MP3 Bobby Horton - Homespun Songs of the C. S. A., Volume 6

Working with original Civil War era sheet music, 19th century song books, and from the oral tradition, Bobby Horton performs 19 authentic songs in a wide variety of "period" musical styles.

19 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Traditional Folk, FOLK: String Band

Show all album songs: Homespun Songs of the C. S. A., Volume 6 Songs


Details:
âA seasoned performer, Bobby Horton is a multi-instrumentalist, a composer, producer, and a music historian. For more than 30 years he has performed with the musical-comedy group Three On A String. He has also produced and performed music scores for ten Ken Burns PBS films, including âThe Civil Warâ, âBaseballâ, and âMark Twainâ, two films for the A & E Network, plus sixteen films for The National Park Service. His series of recordings of authentic âperiodâ music has been acclaimed by historical organizations and publications throughout America and Europe.â

This is the 6th in my series of authentic Confederate music. Because most of the big Southern âhitsâ of the 1860âs are found on C.S.A. vols. 1 â 5, I am proud to present many lesser known, yet important songs here. Like each of my other recordings; I played each instrumental part (many of the instruments heard were made in the 19th century), performed each vocal, hand drew the cover and liner notes, and recorded here in my home production studio â hence the âHomespunâ in the title.

Several of these tunes were actually written by Confederate soldiers. Captain E. Lloyd Wailes of Kirkâs Ferry Rangers penned âConfederate Songâ to be sung on July 4, 1861 as the ladies of Catahoula, Louisiana presented his unit with their hand made flag. In âOur Boys Are Goneâ, Colonel Hamilton Washington wrote the lyrics to the well known Irish melody, âThe Minstrel Boyâ. One of my favorites on this recording was written by Private Robert Riley Berry on December 13, 1862 while he was on picket duty in Readiville, Tennessee - he named the song âI Love To Be A Soldierâ. One of the most unique songs contained here was written by an unknown member of Company H, 4th Texas Cavalry. In this song, the author reveals how each member of his unit was captured while on patrol -- The title is âThe Capture of 17 of Co. H, 4th Texas Cavalryâ.

Songwriters of the 1860âs wrote many patriotic Southern tunes. Presented here are several such songs: âGod Will Defend the Rightâ was written by an unknown lady in Richmond, Virginia; âGod Save the Southâ, written by Ernest Halphin and Charles W. A. Ellerbrock, was considered to be the national hymn of The Confederacy; Stephen Glover wrote patriotic lyrics to a British Crimean War melody and named his composition âThe Southern Watchwordâ; and M. F. Bigney, Esq. wrote the stirring âThe Stars of Our Bannerâ in early 1862.

This Scottish song, âAnnie Laurieâ, was so beloved by Southerners that most military bands played it. Presented here is a traditional, period arrangement. Another âpopâ song in this volume, written by Benedict Roefs, describes a child questioning his mother on the status of the battle. Because of the look on his motherâs face, he senses that his father was killed; the song is entitled âMother Is the Battle Over?â.

âThe Battle of Shilohâ is unique because it was written by a Southern soldier on the night of April 6, 1862. At that time, the Confederates had pushed General Grantâs army back against the Tennessee River and the common soldiers in gray felt as if they had won the battle. This song reflects this belief.

There were many songs written in the South as the war progressed that was to bolster waning morale and to remind the soldiers and civilians why they were fighting. âThe Southâ, by Charlie Wildwood and John Hill Hewitt reinforced Southern pride; âTake Me Homeâ reminded the soldier of his fond memories of home, and the loved ones there; and the song, âMy Southern Landâ by Mrs. Mary L. Wilson of Texas, raised the peopleâs spirits when the war was turning against the South.

Wounded young soldiers would often call out for their mothers when they were sick or wounded. This was the inspiration for Charles Carroll Sawyerâs very moving song, âMother Would Comfort Meâ.

On November 30, 1864, General Patrick Cleburne was marching with his division with The Army of Tennessee on the Franklin Pike. He observed one of the officers in his command pass him with bare, bleeding feet. While on a short rest, Cleburne reportedly gave the officer his boots and rode away on his horse barefooted. Late in the afternoon Cleburneâs command, with the rest of the army, charged the Yankee works at Franklin, Tennessee. Late that evening the battle finally ended. During the night the Union Army withdrew to Nashville. When the sun rose the next day, General Cleburneâs body was found with no shoes on his feet. A lady from Texas heard this moving story and wrote this wonderful tribute to Cleburne, called âO! No Heâll Not Need Them Againâ.

When studying this war, one cannot help being overwhelmed by feelings of pride, affection, awe, and reverence for the young Southern volunteers who answered their countryâs call in the 1860âs. These feelings are effectively addressed in the poem, âSouthern Birthrightâ, by Mr. Monte Akers of Texas. With his permission, I put it to music and use the song to close the album.