carlb - Posted - 03/21/2019:  10:26:48

As a banjo tune, “Old Martha Kelly” (aDAde) was passed on to us by David Molk back in the early 1970s. After David spent time in Bloomington, IN, visiting Charlottesville, VA, attending the early Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music Festival (at the Newlin Grist Mill Park, Glen Mills, PA  brandywinefriends.org/about), and the West Virginia State Folk Festival (Glenville, WV  wvstatefolkfestival.com/), he then went to an Ashram in northern California and we were no longer in contact with him. My friend Doug Linton learned the tune from David and passed it on to Bill Schmidt and me. So as far as we knew there were only four people who played this tune.

Back in 2006, I attempted to find where David had learned the tune. I couldn’t contact him as he was out of touch and involved in translating “The Tibetan Book of the Dead” and other Tibetan Buddhist teachings. Recently, David came back in touch with us through Facebook and wrote “I think I learned it from Jim Lucas, Bob Lucas's brother, and if I remember correctly, he learned it from a banjo player in western Pennsylvania.” I then did a search and found Bob Lucas through the Columbus Folk Music Society where I located his web site boblucasmusic.com/. So after about 45 years, we finally uncovered the source of the tune. Bob wrote: “Long ago my Brother Jim and his spouse Martha lived in Washington Pa. Nearby was the little town of Claysville. In the countryside around there was living a bachelor fiddler named Harry Hunter. He pronounced his name so the Har would rhyme with far. As it should be in this world they all became fast friends. It was around 1970 I believe. I met him as well and this tune is the one that stuck with me. Jim said he made words for it. Something about a woman who’s house was so full of junk you couldn’t get from one room to the next. I hadn’t played it for years but recently an old friend mentioned it to someone and they came looking for me asking all kinds of questions. I just love this music. How the tunes can mean so much more than what takes place in 32 measures. Old Martha Kelly.”

So here’s are how we all play it on the banjo.

Bob Lucas (banjo tuned low; near G)  facebook.com/bob.lucas1/videos...748/?t=48

David Molk (mp3 below)

Doug Linton (mp3 below)

Bill Schmidt (banjo tuned to gCGcd)  youtube.com/watch?v=uKJfHdunrZ4

Carl Baron (mp3 below)

Bill did mention that he heard David play it on the fiddle back in the mid 1970s and Harry Hunter played it on fiddle. I got together with my friend, of many years, Doug Linton and recorded a fiddle-banjo duet. I practiced the tune on fiddle with Bob, David, Bill and Doug’s banjo versions to come up with what I play.

Carl-Doug fiddle-banjo duet (mp3 below)

I hope you all enjoyed the tune as well as the search for where it came from. I’ve added a picture from the early Brandywine Friends of Music Old Time Festival and one of Doug and me from the middle 1970s.

Musicians at an Early Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music Festival

Doug Linton (banjo) and Carl Baron (fiddle)

Old Martha Kelly - Carl Baron (fiddle) Doug Linton (banjo)

Old Martha Kelly - Carl Baron

Old Martha Kelly - Doug Linton

Old Martha Kelly - David Molk

RG - Posted - 03/21/2019:  10:34:27

Great tune Carl, and real nice fiddle and banjo on that version with you and Doug!!

banjo bill-e - Posted - 03/22/2019:  11:06:48

Cool story, Carl. This tune sounds to me like it really needs lyrics and become a song.

Stephen Rapp - Posted - 03/22/2019:  12:49:51

Great choice! I lived in Bloomington in the 70's and met David Molk. At that point I hadn't jumped into the Old Time music scene, but there certainly was a huge variety of all sorts of folk and world music around Bloomington then. Some of the most memorable times of my life.