"Oh, you waltz so well Captian Butler. Most big men don't, you know."-
Scarlett O'Hara Hamiliton, p.133
Scarlett O'Hara Hamiliton, p.133
The Atlanta Bazaar-
The event began with singing The Bonnie Blue Flag, an old Irish tune with lyrics written by Harry Macarthy. The song tells of the succession of the Southern states in order. A sort of national anthem for the Confederate States of America.
At the beginning of the Bazaar Scarlett is listening to Lorena, a song written by a minister and inspired by the Edgar Allen Poe poem Lenore
Rhett bid $350 in gold for "Mrs. Charles Hamilton" to lead the Virginia Reel. The reel is more of a dance than a song. In fact several lively tunes can be used for the dance.
When this Cruel War is Over is the song that Rhett requested Scarlett sing to him during one of their waltzes at the Atlanta Bazaar. As noted in GWTW, the original suit was blue, but the South changed the color to gray.
The Victorian Dance Ensemble page has several interesting articles on Victorian balls and dances during the Civil War. The etiquette for such events was very strict. If a man, a stranger, came to a ball he had to seek out the "Floor Manager" to find him a suitable lady to dance with. "The Floor Manager would quickly “size-up” the man based on his demeanor, clothing and language, and locate a suitable partner of the appropriate class. The man would then be introduced to the lady for the purpose of dancing only. Again, a lady was expected to accept such an invitation to dance unless she already had a partner or was fatigued." It was also bad form to dance with the same partner for most of the evening. Rhett and Scarlett broke most of the rules for public dances. Bidding on a widow, dancing more than one dance together, and since most of Atlanta didn't know about the "library incident", appearing to dance with a complete stranger.
A Dinner Party During a Siege-
Rhett's uninvited arrival at Aunty Pitty's dinner party featuring the old rooster caused some friction. Scarlett was sent into the parlor to play the piano for their guests to help alleviate the situation.
Her first selection Somebody's Darling stirs Fanny Elsings grief over Dallas McClure. Scarlett is at a loss as to what to play next, till Rhett comes in and suggest My Old Kentucky Home, which they duet on.
My Old Kentucky Home was written by Stephen Foster, who also wrote such American classics as, Oh, Susanna, Camptown Races, and Beautiful Dreamer among many others. The song became the official state song of Kentucky in 1928, and the lyrics were changed from "darkies" to "people". The Hidden Racial History of My Old Kentucky Home states the song is about a slave being sold down south, where he fears death from overwork and ill treatment.
My Old Kentucky Home is the song that keeps running through Scarlett's mind as she trudges home to Tara, the day after fleeing Atlanta. Her hope of putting down her "weary load" once she reaches home is shattered by her mother's death, Gerald's mental health, and the Yankees looting all the food and livestock.
Army Music-
The Library of Congress provides information on what army bands on both sides played in their Band Music from the Civil War collection.
