THE SPACE ALIEN POSTS ONCE AGAIN THIS POPULAR SONG BUILT ON A CLASSICAL THEME

The Space Alien is posting this again because many missed it the first time!  And there may be more in this post.

 Here is what the Space Alien found online: The source of the music and melody for the 1940's popular song "On the Isle of May" is the second movement (Andante cantabile) from the String Quartet in D Major, Op 11 by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

The classical melody was adapted into a vocal pop standard in 1939 with lyrics written by Mack David. 

• Classic Vocal Versions: One of the most famous recordings of the song was by American jazz singer Connee Boswell (recorded in 1940).
• Big Band Versions: The instrumental and orchestral version by the Kay Kyser Orchestra also became a massive hit.

The popular lyrics were written by Mack David.   

Here they are so you can sing them too:

We strolled along

Through the heavens

And it was June
June on the Isle of May

Your lips were sweet
As the heaven
Love was in bloom
There on the Isle of May

Close in your arms
Heaven opened its doors
Then like a fool
I sailed away

But our love

Will bring us together

When it is June

June on the Isle of May

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THE SPACE ALIEN FINDS YOUR EDITOR IN A NEW LOCATION

Your Editor was taking a nap when suddenly she heard a rapping at her window and there was the Space Alien!

She opened the window and the Space Alien flew in and immediately began to berate Your Editor.

"Where were you when I was looking for you?" he scolded.

"I am so very sorry," she replied.  "I should have told you.   I was moved here, far from my home.  I must be here because my kids are lonely for me.  I must try to keep them company."

"Will you still write my adventures for me?" asked the Space Alien.

"I'll try my best.  This is a very depressing situation for me and I do not know that I'm really up to it right now."

The Space Alien looked out the window and then turned back to Your Editor.  "I see what you mean.  You used to look out at Lake Michigan and enjoy watching the activity on the shoreline and the boats gliding by.  This is just a depressing urban landscape."  

"Well, I guess that's my duty as a mother," replied Your Editor "to set aside my own wishes in order to keep my children happy.  But it is very hard.  I can't see my regular doctor or dentist or anyone else who helped me at home.  The only good thing is that I'm quite old, and now I hope I will die soon.   I did not hope for that before but now I would definitely like to be dead." 

The Space Alien shook his head.  "If you are dead who will give me new adventures?  You know I cannot make up my own adventures!"

Your Editor frowned.  "You should be able to make up your own adventures!  You can't depend on me for everything!  I have to do my best with living in this horrid place, and you will have to do your best to make up your own adventures!" 

They sat for a moment in silence.  Then the Space Alien turned to Your Editor and said "I understand what you are saying.  I shall do my best to keep you company and I hope you will think up some good adventures for me."

With that, the conversation ended and the Space Alien went into the kitchen to prepare a nice little snack.

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THE SPACE ALIEN SINGS THE ENTIRE NATIONAL ANTHEM

The Space Alien is very patriotic and so when the National Anthem of the United States is played, the Space Alien knows the history and ALL words of ALL the verses, written by Francis Scott Key.  And they are posted below.  (There was an earlier post on this topic but this post has different information.)

The Space Alien learned this history:

Francis Scott Key was a gifted amateur poet. 

He was inspired during the War of 1812. On September 14, 1814, after witnessing the 25-hour British naval bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Key was moved to write the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry," which later became our national anthem "The Star Spangled Banner."

His poem was later set to a popular British melody and became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner," eventually being designated as the U.S. National Anthem in 1931. Key was born in 1779, right in the middle of the Revolutionary War era, but his famous anthem-writing moment occurred decades later. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Inspired by the sight of the American flag flying over Fort McHenry the morning after the bombardment, Francis Scott Key scribbled the initial verse of his song on the back of a letter. Back in Baltimore, he completed the four verses (PDF) and copied them onto a sheet of paper, probably making more than one copy. 

A local printer issued the new song as a broadside. Shortly afterward, two Baltimore newspapers published it, and by mid-October it had appeared in at least seventeen other papers in cities up and down the East Coast.

This 19th century version (MP3) of the Star-Spangled Banner was performed on original instruments from the National Museum of American History's collection. Arranged by G. W. E. Friederich, the music is played as it would have been heard in 1854.

The Star-Spangled Banner

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
’Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY

THE SPACE ALIEN ENJOYS A 1940s POPULAR SONG BASED ON A CLASSICAL THEME

The Space Alien wrote about this earlier but found more information about the wonderful popular 1940 song "June on the Isle of May" (popularized by Connee Boswell).  

The Space Alien noted that the melody of this song is based on the famous Andante cantabile movement from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11.[1, 2]

Here is more about that.  Tchaikovsky composed the quartet in 1871, and the melody for the Andante cantabile was originally adapted from a Ukrainian folk song he heard a gardener sing near Kamianka. [1] (Click on these numbers for the sources.)

You can listen to the original classical composition on Spotify or read about its historical background on Wikipedia. [1, 2]

                                                                       ###

More Notes:

The song features lyrics by Mack David and was popularized in 1940 by jazz singers like Connee Boswell. 

To hear how Tchaikovsky's 19th-century classical theme was transformed into a 1940s vocal pop standard you can sing these words!

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On The Isle Of May Lyrics

We strolled along

Through the heavens

And it was June

June on the Isle of May

Your lips were sweet

As the heaven

Love was in bloom

There on the Isle of May

Close in your arms

Heaven opened its doors

Then like a fool

I sailed away

But our love

Will bring us together

When it is June

June on the Isle of May

Close in your arms

Heaven opened its doors

Then like a fool

I sailed away

But our love

Will bring us together

When it is June

June on the Isle of May

###

---------------------------------

JUNE ON THE ISLE OF MAY -- THE SPACE ALIEN STUDIES TCHAIKOVSKY.

The Space Alien wrote about this a few issues ago but the beautiful melody keeps haunting the Space Alien's tiny brain! 

"The famous song "On the Isle of May" (popularized in 1940 by Connee Boswell) is actually based on the second movement (Andante cantabile) of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op 11.  [1, 2]". !!!

How was Tchaikovsky's 19th-century classical theme transformed into a pop standard?  

Tchaikovsky composed the quartet in 1871, and the melody for the Andante cantabile was reportedly adapted from a Ukrainian folk song he heard a gardener sing near Kamianka. 

You can listen to the original classical composition on Spotify or read about its historical background on Wikipedia. [1, 2]

 Please click on the footnote numbers to open the links to read more from the sources and then come back here!

Here is more that the Space Alien found online:

"The original melody in this movement was a Ukrainian folk song Tchaikovsky overheard a painter humming at his sister's estate, which he then arranged for cello and strings."

"In 1940, lyricist Mack David and bandleader Andre Kostelanetz adapted this specific classical theme into the popular vocal tune with the familiar lyrics, "And it was June, June on the Isle of May..." [1, 2, 3]"

Go there if you can to hear the lush classical melody that inspired the 1940 hit song.

                                                -----

Here are some lyrics just as Your Editor found them online at:  

https://genius.com/Connee-boswell-on-the-isle-of-may-lyrics     

We strolled along. Through the heavens

And it was June   June on the Isle of May

Your lips were sweet As the heaven

Love was in bloom, There on the Isle of May

     Close in your arms, Heaven opened its doors

     Then like a fool I sailed away                                                                

But our love will bring us together    

When it is June, June on the Isle of May

     Close in your arms,  Heaven opened its doors

     Then like a fool. I sailed away

But our love Will bring us together

When it is June,  June on the Isle of May.  ###

A Bit More that I found Online:

AI Overview

You are likely thinking of the classic 1940 standard "On the Isle of May" (with lyrics by Mack David and music by André Kostelanetz), famously recorded by artists like Connee Boswell and Glenn Miller. [1, 2]

"On the Isle of May" Lyrics

We strolled along

Through the heavens

And it was June

June on the Isle of May

Your lips were sweet

As the heaven

Love was in bloom

There on the Isle of May [1]

(The remaining lyrics, detailing a tale of lost love and hope for reunion in June, can be found in the original recordings and published sheet music, such as those discussed in.) [1, 2]

From:

AI Overview

Victoria Symphony

The song features lyrics by Mack David and was popularized in 1940 by jazz singers like Connee Boswell. 

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