schlange - Posted - 12/08/2014:  12:48:20

Cover of sheet music, 1907.

This week's featured tune is "Red Wing." Written in 1907 with music by Kerry Mills and lyrics by Thurland Chattaway (see video below), the verse melody is actually taken from Robert Schumann's piano composition "The Happy Farmer, Returning From Work" from his 1848 Album for the Young, Opus 68 (see video below).

In the bluegrass world this tune is typically played as an instrumental, but the original lyrics tell of a young Indian girl's loss of her sweetheart who died in battle. Various alternative lyrics have also been written--you can find some versions on the Wikipedia page.

Typically played in G.

Learn the Tune:

• Hear it using the GrooveShark playlist to the right.


• Casey Henry has furnished us with a lesson teaching her beginner arrangement of this tune. Only $6 thru the end of the week--get it here >


• Backing Tracks: Band in a Box tracks are included below at various speeds for your practicing pleasure.


• Tabs: here's a fun one arranged by Jim Pankey and modified by Jack Baker.

Share!

I (and others) would love to hear (and see!) you play your version of this tune--post it in a reply below!

VIDEO: Alan Munde leading "Redwing" at the Suwannee Banjo Camp 3.19.11 (click to view)	VIDEO: Kerry Mills song "Red Wing" sung by George W. Ballard on U-S Everlasting Record 1150 (1911) (click to view)	VIDEO: Robert Schumann Op. 68 N° 10 The Happy Farmer, Returning from Work (F major) (click to view)	VIDEO: Redwing - Excerpt from the Custom Banjo Lesson from The Murphy Method (click to view)
Red Wing Backing Track (G) 70BPM	Red Wing Backing Track (G) 90BPM	Red Wing Backing Track (G) 110BPM	Red Wing Backing Track (G) 130BPM
Red Wing chords

mulerrich - Posted - 12/08/2014:  12:56:12

I think Pete Seeger used the melody for "The Union Maid"

schlange - Posted - 12/08/2014:  13:07:21

quote:

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Originally posted by mulerrich

I think Pete Seeger used the melody for "The Union Maid"

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According to the Wikipedia page (link above) Woody Guthrie wrote "The Union Maid" in 1940... but yes, it's the same melody!

BanjoG - Posted - 12/08/2014:  13:12:40

Tony Triska has a nice version in one of his books. It's a fun tune to play on the banjo.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 12/08/2014:  14:09:41

Fascinating biography of Kerry Mills here: ragpiano.com/comps/famills.shtml

Besides "Red Wing", two other pieces of his fall wonderfully on the banjo: "Whistling Rufus" and "At A Georgia Camp-meeting"...there are others too.

Probably his most famous song is, "Meet Me In St. Louis, Louis", which was highlighted in the Judy Garland movie, "Meet Me In St. Louis" (1944).

Doug Knecht - Posted - 12/08/2014:  14:10:32

I've never done a jam track before, and I know this tune so here's my version with the 130bpm backing track.

pbaker0815 - Posted - 12/08/2014:  14:11:24

Janet Davis has several different versions in her "Ultimate Banjo Book"

schlange - Posted - 12/08/2014:  14:43:55

quote:

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Originally posted by Doug Knecht

I've never done a jam track before, and I know this tune so here's my version with the 130bpm backing track.

 

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Nice Doug!

Jack Baker - Posted - 12/08/2014:  14:56:55

Here's Chet Atkins' arrangement of Red Wing that I transcribed back in 2000. Since it's in Eric's list I thought I'd post it here for fun...Jack Baker

Redwing as played by Chet Atkins

Originally

Edited by - Jack Baker on 12/08/2014 15:00:15

Prof - Posted - 12/08/2014:  17:02:45

I just ran across this version by a German bluegrass band, Grass Root Ties:

youtube.com/watch?v=zvUkpNnSrVI

Edited by - Prof on 12/08/2014 17:03:24

schlange - Posted - 12/09/2014:  08:37:20

Worked thru Casey's arrangement today--it's pretty easy, so I got it all in one sitting. Always loved this tune, but never learned to play it!

bennettsullivan89 - Posted - 12/09/2014:  08:50:09

Alan Munde's version of the melody is so great, but check out what he's doing during the guitar solo. All that walking bass back up stuff is so killer.

chuckv97 - Posted - 12/09/2014:  08:52:42

Munde is great. That 3rd break is super!

Edited by - chuckv97 on 12/09/2014 08:54:06

MBCrawford - Posted - 12/09/2014:  09:18:43

I tried to do a little bit of this after a sting change............

Red Wing

percyvera - Posted - 12/09/2014:  15:48:51

There is a great Tab version in Sonny Osborne's little book "Bluegrass Banjo" published by Mel Bay in 1974, edited by Neil Griffin.



It's also a great Music Hall number. The chorus words I remember are :-



"The Moon shines bright on Charlie Chaplin

His boots are cracklin'

For want of blacknin'

And his little baggy trousers they need mendin'

Before they send 'im

To the Dardenelles.................."



Does anyone have words to the verses?

Edited by - percyvera on 12/09/2014 15:50:07

Preacherbilly - Posted - 12/09/2014:  17:23:31

Eric, your redwing backing track was excellent. I'd never tried that on the banjo, but have played it on harmonica. The different speeds are wonderful for learning a song especially for me because I only play by ear. Thank you so much!