The Blue Skirt Waltz Sheet Music

Collection — sc_box: MS 6, Folder: 41

Identifier: MS-017

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection, 1948, of sheet music for "The Blue Skirt Waltz." The contents of the collection consist of one copy (2 pages) of the republished sheet music composed by Vaclav Blaha with English lyrics by Mitchell Parish.

Dates

1948

Creator

Blaha, Vaclav, 1901-1959 (Composer, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Available for use in the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

Various copying restrictions apply. Guidelines are available from Michigan Technological University Archives & Copper Country Historical Collections.

Historical Note

The Blue Skirt Waltz was written in 1944 by Bohemian (now Czech Republic) composer and trumpeter, Vaclav Blaha. The tune was originally titled “Sukynka,” meaning “Red Skirt.” In 1948, the Mills Music, Inc. out of New York City, New York published the music under the new title “Blue Skirt Waltz” with English lyrics written by Mitchell Parish. The song was initially popularized by Slovenian-American accordionist and bandleader, Frank Yankovic, whose music was popular among the Slovenian, Czech, and Croatian populations of the Copper Country. “The Blue Skirt Waltz” was adopted by the Michigan College of Mining and Technology pep band shortly thereafter and played during hockey games with fans standing together, rocking back and forth, and singing the tune. Today it is often considered the “Copper Country Anthem.”