Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Henry Ford's Old Time Dance Orchestra - Varsovienne Waltz
Early American Dances As Revived By Mr. And Mrs. Henry Ford
78 RPM audio transfer from Bowness Arts' collection of vintage records
Ford Orchestra – Badger Gavotte / Varsovienne Waltz
Label: Early American Dances – 110
Format: Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
Recorded: Circa 1930
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Dance Instrumental
Other side of this record: Badger Gavotte
youtu.be/5Hw02-sgFA0
Record 1. Plain Quadrille : Part I and II : (without calls)
Record 2. Standard Club Quadrille : Figure I, II : (with calls)
Record 3. Standard Club Quadrille : Figure III : (with calls) ; Jigs and reels : (with calls)
Record 4. Hungarian Varsovienne ; Old Southern Schottische
Record 5. Lancers "Oriental" : Figures I-IV (with calls)
Record 6. Lancers "Oriental" : Figure V (without calls) ; figure V (with calls)
Record 7. Heel And Toe Polka ; Rye Waltz
Record 8. Captain Jinks : (singing call) ; The Little Old Log Cabin In The Lane : (singing call)
Record 9. Hinky-dinky, Parlee-voo ; Life On The Ocean Wave : (singing calls)
Record 10. Badger Gavotte ; Varsovienne Waltz
Record 11. Blue Danube Waltz ; Tales From The Vienna Woods : (waltz)
Record 12. Black Cat Quadrille : Parts I and II : (without calls).
Henry Ford led a nationwide revival of country fiddling and old-fashioned dancing during the mid-1920s. The Ford Orchestra was formed by Henry Ford, the famous automaker and inventor, to play at his private old-time dances. To this music, dancing master Benjamin Lovett taught Ford's friends, business associates, and local schoolchildren the dances of Ford's 19th century rural youth. He auditioned numerous musicians in an attempt to recreate the bands he remembered from his youth, despite not knowing the exact instruments they used. The final result pleased Ford, and their performances were recorded on 78rpm discs for various labels throughout the 1920s and 1930s. The orchestra's recordings of "Early American Dances," complete with dance instruction, were still being sold decades later.
Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863, in Springwells Township, Michigan. He was an American industrialist and business magnate. He founded Ford Motor Company and pioneered the assembly line technique of mass production. Ford's innovative spirit led to the creation of the first affordable automobile for middle-class Americans, revolutionizing transportation in the 20th century. His visionary efforts reshaped the automotive industry. Henry Ford died in Dearborn, Michigan, on April 7, 1947, at the age of 83.
Clara Jane Bryant Ford, born on April 11, 1866, in Wayne County, Michigan, was the wife of Henry Ford. An active suffragist, she made significant contributions and was honored with induction into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. Clara Jane Bryant Ford passed away on September 29, 1950, in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 84.
The 'varsouvienne' is a dance step in which the first part is a waltz hold with a turning and pointing the toe movement, while the second part is a mazurka. The date of 1853 is generally accepted for its introduction among society circles in the British Isles. Jarman, for copyright reasons, credits the tune to one Jim Magill, a Canadian fiddler of the mid-20th century, but the melody is clearly very much older. The title "Varsovienne" appears in a list of the repertoire of Maine fiddler Mellie Dunham. The elderly Dunham was Henry Ford's champion fiddler in the late 1920's. In Irish tradition "Varsoviana" is used for the dance Shoe the Donkey.
Note: The first 78 RPM record came into existence around 1894, and in 1912 the Gramophone Company established 78 rotations per minute as their recording standard. The production of shellac records continued throughout the 78 rpm era, with "non-breakable" 78 rpm vinyl records being introduced in the 1940s. The popularity of the 33 1/3 rpm "Long Play" record, initially released in 1948, caused the 78 rpm record to become obsolete before the end of the 1950s. As these 78 rpm recordings are quite old, they may contain derogatory language and/or negative stereotypes. It is important to evaluate such recordings within their historical context and consider them as a reflection of the attitudes prevalent at the time. These recordings form an integral part of the historical record and do not represent the views of this poster, channel, or Bowness Arts.
Henry Ford's Old Time Dance Orchestra - Varsovienne Waltz
Early American Dances As Revived By Mr. And Mrs. Henry Ford
78 RPM audio transfer from Bowness Arts' collection of vintage records
Ford Orchestra – Badger Gavotte / Varsovienne Waltz
Label: Early American Dances – 110
Format: Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
Recorded: Circa 1930
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Dance Instrumental
Other side of this record: Badger Gavotte
youtu.be/5Hw02-sgFA0
Record 1. Plain Quadrille : Part I and II : (without calls)
Record 2. Standard Club Quadrille : Figure I, II : (with calls)
Record 3. Standard Club Quadrille : Figure III : (with calls) ; Jigs and reels : (with calls)
Record 4. Hungarian Varsovienne ; Old Southern Schottische
Record 5. Lancers "Oriental" : Figures I-IV (with calls)
Record 6. Lancers "Oriental" : Figure V (without calls) ; figure V (with calls)
Record 7. Heel And Toe Polka ; Rye Waltz
Record 8. Captain Jinks : (singing call) ; The Little Old Log Cabin In The Lane : (singing call)
Record 9. Hinky-dinky, Parlee-voo ; Life On The Ocean Wave : (singing calls)
Record 10. Badger Gavotte ; Varsovienne Waltz
Record 11. Blue Danube Waltz ; Tales From The Vienna Woods : (waltz)
Record 12. Black Cat Quadrille : Parts I and II : (without calls).
Henry Ford led a nationwide revival of country fiddling and old-fashioned dancing during the mid-1920s. The Ford Orchestra was formed by Henry Ford, the famous automaker and inventor, to play at his private old-time dances. To this music, dancing master Benjamin Lovett taught Ford's friends, business associates, and local schoolchildren the dances of Ford's 19th century rural youth. He auditioned numerous musicians in an attempt to recreate the bands he remembered from his youth, despite not knowing the exact instruments they used. The final result pleased Ford, and their performances were recorded on 78rpm discs for various labels throughout the 1920s and 1930s. The orchestra's recordings of "Early American Dances," complete with dance instruction, were still being sold decades later.
Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863, in Springwells Township, Michigan. He was an American industrialist and business magnate. He founded Ford Motor Company and pioneered the assembly line technique of mass production. Ford's innovative spirit led to the creation of the first affordable automobile for middle-class Americans, revolutionizing transportation in the 20th century. His visionary efforts reshaped the automotive industry. Henry Ford died in Dearborn, Michigan, on April 7, 1947, at the age of 83.
Clara Jane Bryant Ford, born on April 11, 1866, in Wayne County, Michigan, was the wife of Henry Ford. An active suffragist, she made significant contributions and was honored with induction into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. Clara Jane Bryant Ford passed away on September 29, 1950, in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 84.
The 'varsouvienne' is a dance step in which the first part is a waltz hold with a turning and pointing the toe movement, while the second part is a mazurka. The date of 1853 is generally accepted for its introduction among society circles in the British Isles. Jarman, for copyright reasons, credits the tune to one Jim Magill, a Canadian fiddler of the mid-20th century, but the melody is clearly very much older. The title "Varsovienne" appears in a list of the repertoire of Maine fiddler Mellie Dunham. The elderly Dunham was Henry Ford's champion fiddler in the late 1920's. In Irish tradition "Varsoviana" is used for the dance Shoe the Donkey.
Note: The first 78 RPM record came into existence around 1894, and in 1912 the Gramophone Company established 78 rotations per minute as their recording standard. The production of shellac records continued throughout the 78 rpm era, with "non-breakable" 78 rpm vinyl records being introduced in the 1940s. The popularity of the 33 1/3 rpm "Long Play" record, initially released in 1948, caused the 78 rpm record to become obsolete before the end of the 1950s. As these 78 rpm recordings are quite old, they may contain derogatory language and/or negative stereotypes. It is important to evaluate such recordings within their historical context and consider them as a reflection of the attitudes prevalent at the time. These recordings form an integral part of the historical record and do not represent the views of this poster, channel, or Bowness Arts.
