My Wild Irish Rose, 1899

Songs of the 19th century were a series of verses, poems set to music, without refrain, or "chorus," until the 1840's, when refrains began to be added. A new style was developed by Tin Pan Alley songwriters in the 1890's, a short piano introduction followed by the verse- chorus form, but with more emphasis on the chorus. My Wild Irish Rose, Chancellor John ('Chauncey') Alcoff, follows this form. There are two long verses. Here's the first:

'Twas given to me by a girl that I know;
Since we 've met, faith, I've known no repose,
She is dearer by far than the world's brightest star,
And I call her my wild Irish Rose.

In 1947, 48 years after it's publication, My Wild Irish Rose was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture for its appearance in the film by the same name. In 1990, 91 years after its publication, this song (second verse and chorus) was sung with musical and lyrical embellishments by The Naturals to win a bronze medal in the SPEBSQSA International Contest.

Chauncey Olcoff, a leading singer in sentimental operettas on Irish themes as well as a composer and lyricist, commanded a large and loyal audience among the Irish-American community. Other credits are the lyrics to Mother Machree (1911) and When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1912).

From SPEBSQSA PROBE: Abridged from historical research by Tom Pearce, Richmond, Virginia, Chapter


A Bit Of History by Tom Koch

In the June 1951 Harmonizer, the Johnny Appleseed District had a 12 page spread titled, "It all started in Cleveland in 1940." This article was a chronological record of the chartering of the District's chapters plus some other misc. information. The preface to this article noted that accurate data was not available in all cases. The title It.. started in Cleveland..." alludes to the fact that records show Cleveland was the first chartered chapter in JAD being organized on Jan.31, 1940. Data on Pittsburgh apparently were not definitive, so we were credited as being number 2. Here are the words from that 1951 article:

"Early 1940 - Pittsburgh Chartered - Nobody knows exactly when Pittsburgh was chartered. O.C. Cash didn't keep any records and neither did Maurie Reagan when he gathered a group of his friends, mostly from Westinghouse, and proposed a chapter. In spite of the lack of a birth certificate, Pittsburgh has done more than its share of "preserving and encouraging." Home of the 1947 [8] Int'l Champion Pittsburghers and the four time Int'l Medalist Westinghouse Quartet, there's been no lack of fine harmony. In other words, the chapter has also done well for the Society and for society in general.

In 1948 the chapter was host to the Int'l Board Mid- Winter Meeting. For years, a succession of excellent Parades have boosted BSQ harmony locally. Last Fall, a benefit Parade for the Eye & Ear Hospital netted almost $6000. Extension activity has been fruitful in both Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Pittsburgh will never forget its first Parade in 1946 when Harry Smith was president. The famed utility strike was on -no lights, no street cars, no buses, in fact, nothing but courage. Portable generators, know how, and hard work saved the day."

All right you guys.... Reach for the sky !!

No, this is not a hold up.... Seems we have found that a little stretching prior to singing gets us loosened up a bit. Here our Program VP, Rich Stevens leads us in a few "calisthenics." Most of us old guys can't match Rich's youthful exuberance, but we give it the old try and hopefully loosen up our vocal chords in addition to throwing our backs out of joint.

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