dbrandon - Posted - 07/03/2009:  14:35:03

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Tune of the Week - Camp Meeting on the Fourth of July

In honor of the holiday weekend, I chose to submit this great little contra dance tune. It is pretty straightforward and played in Double D (aDADE) aka Double C (gCGCD) with the capo at the 2nd fret.

History

I first heard (and subsequently learned) this tune from a friend here in Auburn, Alabama. I believe all he told me was that he learned it from someone else. If Shawn is on the hangout and comes across this post perhaps he can elaborate and/or correct me. One of the reasons I volunteered to participate in the tune of the week was to learn more about the song.

I found this quote when doing some background work:

"James Bryan has said that the tune was originally played as a processional for evening services at camp meetings in Arkansas in the 19th century. Bryan’s source was Tom Jackson, who learned it from Coleman Barwick, an old-time fiddler from Blountsville, Alabama. (Not to be confused with similarly-titled melodies “4th of July at the County Fair” or “At a Georgia Camp Meeting”)." Ref: Fiddler's Companion & http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/CAMP_CAPR.htm

It has appeared in notation in at least a few books. Including one by Gene Silberberg: http://www.econ.washington.edu/peop...p?uid=silber

You can find notation for the song here (can't vouch for quality): http://www.me.psu.edu/lamancusa/tunes.htm

Audio Versions

NPR aired a version by the Portland Connection a while back. You can find it down the page a bit here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/...yId=15961793

The Raisin Pickers have a version you can hear a snippet of or even buy at the Amazon MP3 store: http://www.amazon.com/Drivin/dp/B00...f=dm_ap_alb1

YouTube Versions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_HEDd38Etw (Love this one)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeVGbtz9Ixc (This on too!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QcXBvgxJkU (Nice even without a banjo)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igLlbHKphqg (Banjo Solo)

That is all I have... enjoy!

Duane

vrteach - Posted - 07/03/2009:  15:50:11

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Great Tune! I've had this one on my list of tunes to learn ever since I played along with it at a dulcimer festival a few years ago. I can add that there is also a nice version at the Pegram Jam site:

http://www.pegramjam.com/

To get the tunes you have to email to the owner and he'll tell you the secret. When you get the secret, be gentle with the server, they have a limited bandwidth. The chord chart book is useful, too, and you don't need the secret.

Erich -- There''s always room for cello..

http://vrteach.org/banjo/
http://prairiegrapevine.org/
U of Illinois-Springfield Old Time Music

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Edited by - vrteach on 07/06/2009 20:57:36

J-Walk - Posted - 07/03/2009:  15:55:45

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That's a good tune, and very appropriate choice, Duane!

Rising Appalachia does a great banjo/fiddle version:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/rappalachia

I also have a vocal version by the Wolf Bros, from a CD called "Old Time Tuning"

RJFreeman - Posted - 07/03/2009:  21:25:17

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Cool tune. I'm from Arkansas and I've never heard it before. Guess I'll have to learn it.

Nide44 - Posted - 07/04/2009:  06:00:14

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Anybody got a TAB for it?

Bob B

My Level? Uh...kinda...
......"Advanced"...Novice ?

LyleK - Posted - 07/04/2009:  09:41:58

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Excellent pick, and certainly appropriate for the day. I couldn't find an *.mp3 of this one already at BHO, so here's one in aDADE on my fretless Gatcomb (Nylgut, gray wool sock betwixt skin head and dowel):

http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango...usicid=13520

I put a tab of this at the website in my siganture.

LyleK
http://lylewk.home.comcast.net

BANJOJUDY - Posted - 07/04/2009:  12:31:13

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quote:

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Originally posted by LyleK

Excellent pick, and certainly appropriate for the day. I couldn't find an *.mp3 of this one already at BHO, so here's one in aDADE on my fretless Gatcomb (Nylgut, gray wool sock betwixt skin head and dowel):

http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango...usicid=13520

I put a tab of this at the website in my siganture.

LyleK
http://lylewk.home.comcast.net

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Lyle:

I thought that you would help out those asking for tab and put up the tab on your sight. Right this time! Thanks for the music and the tab. I am sure it will help many to learn this tune - after all, I now have 365 days to learn it for the next 4th of July parade.

********************************************************************''
The YOUTUBE videos of the Really Big Banjo Show
are now available (23 of them) for your viewing and
listening pleasure. Check them out. Go to YOUTUBE and
look for "banjojudy" and you''ll see the files. I made a
playlist for the show, but I am not sure if you can access
it. ENJOY and be sure to rate the videos and leave comments.
*********************************************************************

LyleK - Posted - 07/04/2009:  15:31:26

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quote:

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Originally posted by BANJOJUDY
I now have 365 days to learn it for the next 4th of July parade.

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It rained on our parade (literally) today and so said parade was canceled. Maybe next year...

LyleK
http://lylewk.home.comcast.net

strokestyle - Posted - 07/06/2009:  07:52:43

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Thanks for picking this tune and bringing it out for us to hear.

mgoers - Posted - 07/06/2009:  16:10:53

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Great tune! Erich, thanks for the reference to the Pegram Jam. A wealth of tunes there!

When you want genuine music -- music that will come right home to you like a bad quarter, suffuse your system like strychnine whisky, go right through you like Brandreth''s pills, ramify your whole constitution like the measles, and break out on your hide like the pin-feather pimples on a picked goose, -- when you want all this, just smash your piano, and invoke the glory-beaming banjo!
- Mark Twain,"Enthusiastic Eloquence," San Francisco Dramatic Chronicle, 23 June 1865