Legend of a Famous Lieurance Song "By
the Waters of Minnetonka"
Thurlow Lieurance, who, with his
talented wife (formerly Edna Wooley), will make a few concert appearances in the
East in March, has had so many applications from singers of national fame for
special coaching in his wonderfully successful Indian songs that he will give a
little of his time to meeting the great artists who are singing them. No other
musician has had the wonderful experiences with the Indians that have come to
Mr. Lieurance through the great number of years he spent with the tribes. Mme.
Alda, Frieda Hempel, Julia Culp, Mme. Melba, Henri Scott, Julia Claussen, and
the very gifted Princess Watahwasso, with her glorious voice, have sung By the
Waters of Minnetonka in all parts of the country. Few people, however, know of
the beautiful legend that is associated with this song, which inspired both the
poet and the musician. It is given below.
In the northern woods, a brave of
the Sun branch of the Sioux fell deeply in love with a maiden of the Moon branch
of the same tribe. Secretly they met, time and again, knowing full well that one
of the ancient laws of the tribe placed the penalty of death upon those of these
branches who loved. An old brave saw the young couple at the trysting place and
hastened to tell the others. Knowing that death was inevitable, the lovers
rushed to the shore of the lake and waded into the rippling waters till they
were finally buried beneath their shimmering waves. Thereafter, nightly, the
waters sang the song of the lovers, to the accompaniment of the silvery ripple
of the current, the sighing of the wind, and the lone call of this night-birds.
Mr. Lieurance has caught this effect magically - the movement of the phantom
canoe, the ripple of the waters, the night-birds note, the lovely swaying melody
- all make a little masterpiece that was instantly identified as such by many of
the world's greatest singers.
Several of the other Lieurance songs
are equally beautiful, but have not as yet obtained the prestige of By the
Waters of Minnetonka. Among these are The Indian Lullaby, By Weeping Waters,
Indian Spring Song.
The Etude Magazine
February 1921
