JanetB - Posted - 08/19/2014:  06:13:37

Recently I learned Horses in the Canebrake.  Then I was inspired to learn Cattle in the Cane, which I discovered is related to Yearlings in the Canebrake--its antecedent, as described in the great big blue Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes.  I heard it from the great fiddling of Gerry Milnes who's been incredibly active in the West Virginia music scene.  He learned it from the well-known fiddling of Glen Smith (1923 - 2001), who I'd never heard of till now.  On Banjo Hangout most of the versions are bluegrass, siting sources such as Sam Bush and Jimmy Arnold.  There's a good version of Yearlings in the Canebrake by Mary Z Cox with Kerry Blech.

When listening to Cattle in the Cane the striking modulation from the minor A part  to the mixolydian B part attracted me to the tune.  I keep the banjo in open G tuning and fret the 2nd string in the A part to keep the minor sound.   On the B part the open G chord is followed by an F chord--that's the mixolydian mode.  To play with a fiddle you'd capo 2.

Here's a photo of Glen Smith from a West Virginia Culture and HIstory site.  Hope you enjoy!

Edited by - JanetB on 08/19/2014 06:26:32

Cattle in the Cane

Cattle in the Cane tab

Mark Johnson - Posted - 08/19/2014:  07:54:54

Boy, you can really crank out these new tunes.  I wish I could keep pace with you, I'm lucky to get more than a few new tunes added to my repertoire every year.

Very fine, tasteful playing as always, and a great tune.  

rickhayes - Posted - 08/19/2014:  09:10:47

Ditto what Mark said.

Laurence Diehl - Posted - 08/19/2014:  09:22:20

...and ditto what Rick said Mark said.

This is a great version, I like it better than the Bluegrass version where they seem to square off the melody. This melody has a lot more character, and more of a haunting sound.

Lew H - Posted - 08/19/2014:  09:27:41

Janet, Really, really nice and sweet. I've been hoping to post the version of this that I learned via my son. He has a hotter, bluegrassy version. His version has the mixolydian part first, and a rising bow stroke with two pizzicato notes starting the B part. Took me forever to figure how to do that bit on banjo. You beat me to the draw in putting this up on HBO, but if I post soon, maybe we'll have a nice contrast. Again, regarding your playing of the song, WOW!

bhniko - Posted - 08/19/2014:  10:24:40

...and ditto what Laurence said Rick said Mark said.

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 08/19/2014:  12:15:04

Great work, JB.  You organization and mission-focus is inspiring. 

 

V/R,

Lew

Edited by - Brooklynbanjoboy on 08/19/2014 12:15:15

JanetB - Posted - 08/19/2014:  20:54:10

Thanks for your kind dittoed remarks!

Mark, I'm on a downhill path of fiddle tune collecting/arranging and can't explain it.  I'm planning on sticking them all in a book called Granny's A - Z tab, for my old age--God willing--to sit and play in my rocker when I can't remember how I did it all.  When the tunes come from the Appalachians or surrounding mountains they grab me--I think my father gave me this gift.

Lew, I just heard your Cattle in the Cane--it's a beauty!  The mixolydian part played first is like the other bluegrass renditions I heard.

ZEPP - Posted - 08/20/2014:  12:10:05

I had gone back to post this comment here, but managed to post it in Lew Hendrix's thread (another very fine version, I hasten to point out).

Anyway, this is what was supposed to be here:

JanetB - Posted - 08/20/2014:  17:54:11

Thanks, Donald!  This must be my lucky day.  First Adam Hurt contributed to my other thread and now Donald Zepp is here.  Banjo Hangout is such an amazing place where I can associate with the nicest and best banjo pickers from the comfort of my rocking chair.

Paul Roberts - Posted - 08/25/2014:  11:45:18

Beautifully articulated. Your artistry extends itself.

Don Borchelt - Posted - 08/25/2014:  13:53:12

Very fine picking, Janet, and a great setting.  I recently learned a closely related tune called Yearlings in the Canebreak.  The A parts are almost identical, but where the B part of Cattle goes to mixolydian, the B part of Yearlings goes to major; where the Cattle melody in the B part goes from the A to the G chord, Yearlings moves from A to D.  Interesting.  Again, a great performance.

JanetB - Posted - 08/25/2014:  17:46:24

A pleasure to hear from two of my favorite BHO buddies.  Yearlings in the Canebreaks was posted last week from Australia--a great jam that starts with the minor A part and moves to a major B part.  banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...archived=

The recording of Capt. Moses J. Bommer, is what they based their version on.  Here's the original from the Slippery Hill website:  slippery-hill.com/M-K/GDAE/AMO...lings.mp3   And here's Mary Z Cox and Kerry Blech performing Yearlings in the Canebrake--the one I've learned it from.   amazon.com/Florida-Banjo-Mary-...ida+banjo  It has the mixolydian mode in the B part, but is rooted in the Capt. Bommer version.

It goes to show there's many ways to play, with common roots to link them all.

Just want to add that Mary's Florida Banjo CD is outstanding!  She generously donated it when I made a donation to a worthy cause she was encouraging.  Great work and great picking, Mary!

Edited by - JanetB on 08/25/2014 17:49:51

Ho C Ying - Posted - 08/27/2014:  22:25:12

Pretty nice, Janet!

JanetB - Posted - 08/28/2014:  05:51:14

Thanks, C Ying!  You made my day, though it was nighttime in your neck of the woods!    Hope to hear what you've been working on soon, or what new banjo you've been tinkering with.  I keep playing this Mac Traynham Whyte Laydie openback.  I'm debating to put a hidehead on it or not.  Any thoughts on the subject?

maryzcox - Posted - 09/02/2014:  14:18:33

quote:

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Originally posted by JanetB

A pleasure to hear from two of my favorite BHO buddies.  Yearlings in the Canebreaks was posted last week from Australia--a great jam that starts with the minor A part and moves to a major B part.  banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...archived=

The recording of Capt. Moses J. Bommer, is what they based their version on.  Here's the original from the Slippery Hill website:  slippery-hill.com/M-K/GDAE/AMO...lings.mp3   And here's Mary Z Cox and Kerry Blech performing Yearlings in the Canebrake--the one I've learned it from.   amazon.com/Florida-Banjo-Mary-...ida+banjo  It has the mixolydian mode in the B part, but is rooted in the Capt. Bommer version.

It goes to show there's many ways to play, with common roots to link them all.

Just want to add that Mary's Florida Banjo CD is outstanding!  She generously donated it when I made a donation to a worthy cause she was encouraging.  Great work and great picking, Mary!

 

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Thanks for mentioning this recording.  This CD & a book of simple clawhammer tabs of the tunes that are played on this cd are available on my website.

maryzcox.com

ps. I've just begun my very first vocal cd--recorded in Gatorbone studios last week for 2 days & going back at the end of this month--hopefully it will be done by the end of the year--and there will be plenty of banjo too :) After 15 years of instrumental cds--I'm finally going to sing some--hope you will want to hear it--going to be some good tunes :)

Blue skies/Mary Z Cox

Ho C Ying - Posted - 09/05/2014:  06:50:39

quote:

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Originally posted by JanetB

Thanks, C Ying!  You made my day, though it was nighttime in your neck of the woods!    Hope to hear what you've been working on soon, or what new banjo you've been tinkering with.  I keep playing this Mac Traynham Whyte Laydie openback.  I'm debating to put a hidehead on it or not.  Any thoughts on the subject?

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I'm very happy with my "new" Tubaphone banjo. :)

JanetB - Posted - 09/05/2014:  07:10:21

quote:

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Originally posted by Ho C Ying

I'm very happy with my "new" Tubaphone banjo. :)

 

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I don't know much about tubaphones. How about posting a recording of a nice "old" tune?