Soprano Alma Gluck ~ My Old Kentucky Home (1916)

[Micelli1947]

SUCH A BEAUTIFUL RENDITION OF THIS FAMOUS SONG!! THANKS FOR THE TUNE!!

[alternatehistories]

Foster's songs should be "mandatory listening" in American schools. These qualify as American folk-songs, there are no others like them anywhere in the world. To censor their lyrics is about as atrocious as deleting material from our history books. It's a sad day when Stephen Foster becomes a victim of "political correctness". Thanx 4 posting...I'm too lazy to get out my own disc and play it ;)

[Beevac]

I like her 1914 take the best. Gluck is my favorite singer period. She is the reason I like classical vocal & opera. I was thinking of my copy of her Carry Me Back to old Virginny at work this a.m. Haven't played it since last year. Her daughter's book tells how she got into these plantation melodies.

[althazarr]

Great version of this classic song! I have this one somewhere in my collection. 5*****

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Lloyd:

And thank YOU!

Doug --

[genia106]

My Dear Douglasio,

Her renditon makes this a Masterpiece!

Merci.

[Labienus]

after his death Foster became classic an in melodic gift compared to Schubert but today he is not PC and young people don't know any classic melodies anyway -very sad

A coordinator of music depts in the NYC schools told me that Foster is just not permitted because of the dialect, vocab etc. although the music is great

This is one of his greatest and is about the poignancy and sadness of slave familes he was a staunch Union man, opposed to slavery

T.Hampson, M. Horne sing Foster

[CurzonRoad]

The wiki article on "My Old Kentucky Home" includes the following: "The abolitionist Frederick Douglass believed the song was sympathetic to slaves. In 1986, the Kentucky General Assembly adopted a version unlikely to cause offense in which the original word 'darkies' was changed to 'people.'"

[Labienus]

There you go...but there would have to be a lot of changes to make Foster's text PC this reminds me of the rewording of Deutschland über Alles or the new version of God Save the Queen although in Foster's case the intent was benign to begin with

Do any of you recall a wonderful PBS documentary some yrs. ago on Foster-with some great old recordings it also goes into his political views, and the sympathetic nature of his songs toward the slaves I have it on tape could find it and get the title

[CurzonRoad]

Haven't seen the documentary, but would like to! There's a Foster biography around here and, if I recall correctly, it was published fairly recently. I'll be taking another look at it soon. Thanks!

[Labienus]

Just curious is this is the same group that is used in Carry Me Back?-that record just says with male chorus but no names given here it is a quartet with names

I find her pronunciation interesting of course the obligatory rolled r's as remained the style for ever she has fine diction but her ir's and er's are a bit strange- obviously in Carry and Foster there is the psuedo dialect but are they supposed to be southern or is there a hint of NYese? Did her speaking voice have an accent??

[CurzonRoad]

For the chorus in "Carry Me Back," close, with one exception, that being Reinald Werrenrath as baritone instead of Frederick Wheeler. Walter B. Rogers was conductor at both sessions. As far as Alma Gluck's spoken voice, diction, accent, afraid I don't really know; but suppose what we hear in both songs is intended to sound "Southern," though the more classical treatment would certainly have taken the edge off this effect, no? As far as a "hint of NYese".... no idea! Cheers, etc. Doug --

[Kievest]

Would like to know if this is the first time a vocal artist with the stature of Alma Gluck sang a Stephen Foster tune?  Foster, underappreciated in his life time, was a composer of supreme talent which the unsurpassed Madame Gluck must have recognized in order to give such a divine performance! One can hear the nostalgia, elegance, sublime phrasing and subtle emotion that only respect for her material could produce! Nice photo montage! Thank you for posting this treasure!

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Kievest: Prior to this recording, and off the top of my head, both Adelina Patti and Emma Calve recorded "Old Folks at Home" (which I should try and post). As always... many thanks! Doug --

[ginnykaren]

Wonderful post Doug..I loved the vintage photos and the record from so long ago.

Thank you for sharing :-)

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Ginny: And thank YOU! Cheers, etc. Doug --

[MrKingsRow]

I enjoyed this one a lot Doug...I love all these vintage recordings...so great to hear...thank you! :)

[CurzonRoad]

Hi John: I wionder.... maybe even Judy Garland would have approved. THANK YOU! Doug --

[raymo51]

Dear Doug

What a joy to hear the wonderful Alma! Although the two versions are superb, I personally prefer the 1916 version. Almost 94 years old! Many thanks for your postings as ever.

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Raymond: Truly a wonderful artist. In grateful appreciation... thank you! Doug --

[Bivolari]

A lovely version. She blends beautifully with the male quartet.I believe that she sings the verses published in my Foster anthology.

[operamark1]

Can't play this version at the Kentucky Derby! Gluck is always interesting.

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Nate: (Verses) Good question... and a quick Online search yields more than a few different versions, only adding to the mystery. Thank you! Doug --

[meltzerboy]

I can't believe I've never heard Alma Gluck sing this before, while I've heard her famous recording of "Carry me back to old Virginny" about 100 times. Thanks to both Bivolari and Doug. And how many verses does this song actually have since every rendition I've heard--Robeson's, Anderson's, Galli-Curci's, etc.--seems to contain at least one different verse?