"Waltz to Westphalia" Premiere and Polka Bash in downtown Bremond, TX

"Waltz to Westphalia" Premiere & Polka Bash!!  SATURDAY, NOV 5 at Texas Slav & German Warehouse in downtown Bremond, TX!!!

The documentary, "Waltz to Westphalia" tells the fascinating story of a Polish folk song’s transformation into an American country fiddle classic. The film captures a wide array of people, places and artifacts significant in the tune’s regional and national development. Because the tune evolved in the twentieth century, some of the primary sources are still living. They shared their memories with Joe Weed. In 2006, he began traveling around the United States to speak with them, their children, and their grandchildren. Many of those interviewed are from Waco, Westphalia, Houston and Bremond.

The melody of the Westphalia Waltz derives from a Polish song known by several titles — “Pytala Sie Pani,” “Wszystkie Rybki,” and others. Citing references from Poland’s National Library in Warsaw and the Polish Museum of America in Chicago, the film describes the song in Poland and the United States. It includes interviews with descendants of the Polish immigrants who worked the mills in Massachusetts and the coal mines in the Alleghenies.

The grandson of the lead trumpet player in RCA Victor’s 1930 recording recalls his grandfather’s musical and professional life. The son of a Pennsylvania coal miner relates his father’s insistence that he learn to play music. As a musician, he had the opportunity to escape the hard life of a miner. Through old photos, music, and recordings, the film provides a glimpse of the early Polish–American culture that embraced this delightful folk song.

With first-hand accounts from Polish-Texans, the film explains how the piece made its way to Bremond, the largest Polish settlement in Texas during the Great Depression. Dance musicians playing in nearby Waco and Westphalia also picked up the tune. Fiddler Cotton Collins, who played with Waco’s “Lone Star Playboys,” re-interpreted the piece as a Texas fiddle waltz. He recorded it for a small Dallas record company, and called it the “Westphalia Waltz.” Collins’ friend Hank Thompson brought the tune to a national audience with his release on Capitol Records in 1955.

- produced by Joe Weed
-courtesy of www.JoeWeed.com and www.Polish-Texas.com

Premiere and Polka Bash in downtown Bremond, TX at Texas Slav & German Warehouse.  www.TexasSlavGerman.com.   See events link, find us on facebook and twitter.

LIVE POLKA MUSIC by Brian Marshall and other great Polish musicians prior to movie screening!!!
• INCREDIBLE FOOD WITH POLISH FLARE available for purchase!! Catered by THE GREEN MOLLY out of Austin!!! www.thegreenmolly.com
• GREAT DISCOUNTS on Polish, Czech & German gifts & collectibles including Polish pottery, Cuckoo Clocks and T-shirts!!! GET YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DONE EARLY THIS YEAR!!

BRING YOUR OWN PIWO, POLISH VODKA or wine of choice!!! ALL SETUPS AND OTHER BEVERAGES WILL BE AVAILABLE for purchase!
DOMINOES AND PLAYING CARDS will be available, or bring your own game of choice. Hang out, play some bones, kick back and listen to some great music as we gear up for the finale...the "Waltz to Westphalia" premiere!!

Much fun to be had all day long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good family fun beginning at 12:00 noon
Movie time starts at 7:30pm. Run time 1 hour.
Admission to movie is free!!
Live music times prior to screening TBA.