noble wrote "Aloha Oe Blues", which was derived from Liliuokalani's song.
(c) Moana Orchestra (1927) (as "Aloha Oe Blues")
Direction: Ben Selvin; Vocals: Vaughn De Leath
Recorded November 9, 1927 in New York
Released on Columbia 1251-D
Or here:
(c) Kees Pruis (1928) (as "Tabe")
Dutch lyrics by Kees Pruis
Recorded October 20, 1928 in Berlin
Listen here:
(c) Bing Crosby (1936) (as "Aloha Oe (Farewell To Thee)")
Recorded July 23, 1936 in Los Angeles
Released in 1939 on Decca 78 RPM (# 880-A)
This was part of the compilation album "Music Of Hawaii" (Decca Album 10)
Listen here:
(c) Harry Owens and his Royal Hawaiian Hotel Orchestra (1938) (as "Aloha Oe")
Recorded April 13, 1938 in Los Angeles
Released on Decca 1907
Listen here: aloha-oe-farewell-to-thee_harry-owens.mp3
In 1938 Sol Hoopii recorded an instrumental version of the variation written by Johnny Noble .
(c) Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Five (1938) (as "Aloha Oe Blues")
Recorded December 15, 1938 in Los Angeles
Released on Decca 2560 B
Listen to a sample here: Sol Hoopii_Aloha Oe Blues.30Sec.mp3
(c) Marty Robbins (1954) (as "Aloha Oe (Farewell To Thee)")
Recorded December 19, 1953
Released on Columbia 21213.
Listen here:
(c) Billy Vaughn (1959) (as "Aloha Oe")
An albumtrack from "Blue Hawaii" was released as a 45 in Germany and was a Top 10 Hit.
Listen here:
(c) Harmonica Duo K. Schriebl / J. Hupperts (1959) (as "Vaarwel Wals")
Adapted by J. van der Wal.
Listen here:
(c) De Straatzangers (1961) (as "Vaarwel Wals")
Adapted by J. van der Wal.
Listen here:
(c) Elvis Presley (1961) (as "Aloha Oe")
Recorded March 21, 1961, at Radio Recorders for his film, Blue Hawaii.
Listen here:
The commercial release was a mix of two different takes.
Listen here:
(c) Freddy (1962) (as "Alo-Ahe")
Nr 5 in the German Charts
Here's a version from the film "Freddy und das Lied der Südsee" (1962)
The refrain of "Aloha Oe" was also used in 1970 in Sergio Endrigo's "L'Arca Di Noe".
(c) Sergio Endrigo (1970) (as "L'Arca Di Noe")
Adaptation by Sergio Endrigo.
Listen here:
In 1971 Bill Owen wrote an English translation of Sergio Endrigo's Italian adaptation of "Aloha Oe".
(c) Ken Dodd (1971) (as "When Love Comes Round Again")
Listen here:
In 1972 the tune was adapted by Dutch producer John Moring for the song "Let Us Try".
(c) Robert Long (1972) (as "Let Us Try")
Listen here:
In 1974 the tune was adapted by Ben ten Donkelaar for the song "Eenmaal Zullen Wij De Kampioenen Zijn" (=Once we will be the champions). It was sung by the Dutch Football Club FC Twente.
Finally after 36 years in 2010 they became the champion of the Dutch Football League.
(c) Eddy Achterberg (1974) (as "Eenmaal Zullen Wij De Kampioenen Zijn")
Listen here:
(c) Johnny Jordaan and Willy Alberti (1975) (as "Vaarwel Wals")
Adapted by J. van der Wal.
Listen here:
(c) Mireille Mathieu (1976) (as "Aloa-He")
Adapted by Christian Bruhn and Georg Buschor.
This was a German hit for Mireille.
Listen here:
(c) Goombay Dance Band (1980) (as "Aloha Oe")
Hit in the German charts
Listen here:
In the Disney film Lilo & Stitch (2002), the song is sung briefly by the character Nani Pelekai (voiced by Tia Carrere) as a means to say goodbye to her sister Lilo, as they were going to be separated from each other by then.
Watch it here:
It is sung again in its franchise's fourth film Leroy & Stitch (2006) by Lilo (Daveigh Chase), Stitch (Chris Sanders), and Reuben (Rob Paulsen) to shut down the Leroy clones.
Waych it here:
(c) Johnny Cash (2010) (as "Aloha Oe")
Recorded in the summer of 2003, shortly before his death.
Released as the final track on American VI: Ain't No Grave"
The popular hymn “He’s Coming Soon”, written by Thoro Harris around 1918, used a the familiar tune of Queen Liliuokalani’s “Aloha Oe.”
Harris wrote “He’s Coming Soon” based on the Bible’s teaching about the return of Christ: "The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Listen here:
More versions of "Aloha Oe" here:
and more here:
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten