Stephen Rapp - Posted - 01/06/2022:  22:01:13

I was surprised to see that this wasn’t listed in the TOTW list. So here goes.

Most versions come from the playing of Emmett Lundy of Grayson County, Virginia. That said, it’s very well known among Round Peak musicians and can be heard by both Tommy Jarrell and Kyle Creed. Alan Lomax is said to have collected the tune in 1937 from Fields Ward. He recorded Lundy’s version in 1941.

In this video my playing is not based so much on Round Peak style. In links below are videos of several Round Peak versions. Kyle Creed plays a very short version, Bob Carlin playing and singing based on Kyle Creed’s version and then Tommy Jarrell. Tommy Jarrell’s playing is the most distinct sounding as Round Peak. 

I wrote out tabs in the fashion I play it. I was going to write an extra bit showing how it can be done in Round Peak style, but I have no idea how to translate Galax Licks that cross measure lines into TablEdit. I’m certain some of you might be able to do a good job of that.

Here’s the sound file of Emmett Lundy at Slippery Hill:  Emmett Lundy

Kyle Creed

Bob Carlin

Tommy Jarrell

Kevin Fore & Kirk Sutphin

Goodbye Girls w/ Allison DeGroot-banjo

Ducks on the Millpond

VIDEO: Ducks on the Millpond
(click to view)

RG - Posted - 01/06/2022:  22:14:25

Great TOTW Stephen and great performance, enjoyed that!

Bill Rogers - Posted - 01/07/2022:  00:24:05

Here's a link to Russ Carson's version. Not Round Peak. With Russ's videography, you can see what he's doing. Replicating that is another matter.

youtube.com/watch?v=93dCcdRjs-Q

Bill H - Posted - 01/07/2022:  02:09:58

I posted my version of Ducks on the Millpond a few years ago. It's always been one of my favorites.

Ducks on the Millpond

 

JanetB - Posted - 01/07/2022:  15:37:38

Old Timey at it's best, Stephen, and thanks for your video contribution and this undiscovered gem for TOTW.  Glad to hear you singing, too.  I went right to Emmett Lundy because he's always so interesting in his rhythm and note choices.  Sure enough, he even added a variant A part, described in liner notes as being practically another part.  In this recording I play a generic version one time through, then the three parts Emmett played.  If you listen to his recording, he changes midway to playing the A part, the A' part and the B part, in that order.  I read that Emmett didn't change his playing of a tune over the years, much as I seem do to, but it's interesting to study what he played because it was always so different from the modern ways I hear his tunes played.  Note that the fine part was the first part, as written in the liner notes below, which I'm calling the B part.

Ducks on the Millpond (TOTW)

Ducks on the Millpond (CH) tab

WVDreamin - Posted - 01/07/2022:  19:58:30

One of my all time favorite tunes. I'm particular to Mr Lundy's playing and often play his version to warm up the bowing arm. Fine picking all around so far!

Hay-on-Wye - Posted - 01/08/2022:  00:05:31

I’m surprised this tune hasn’t been covered before. One of my favourite tune! I particularly like Sheila K Adams version my banjo teacher introduced me to about 10 years ago. She has a lovely simplistic take on the tune



youtu.be/Wl0SdqyByFc

and my take on it

youtu.be/reQB0FJmpdA

Edited by - Hay-on-Wye on 01/08/2022 00:20:39

cmic - Posted - 01/08/2022:  01:45:44

Very nice rendition of S.K Adams version!
And what is the name of the tume you played after DOTM? (I know I've ever ever heard it,
but can't remember the name)

Cheers