So I’ve been teaching a Clawhammer banjo class at the Folk School in Saint Louis, MO and I’ve lately been dusting off many of the first tunes I picked up on the banjo. I’ve been having a great time in the process and was specifically struck by how much fun Old Molly Hare is to play. When it came time to put together a TOTW I was absolutely amazed that it hadn’t been covered yet. Lucky me!
This piece was performed around 1850 by Christy’s Minstrels and appears in Uncle Remus: His Songs and his Sayings (1881). The melody is at least half a century older and appears in Neil Gow’s original collection written way back in 1799. There is some debate as to whether he authored the tune or merely wrote down a previously existing piece. In Gow’s collection the melody is known as The Fairy Dance. It’s another example of an ancient melody finding its way to the “New World” and taking on a life of its own. Gotta love the folk process!
I initially learned OMH from Wayne Erbsen’s Clawhammer Banjo for the Complete Ignoramus almost a dozen years ago. Great book. Since then it has woven its way in and out of the rotation of tunes I play around the house.
On the BHO there are 22 examples of OMH, all of which are worth a listen.
Personally I like the old recordings so my favorites are probably Fiddlin Powers and Family:
And Clayton McMichen and Riley Puckett:
I’m also a fan of Frank George and Pat Dunford’s playing of the tune:
Finally, here’s my humble contribution. Sorry for the weird camera angle. Late night and I’m no videographer.
i was going to post the George-Dunford version but you wisely beat me to it! Franklin George's album in it's original Lp format was the first Ot recording I ever purchased ca. 1975. Shortly thereafter I saw Pat Dunford perform, solo at the original Focal Point which was where the guitar room is now within Music Folk. Mr. Dunford played many pieces off of that recording. It was not long after that show that Pat Dunford, suffering from depression due to a violent motorcyle wreck, took his own life Due to the power of archetypes, this happy tune reminds me of his creative, but troubled, short life.
I've been told by Irish fiddlers that this tune has been known as The Fairy Dance" in Eire for over a century. You can certainly hear Old Molly Hare scampering about within the tune! R.D. may know more about this.
Fun fact: North Carolina banjo elder George Landers called the tune "Old Granny Hare".
@ RG: Glad you like my playing. Cowan Powers was a force of nature. I figure everything he and his family did is worth owning in some format or another.
@Don: Pat Dunford was a wonderful banjo player. His backup style was very tasteful and his solo stuff is great. It really is too bad that he isn't with us any longer. By the way - do you have his solo album from 1977? It's a good one. If not let me know and I'll get a CD out to you next time I'm in your neck of the woods.
Thank you for the generous offer, Sean. A friend recently sent me a copy of that brilliant LP. While not a banjo song, I consider his rendering of "Morning of 1845" an exceptional performance of a classic ballad. You can most certainly hear Wade Ward's influence in his banjo work. Your version of Old Molly Hare is 1st rate!
This TOTW has been fun, Sean. Your video inspired me to play Old Molly Hare like I learned the tune long ago, but here using a cello banjo and a mini-banjo in duet fashion. I'm thinking of the mini-banjo as little dancing fairies -- the "Good People," as they're called. There's a neat tab book called Mel Bay's Complete Clawhammer Book by Lisa Schmitz and Alec Slater with Fairy Dance. Thanks for all the historic background, too.
Yup, good old tune. I expect I learned it in my first year of playing banjo, and probably played it on dulcimer before that. OMH really doesn't get played very often around here.
I'll add a BHO version that didn't show up in your list of 22 because I just gave it the title "D-Medley" through laziness when I uploaded it. It is "Step Up Susie, Snake River Reel, and Old Molly Hare."
I heard it for the first time on the first banjo album which I purchased, Mary Z Cox's Secret Life of Banjo. She has a bit different take on it but either way it has a very nice melody.
And here I thought I knew how to play Old Molly Hare. After hearing all these great versions I think I need to learn it all over again from scratch....
funny, I was surprised to see myself among the 22... I had completely forgotten that recording. It's fun to hear yourself with fresh ears, but sort of sad to realize you have no idea how to play something anymore.
lots of great versions of a really fun tune. I like that some of them really capture the whimsy of the song even without anything being sung. That said, I wish there were more sung versions. It's great to hear people trying to sell the idea that 'cigar' and 'there' rhyme.
Thanks for chiming in everyone. As per usual, the sound files posted are top notch. Mark I listened to your recording and am convinced it's one of my favorites. That f#DACD tuning is far out. I think I'll give it a shot.
