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Mtngoat - Posted - 08/27/2022: 21:11:43
TOTW 08-27-2022
I’ve chosen Man Eater for this installment of TOTW.
From The Traditional Tune Archive: “MAN EATER. American, Reel (cut time). USA, Kentucky. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). Titon (2001) finds the title in tune-lists of the 1919 and 1920 Berea, Kentucky, fiddle contests, played by M.A. Moody of Big Hill and Leslie Van Winkle of Clover Bottom. The melody was also recorded by Kentucky fiddler Doc Roberts in 1930 for Gennett records, although the company never issued the side. John Masters learned the tune from African-American fiddler Jim Booker, an influential Jessamine County musician who recorded in the 1920's backing others and with his own band, The Booker Brothers.”
Booker (1872-1940) was at his best during the first third of the twentieth century and you don’t have to dig very deep to find his mark on central Kentucky tunes and fiddlers from that period. The versatile Booker, who played blues and ragtime with his own band, is generally credited with integrating the country music business when he recorded several old-time tunes, including the classic Forked Deer, with Taylor’s Kentucky Boys in 1927. Times being what they were though, Booker was excluded from the group’s promotional photographs and a white fiddler was depicted instead.
An internet search found only four performances of Man Eater.
A field recording of John Masters (1904-1986) from the mid 70’s: slippery-hill.com/content/man-eater
A field recording of Kelly Gilbert (1895-1991) from 1981: dla.acaweb.org/digital/collect...010/rec/3
Aisha Ivey and Chuck Levy perform a 2013 fiddle and banjo duet: youtube.com/watch?v=Crb2XsteXLY
And a recent recording by John Harrod: music.youtube.com/watch?v=B0CU...CUAYjuBw8
I was unable to find a tab for the tune but a transcription in standard notation is available from Tater Joe’s here: taterjoes.com/Warehouse/Fiddle...Eater.pdf
Readers are encouraged to post comments, performances, and tabs contributing to this thread.
Don Borchelt - Posted - 08/28/2022: 15:45:31
quote:
Originally posted by Mtngoat
TOTW 08-27-2022
I’ve chosen Man Eater for this installment of TOTW...
Just when you think maybe you've heard them all, somebody goes and comes up with one you never heard before, so you just have to stop what you're doin' and grab your banjo! A fine choice for TOTW, you old goat! I spent a good number of hours on this today, and this is what I came up with, in open D tuning (aDF#AD). I relied on Kentucky fiddler John Herrod's wonderful rendition that you posted.
Edited by - Don Borchelt on 08/28/2022 15:47:06
pickn5 - Posted - 08/29/2022: 02:34:31
Don, I was toe tapping with my morning coffee! Good one.
Mtngoat - Posted - 08/29/2022: 07:05:06
Don, My ear was drawn immediately to the little skip syncopation in the second measure, really nice. Thanks for the contribution.
Jeff, I agree, I just couldn't help myself.
JanetB - Posted - 08/29/2022: 10:39:52
So good to hear Don picking out a new old tune! Thanks for filling in, Mr. Goat, with a fun tune, odd as the title is. I think of Man Eater as a big cat, as in lions, tigers and leopard -- nothing, though, from the tune's Kentucky source. As I played the A part, the cat was toying with its prey. In the B part the prey was eaten. This tune will remain in my mind in the small-scale cat category. My Mosky cat is a good hunter and we haven't seen rattlesnakes here in a long while, attributable to his effective clearing of prey enjoyed by snakes.
Mtngoat - Posted - 08/30/2022: 06:17:34
Janet, Thanks for the fine performance and tab. Great work as usual.
Also many thanks for all you do coordinating TOTW.
BTW I came across a roadkill rattlesnake while walking the dog this morning reminding me to be extra vigilant on our evening walks before bedtime.
Don Borchelt - Posted - 08/31/2022: 15:02:06
quote:
Originally posted by JanetB
I think of Man Eater as a big cat, as in lions, tigers and leopard -- nothing, though, from the tune's Kentucky source. As I played the A part, the cat was toying with its prey. In the B part the prey was eaten.
A very fine rendition, Janet, no matter what the animal is we are talking about. For the record, the southern mountains have their share of cougars, mountain lions, and boncats. And outside of the kitty family, bears, coyotes and wolves. They will all eat you, if they get the chance.
Don Borchelt - Posted - 08/31/2022: 20:14:22
quote:
Originally posted by Mtngoat
Don, My ear was drawn immediately to the little skip syncopation in the second measure, really nice. Thanks for the contribution.
Jeff, I agree, I just couldn't help myself.
My thank to you and Jeff for the compliments! John Harrod put's that little skip in it when he fiddles it, and I thought it was pretty cool, so mi borrowed it. John Masters doesn't do it. After I've played it for a few months, I should be able to do it better!
Jack Baker - Posted - 09/03/2022: 14:25:00
Wonderful Janet....Jack
Originally posted by JanetB
So good to hear Don picking out a new old tune! Thanks for filling in, Mr. Goat, with a fun tune, odd as the title is. I think of Man Eater as a big cat, as in lions, tigers and leopard -- nothing, though, from the tune's Kentucky source. As I played the A part, the cat was toying with its prey. In the B part the prey was eaten. This tune will remain in my mind in the small-scale cat category. My Mosky cat is a good hunter and we haven't seen rattlesnakes here in a long while, attributable to his effective clearing of prey enjoyed by snakes.
