3. Little Goose Polka Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen 4. Das Kuf stein Lied Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen

Becky Livermore: vocals and accordion
Terry Ard: vocals, trumpet, baritone, and guitar
Rod Davies: tuba and bass horn
Chuck Stastny: drums

As is characteristic of many Midwestern states, Iowa's cultural landscape features the strong presence of polka music. European immigrants first played and danced to polkas at house parties and social functions within their communities. While societal changes brought on by improved roads, new media, Prohibition, and other factors contributed to the demise of many regular house parties by the end of the 1930s, the support systems for these gatherings became so strong that they further expanded into numerous subsystems that sustain dance clubs and jam sessions across the state. On any Saturday night, it is common to find dozens of couples dancing to live polka music in their home communities. While many of the bands are loosely organized groups of local musicians, Iowa boasts a number of polka bands with a firmly established history and following, including Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen from the Cedar Rapids area.

Becky began playing the accordion at the age of ten. Three years later she was playing with the Jolly Bohemians. When she was a senior in high school, she acquired the band's repertoire and contacts from its former leader, Ed Ulch, upon his retirement. Her present group plays many of the tunes she learned with the Jolly Bohemians, but their repertoire has expanded to include over 600 polkas and waltzes.

Because they perform an eclectic mixture of different varieties of polka music heard in Iowa, Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen's style has been described as "regional cross-over." As their name implies, the band members acknowledge influences from the Dutchmen style derived from German polka music. This style which incorporates the snappy rhythms of 1940s-era swing bands became popular throughout the Midwest by the late 1950s. Another strong influence on her band is the smoothly flowing Czech style that has been commonly performed in eastern Iowa.

"Little Goose Polka" comes from the Czech tradition. In this tune, the goose is seen as a symbol of one's dying love. "Das Kufstein Lied" is from the town of Kufstein, Austria. Becky, Dan, and Terry yodel in harmony on this tune to create an audio ambience suggestive of an Alpine village.

Lyrics:
Letela Husicka:

Letela husicka, letela zvysoka/Nemobla doletet/Spadla do potoka, spadk/a do potoka.

Spadla do potoka, vocikcku vypila/A to je znameni ze si mne nechtela ze si mne nechtela.

Little Goose Polka translation:
Flying goose, flying from up high/She couldn't finish the flight/She fell into the water, she fell into the water.

She fell into the water, she drowned in the water/And that means you didn't want me.

Das Kufstein Lied:

Kennst du die Perle, die Perle Tirol/Das Städtchen Kufstein, das kennst du woh// Umrahmt von Bergen so friedlich and still|Ja das ist Kuststein dort am grünen Inn/Ja das is Kufstein am grünen Inn.

Es gibt so vie/es, bei uns in Tirol/Ein guates Weinderl aus Stidtiro//Und mancher wünscht sich, 'smöcht immer so sein/Bei einem Mäder/ and a Glaser/ Wein/Bei einem Mäder/ and einem Glaser/ Wein,

Und ist der Ur/aub dann wieder aus/Da nimmt man Abschied, and fährt nach Haus. Man denkt an Kufstein, man denkt an Tirol/Mein liebes Städtchen lebe wohl /eb' wohl/Mein liebes Städtchen /eb' wohl, ja leb' woh/.

The Kufstein Waltz Translated by Inger Lövkrona:

Do you know the pearl, the Pearl of Tyrol?/That little town, Kufstein, you certainly know well/It is framed by the mountains, so peaceful and calm/Yes that is Kufstein, here at the Green Inn/Yes that is Kufstein, here at the Green Inn.

We have so many fine things here in Tyrol/ Fine wine from the southern Tyrol./ And many wish life would stay this way forever/With a beautiful woman and a g/ass of wine/With a beautiful woman and a g/ass of wine.

And when the vacation is finished/Then you say farewell and return home/You think of Kufstein, you think of Tyrol/My dear town farewe//, farewell/My dear little town farewell, fare thee well.

Additional recordings:

• Redball Records (1990); Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchmen - Just Like Mama Raised Me
• Redball Records (1991); Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchmen - Me & The Guys
• Redball Records (1995); Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchmen - Czech It Out!!!

Becky Livermore
P.O. Box 1135
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406
Phone: 319-848-7133