I discovered this song when I was looking though Ken Torke's great Tater Joe website looking for old time tunes to play. Imagine my surprise when I found this one on the list! A old time fiddle tune about our, at the time, current president...
I think it's a very "presidential' sounding tune. Sounds good played at a moderate speed, and to me at least, kinda sounds like the theme song to show like "The West Wing" or a Ken Burn's documentary.
It was written by the Canote Brothers, looks like around 2008. As they say in their video, "in the tradition of writing tunes about historical events." The fiddle tuned in Calico tuning. I don't know anything about fiddles, but sounds like it must a rare tuning to use. Here's them playing it live, with a couple of banjo players I don't recognize, although they certainly may be member of this site!
I learned the version tabbed out on Tater Joe's site (taterjoes.com/banjo/ObamasMarc...House.pdf) and really enjoy playing it. It's a fairly simple version, good for me as I'm pretty new to clawhammer and banjo in general. Here's my version. I've been playing in G and just noticed that the Canote Brothers wrote it in A. Shoulda put on that capo!
Not much history on this one since it's so new. I just thought it was really pretty, somewhat unusual, fiddle tune so thought I would share.
This is a good tune. I don't see anything at all political about it, or what you said about it. Maybe it was a pre-emptive strike. BTW I heard they are making a tune about Trumps' march to the white house...the songwriters are trying to repeal all of the notes that are in the Obama tune....rimshot.
there is a nice tune called "Tilden's March to the White House." Unfortunately for Tilden, the Democratic candidate, he never got there due to a disputed election and subsequent compromise which resulted in Rutherford Hayes named President and US troops removed from the south, thus ending Reconstruction.
As Scott Killops noted, that's me on cello banjo and my wife Maxine Gerber on the regular 5-string. This was at the Fourth of July concert at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in 2008, in front of a large, very enthusiastic audience. Jere said later he was thinking, "Peak musical moment!" as we were playing, and indeed it was! We felt very patriotic.
As bjcole surmised, the title was inspired by the old Virginia tune, "Cleveland's March To The White House". I also recorded (and played on, as did Maxine) Greg and Jere's CD "Dogs In The Dishes" on which this tune appears. The CD can be purchased on the Canote Brothers' website at canote.com/listen.php
If you scroll down to the fifth item, you can preview the tune by clicking on the "Listen" link for Track 11.
This TOTW has been valuable in pointing to the tune's composer, Greg Canote. I first heard and saw the entertaining and lovable Canote Brothers on Craig Evans' Volume 5, Conversations with Old-Time Performers series. I first heard Adam's beautiful version on his CD with Beth Hartness and now can hear the original that inspired him to learn it.
By watching Adam's video I figured he used double C tuning to get the full range. By playing on the cello banjo along with Greg on fiddle tuned to eAEAB I came up with an arrangement.
I haven't heard of any for the Presidents between Cleveland and Obama.
Since folks are posting about other historical president marches on this thread--this one is about Andrew Jackson--who although he has been dead for almost 200 years--has suddenly surfaced his head into the current news. Here's another presidential tune--not a march--but more of a protest against Jackson's Marches :)
Ooooo, I like it. You succeeded in evoking an appropriately sad feel about it. Definitely going to learn this one for my nylagut banjo. I've spent a lot of time in north FL. Got my MFA at FSU and my wife's family lives in St Augustine. I remember being surprised at how disliked Jackson still is there, with good reason. Thanks.
On a president-related note, our own Curt Bouterse has written his share of tunes that have found their way into the old time vernacular. "Waiting For Nancy" is a popular contradance tune, and Curt's "Nixon's Farewell" I've also heard performed at contras.
To prevent either thread drift, piling on, or beating a dead horse - ooh! great name for a fiddle tune - I'll just refer y'all to another thread where I announce my newest CD, "Nixon's Farewell." It also includes tunes dedicated to Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. [George Bush and Donald Trump will be on the next one.] banjohangout.org/topic/330526
To prevent either thread drift, piling on, or beating a dead horse - ooh! great name for a fiddle tune - I'll just refer y'all to another thread where I announce my newest CD, "Nixon's Farewell." It also includes tunes dedicated to Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. [George Bush and Donald Trump will be on the next one.] banjohangout.org/topic/330526
What about The Great Communicator? Maybe he gets his own LP. With songs like: Reagan's victory over Communism, Reagan Invades Granada, Trickle Down, Trickle Down...Mommy said to Just Say No...
I love that Jackson song Mary!! appropriately sad/ angry. Played on the cello banjo sounds like
Thanks--this tune came to me in a dream about 13 years ago in Tallahassee when what is left of the Creek Nation and other protestors took to the streets downtown to protest the re-enactment actor of Andrew Jackson in the Springtime Tallahassee Parade. I recorded it in 2004 & that is the recording I put up--it was recorded on a reproduction Hunchback Minstrel Banjo which I no longer own. Recently I've been playing it live on my cello banjo again. I will never understand what motivates people to keep praising him even though he's been dead two centuries ago! He pretty much wiped out the Creek nation in north florida in the early 1800s & when he became president he arranged the Trail of Tears. Just last week--he's in the media all over the news again--which is the main reason I've been posting this tune in various social media :)
To prevent either thread drift, piling on, or beating a dead horse - ooh! great name for a fiddle tune - I'll just refer y'all to another thread where I announce my newest CD, "Nixon's Farewell." It also includes tunes dedicated to Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. [George Bush and Donald Trump will be on the next one.] banjohangout.org/topic/330526
IMHO Don't worry about thread drift on this topic because the TOTW has not been recorded all that much--so it would only get an answer of two if not for the discussion of other presidential tunes :)
By the way--i love playing your "Waitin for Nancy" tune--I have never recorded it --but would like to in a medley--would you give permission ?
I forgot one other "presidential" tune. On volume one of the two-cd collection of tunes from the Ohio and one other river [forgot], there's apparently an old tune called, unbelievably, "Kicking George Bush Upstairs." I have to assume it's another George Bush.
I forgot one other "presidential" tune. On volume one of the two-cd collection of tunes from the Ohio and one other river [forgot], there's apparently an old tune called, unbelievably, "Kicking George Bush Upstairs." I have to assume it's another George Bush.
I like that tune - sometimes called "Getting George Bush Upstairs" :
Some really fine, beautiful versions of the TOTW by Travis, Janet and Randy. I apologize for not getting this done sooner, but I had company most of the week. I have taken a few liberties with the melody, to make it fit the way I do things. I am three-finger picking my short scale, semi-fretless Paramount in open A tuning (aEAC#E).
