The music is probably by Victor Herbert from the stage extravaganza (that cost so much it never broke even). McCay plugs it more than once, if memory serves. I can’t identify the melody. It’s not one of the four songs from the show that’s in a collection I have.
The music is a hilarious, slightly-off-kilter version of “Yankee Doodle,” of all things. The chord in the second measure keeps the B flat and makes it sound a little like Arthur Sullivan. How in the world did McKay get someone to cook that up? Or did he arrange it himself? It is even in that most standard of military band keys, B flat. Just barely goofy! That opening syncopation! What a wizard—he even makes the band look mostly serious but just slightly cartoony too. Some trousers!
Kip W about 9 years ago
The music is probably by Victor Herbert from the stage extravaganza (that cost so much it never broke even). McCay plugs it more than once, if memory serves. I can’t identify the melody. It’s not one of the four songs from the show that’s in a collection I have.
Kip W about 9 years ago
Scratch that. I found the score for the show online, and I don’t see anything in there that looks like the music on the page.
The show’s from 1908, though. Maybe I went right past it. http://imslp.org/wiki/Little_Nemo_(Herbert,_Victor)
Treesong about 9 years ago
I cringe whenever slavery in Slumberland comes up. This is the worst yet.
DJJG about 9 years ago
The music is a hilarious, slightly-off-kilter version of “Yankee Doodle,” of all things. The chord in the second measure keeps the B flat and makes it sound a little like Arthur Sullivan. How in the world did McKay get someone to cook that up? Or did he arrange it himself? It is even in that most standard of military band keys, B flat. Just barely goofy! That opening syncopation! What a wizard—he even makes the band look mostly serious but just slightly cartoony too. Some trousers!
byamrcn about 9 years ago
Never seen a bassoon in a marching band before. Gotta love Little Nemo.