Annotation:Jessie Polka

|Tune properties and standard notation

 JESSIE POLKA. New England, Polka. G Major ('A' part) & D Major ('B' part) {Miller & Perron}: G Major ('A', 'C' and 'D' parts), C Major ('B' part) & D Major ('E' part). Standard tuning (fiddle). ABB (Miller & Perron): AA'BB'CCDEE (Phillips). A Texas tune called the "Jesse Polka" had an interesting history. It originally derived from a Mexican tune called "Jesusita en Chihuahua," which became known as the "J.C. Polka" and thence to "Jesse Polka." "Jesusita en Chihuahua" is a song that has its origins in the Mexican Revolution of 1912. The words tell the story of a soldadera, the name given to women campfollowers who tended to the daily needs of the revolutionary fighters, and even in desperate situations took up arms themselves to fight alongside the men. "Jessie Polka's" popularity stemmed from its being played from 1938 on by Cliff Bruner and the Texas Wanderers, a Texas Swing band that, although they did not tour much outside of Texas, was nevertheless an influential regional band. Apparently, Bruner learned the melody as a child from Mexican farm workers in the Beaumont area of Texas (Bruner died in Houston in the year 2000 at age 85).  Source for notated version: Miller & Perron (101 Polkas), 1978; No. 76. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Music), vol. 2, 1995; pp. 352-353.  Printed sources:  Recorded sources: Riders in the Sky - "A Pair of Kings." Randy Elmore - "The Boys in the Band."

|Tune properties and standard notation