Stephen Rapp - Posted - 02/21/2020:  07:45:41

Huldy in the Sinkhole is a crooked Kentucky fiddle tune that comes from the playing of Birch Patrick. It can be found in the Milliner-Koken collection and in Jeff Titon’s book Fiddle Tunes of Kentucky. It is listed as in Cross A for fiddle. Paul and I recorded it in G, so to follow the video just use standard tuning for banjo. I’m not certain, but I think Huldy might be the name of a cow that got stuck in a sinkhole. Our version follows the same sequence as the Birch Patrick recording playing each part once. Other videos double parts and may vary the melody some.

From Tunearch.org:

HULDY IN THE SINKHOLE. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Kentucky. A Major. AEae tuning (fiddle). AB. Jeff Titon (2001) identifies the tune as closely related to "Jenny in the Cotton Patch," and that the 'A' part is also a variant of the 'B' part of Clyde Davenport's "Little Boy Where'd You Get Your Britches?" See also Hiram Stamper's [1] version of "Chinquapin Hunting (1)."

Other videos:

Tom Sauber & Tom Carter (starts at 2:44): youtu.be/96xvlnXwBd0

Jason Cade & Friends: youtu.be/O1fl1yXLiqM

The Source Recording on Slippery Hill:

slippery-hill.com/recording/huldy-sinkhole

Huldy in the Sinkhole

VIDEO: Huldy in the Sinkhole
(click to view)

Stevo-msla - Posted - 02/21/2020:  15:56:38

Great tune and recording, thanks for posting. Nothing quite like a crooked tune on fiddle and banjo, eh? Steve

Stephen Rapp - Posted - 02/21/2020:  16:27:50

Thanks Steve.

JanetB - Posted - 02/21/2020:  20:15:07

You've offered us another winner, Stephen, and your duet with Paul is catchy. Once I figured out how to play it, it was hard to stop playing along with you. I used another tuning, sawmill, and came up with this arrangement. Hopefully we can learn more about Birch Patrick other than that he was from Magoffin County in Kentucky and lived from 1916 - 2003.

Huldy in the Sinkhole (TOTW)

Huldy in the Sinkhole (CH) tab, sawmill tuning

RG - Posted - 02/21/2020:  22:27:57

Real nice Steve! Another one I love playing on the fiddle!

Stephen Rapp - Posted - 02/22/2020:  05:23:55

Thanks Janet and RG.

dbrooks - Posted - 02/22/2020:  05:59:07

Nice tune and just a perfect blend of fiddle and banjo.

David

Mark Johnson - Posted - 02/22/2020:  10:16:04

awesome job with the playing Janet and Stephen + Paul! both of your versions are gorgeous.

I love the Tilton book. So many gems to discover in there, and this one is indeed a gem of a tune.

Stephen Rapp - Posted - 02/22/2020:  18:32:02

Thanks David and Mark!