[Dixielandjazz] "Dixie"

[G. William Oakley]

You are correct Jim.  "Dixie" was written by Dan Emmett and introduced by him in Bryant's Minstrels on April 4, 1859.  If memory serves it was performed in Pittsburgh. The minstrel show was a popular form of entertainment until the turn of the century but its heyday ended with the civil war.
And boy do I agree with the racial dross comment.  I used it in all innocence as a finale for one of my shows at the Heritage Square Opera House in Denver.  The Denver Post critic was there with her date who happened to be black. The song sent him into a tirade in the lobby after the show.  She had penned a very critical review but  the managing editor of the paper (who fortunately was a fan of the Opera House) put a hold on it until he could further investigate.  A committee from the NAACP came out and saw the show and found nothing offensive about the number.  She rewrote the review and it all ended happily.  But the point is, the number was originally just a stirring piece of nostalgia which was how I was using it.  All the baggage that people bring to the song is unfortunate.
Regards,
Bill
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: JimDBB at aol.com 
  To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com 
  Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2003 11:25 AM
  Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] "Dixie"


  In a message dated 1/23/03 7:04:36 AM Central Standard Time, kash at ran.es writes:



    Can anyone give me some help on researching the song "Dixie"?  I've got
    it written by Daniel D. Emmett in 1860.  Recorded the likes of the
    Dukes, Ellington, Louie Armstrong, Kenny Ball, Red Allen.  I'm missing
    info on the history of the song itself.  Why was it written, etc.

    My grandson has a paper to turn in on the song.  Dunno why, but any help
    will be appreciated.


     I'm not sure how right I am on this but I think that I'm close.  The song "Dixie" came along I think just before the Civil War.  It is a sentimental song about the South.

    Music played an important part in the Civil War with a number of Amercian classics coming out of that period.  Most of them were very sentimental songs, evoking home and hearth.  Dixie was one that was adapted by the South but was popular everywhere.  

  Racial connotations were added on to this song as time went along but they were never in the original intent of this song. Dixie is a powerful, a clever and poigant song
  and still calls up sentiments of days gone by. I'll never forget an old march, "Gate City" that we often played on parade in the Marine Corps.  In the first strain the lower brass plays, "Swanee River."  The next time though this is repeated with the trumpet/cornets coming in with 'Dixie."  This always brought roars from the crowd.  I hope that one day the racial dross that has been stuck on 'Dixie" will drop away and this great song can take it's rightful place in American musicana.

  Jim Beebe 


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