In the Gloaming (song)

Not to be confused with the 1911 song "Roamin' In The Gloamin' ".

"In the Gloaming" is an 1877 British song composed by Annie Fortescue Harrison with lyrics taken from a poem by Meta Orred. Orred's poem (of the same title as the song) appeared in her 1874 book Poems. ^[1] "Gloaming" is a regional dialect term of Scots origin denoting "twilight". ^[2]

The 1877 song, a lament of romantic regret, was very popular in the United States that year, ^[1] and was again popularized in America in the 1910s by a recording made by The American Quartet with Will Oakland. ^[3]

Harrison's husband Lord Arthur Hill was the commanding officer of the 2nd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers, which adopted the song as its regimental march. ^[4]

Versions

• The American Quartet with Will Oakland released a recorded version in 1910. ^[5]
• John Lovering released a recorded version in 1914. ^[6]
• Fats Waller recorded a version in 1938. The song was a staple of Waller's live act. ^[6]
• Louis Armstrong and His Hot Seven recorded the song in 1941. ^[6] It was released as the B side of "Everything's Been Done Before". ^[7]
• Bunk Johnson (trumpet), Don Ewell (piano) and Alphonse Steele (drums) recorded a trio version of this in June 1946.
• Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae released the song on their 'Songs for Sunday Evening' album in 1950.
• Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album 101 Gang Songs (1961)
• The Story recorded a version, released on their 1993 album The Angel in the House .
• The Celtic Tenors included the song on their eponymous 2002 debut album. ^[8]

References

1. Kelly R. Fineman (March 18, 2008). "In the Gloaming — a Tuesday poem". Writing and Ruminating. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
2. Merriam Webster dictionary
3. In the Gloaming, American Quartet with Will Oakland, Victor Matrix B-9161 (1910), Internet Archive
4. Gardiner, John R. (1994). Sadie, Julie Anne; Samuel, Rhian (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Women Composers (1st ed.). MacMillan. p. 210. ISBN   0-333-515986.
5. "In the Gloaming – American Quartet (1910)". Public Domain Review. Open Knowledge Foundation. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
6. Ricky Riccardi (September 2, 2009). "In The Gloaming". The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
7. Steven Abrams. "Decca 3500 - 4000 Numerical Listing". The Online Discographical Project. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
8. Celtic Tenors at AllMusic

Further reading and listening

• 1910 recording – Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Victor matrix B-9161. In the gloaming / American Quartet; Will Oakland."