Ryan J. Thomson,
We were trying to find who composed the tune :" Jenny
Lind (Reel) ". My teacher didn't know who it was either.
Can't you help ? I found your name in a book I bought from my
teacher, "The joys of fiddle music" by Trent Bruner
.
G.L.
New Brunswick, Canada
Hello G,
Here's what I found out: Jenny Lind was a very popular singer
born in Sweden in 1820. Everyone liked her so much that a number
of tunes and songs were written about and for her, including polkas
and other tunes. The first reference to the Jenny Lind "Polka"
is in a collection of "popular" tunes for cornet orchestras,
published in 1846.
However, in this collection, the composer of the tune was not
listed. A dance was later composed to fit the tune, and was published
by inventor Elias Howe in 1858, as part of a ball room dance book.
Its possible that the "reel" version also comes from
this time period.
The first known recording of the polka version was by fiddler
John Selleck, in Camino, California, in 1939. This may have something
to do with the fact that the town of Jenny Lind was also in California.
It was well populated during the California gold rush, being named
after a singing tour of the United States by Jenny Lind in 1850.
There you have it, as much as I know so far!
Ryan
I'd appreciate an update, and more information, from any readers!