Mtngoat - Posted - 08/18/2023:  03:53:18

TOTW 08/18/2023  Feed My Horse on Corn and Hay

I’ve chosen Feed My Horse on Corn and Hay for this installment of TOTW.  The Traditional Tune Archive says the tune is an “American, Reel (cut time). USA, Kentucky. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). ABB' (Milliner & Koken): AABB (Titon). The tune comes from north-eastern Kentucky fiddler Buddy Thomas [1] (1935-1974), who learned it from his cousin Perry Riley (1893-1973).”

Feed My Horse on Corn and Hay seems to be undergoing a surge in popularity as I have heard it more at jams this year than in all the last decade combined.  Some representative performances are linked below: 

Buddy Thomas plays the tune here:  slippery-hill.com/content/feed...n-and-hay

Hilarie Burhans has a banjo solo here: youtube.com/watch?v=1csO1iTiQF0

Brett Ratliff is here:  youtube.com/watch?v=7M3hi2bKQpc

Erynn Marshall and Chris Coole have a nice rendition here: youtube.com/watch?v=Sh7Hi_OokQ4

Here’s another string band version: soundcloud.com/clawhammerharda...n-and-hay

And here’s a slower version fiddle and guitar duet:  youtube.com/watch?v=C8LN-gjDY6g 

I found three tabs for the tune.

Tater Joe has this:  taterjoes.com/Warehouse/Banjo/...ndHay.pdf

Candy Goldman posted this one:  stringband.mossyroof.com/Feed_...d_Hay.png

And Don Borchelt provides a three finger version here:  banjr.com/pdf%20files/feed%20m...20hay.pdf

A transcription in standard notation is here:  taterjoes.com/Warehouse/Fiddle...ndHay.pdf

Thomas’ biography, in his own words, can be found here:  fieldrecorder.org/buddy-thomas...iography/

Thomas was born with health issues that plagued him throughout his life.  An acquaintance, who knew Thomas well, told me that, as an adult, Thomas moved back in with his aged mother, ostensibly as her care giver, but in fact she was caring for him since he was more severely disabled than she was.

Readers are encouraged to post comments, performances, and tabs contributing to this thread.

dbrooks - Posted - 08/18/2023:  05:49:05

Great tune. I have used this tune with my classes to teach syncopation. My tab is based on the version by Erynn Marshall and Chris Coole on Meet Me in the Music. I was fortunate enough to see them, along with Arnie Naiman, at a concert at Berea College in conjunction with a new book Erynn had coming out.

Feed Your Horse Corn and Hay Tab - Details and Ratings - Banjo Hangout

David

Mtngoat - Posted - 08/18/2023:  11:06:57

David,

Thanks for the contribution. Your insight is always welcome. I'll be stealing some of the ideas in your tab.

gentrixuk - Posted - 08/19/2023:  02:10:23

Thanks for this. Great tune! Definitely learning this one.

Mtngoat - Posted - 08/19/2023:  11:01:35

Mark,



Post a recording when you get the tune under your belt.

Edited by - Mtngoat on 08/19/2023 11:02:06

JanetB - Posted - 08/19/2023:  15:38:25

Another great tune you've added to our repertoire, Mtngoat! Buddy Thomas tunes are always worth learning. The example recordings you shared are truly making happy music.

Feed My Horse on Corn and Hay

Feed My Horse on Corn and Hay (CH) tab