Artist: Ellis Brothers Glee Club Quartet
Author: Lidia Liliuokalani/Heinrich Berger
Label: Victor
Year: 1904
A Quartette of Hawaiian Girls from Kawalhao Seminary recorded it the same day, also for Victor. First performed in San Francisco by The Royal Hawaiian Band in 1883. Hawaiian folksong with lyrics written in 1878 by their crown princess in exile. Means: Until We Meet Again. Lidia Kamekeha Liliuokalani became queen of Hawaii between 1891 and 1893. The melody may have been derived from a Croatian song credited to Mita Popovic (°1841): Sedi Mara Na Kamen Studencu (Girl On The Rock Near The Source), in 1857 published in Philadelphia by Charles Crozat Converse as The Rock Beside The Sea. Go-between was Captain Heinrich Berger, a Prusian military bandmaster who knew the tune from popular 19th century Austrian song Die Träne (The Tear), adapted from same former Yugoslavian source. In 1872 Captain Berger was summoned by Prince Kalakaua, the (future) king of Hawaii, to come and set up a local music program and to lead the Royal Hawaiian Band. Berger stayed in Hawaii for the rest of his life, also composing what became the local national hymn Hawaii Ponoï, based on Prusian hymn Heil Dir im Siegerkranz and inspired by God Save The King/Queen. He conducted some 32.000 concerts and became close with queen Liliuokalani, who dubbed him "The father of Hawaiian Music". Aloha Oe was first introduced in America in 1883 by the Royal Hawaiian Band with Heinrich (Henry) Berger conducting.
Covers:
Royal Hawaiian Troubadours [for ARC]
Hilo Hawaiians [Arthur Pryor Band]
Toots Paka Hawaiians [on Brunswick]
Alma Gluck, Harry MacDonough & Orpheus Quartet [as Farewell To Thee on Berliner disc]
Frank Ferera [top 10 US]
Duo Hofmann [as Tabe Tabe]
Kees Pruis [as Tabe (Aloha Oe)]
Elvis Presley [on lp Blue Hawaii]
Freddy Quinn [as Alo Ahe]
Zvonko Bogdan [as Sedi Mara Na Kamen Studencu]
Willy Alberti & Johnny Jordaan [as Vaarwel Wals]
André van Duin [as Hallo Hallee]
Jantje Smit [as Santa Mare]
Johnny Cash [final track on American VI]
In former Yugoslavia, Sedi Mara Na Kamen Studencu circulates on many records.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)