Seeing Bill Mackin's note to the MMD for 021224 signed from Hiawatha,
Iowa, brought to my mind a great tune that I am thinking of having
arranged for the band organ, Neil Moret's 1901 song "Hiawatha."  You
can hear a MIDI version of it and learn all about its history at the
Parlor Songs web site, on this page:

http://www.parlorsongs.com/issues/2000-8/2000-8.asp.

Take a listen.  (I'd be interested in hearing opinions as to
"Hiawatha"s suitability for the band organ.)

Originally I thought that the Hiawatha Moret was writing about was
the Indian brave, but it turns out that he wrote the song in honor of
Hiawatha, Kansas, the town where his sweetheart lived.  John Philip
Sousa's band played it a lot, but it sprang to hit status in 1903 with
the addition of lyrics by James O'Dea.

Matthew Caulfield (Irondequoit, N.Y.)