Posted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 159
Size: 897kb, uploaded 5/26/2017 8:04:22 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, Old Sledge traces back to a West Virginia fiddler born in 1856 named Louis Johnson "Uncle Jack" McElwain, said to be one of the best fiddlers ever, though never recorded. The title could refer to many things, including a card game or a mule. This version comes from Burl Hammons, who learned it from his uncle, Edden Hammons.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 186
Size: 1,747kb, uploaded 5/26/2017 8:08:48 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 5/26/17, Old Sledge traces back to a respected West Virginia fiddler born in 1856, Louis Johnson "Uncle Jack" McElwain. He won many fiddle contests with the piece, including one at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. This clawhammer arrangement includes the versions of West Virginian fiddlers Melvin Wine and Ernie Carpenter, both who learned it from Uncle Jack.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 172
Size: 1,600kb, uploaded 5/9/2020 3:10:06 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
In topics:
TOTW 7 May 2020 - Roscoe Holcomb's "Old Smokey"
From the singing of Roscoe Holcomb, I admit having a hard time with his banjo 2-finger picking. Even his singing has a timing I can't get -- it's very irregular. But for the Tune of the Week I gave it a try and used his singing to arrange a clawhammer solo instead. Singing here is included, though it's not my fort? to sing solo, so be kind. The interesting thing about this song is that it's related to the familiar one via the lyrics and title, On Top of Old Smokey. There are many more lyrics.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 186
Size: 1,364kb, uploaded 12/14/2018 4:54:16 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 12/14/18, this sentimental song plays out in clawhammer rather than the Scruggs picking style I originally learned it in.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 182
Size: 1,208kb, uploaded 3/5/2017 8:00:34 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 3/3/17, this tune was once called Billy in the Lowground, but was given the prefix "Old Time" so as not to be confused with the other widely played tune. Mr. Gilbert played AB parts with crooked endings. These days it's played AABB. I arranged it for cello banjo in order to try a tuning equivalent to double C but would still remain in the original key of G.
1 commentPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 121
Size: 1,663kb, uploaded 7/16/2016 11:35:48 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 7/15/16, the fiddler credited with the tune is Bill Livers of Owen County, Kentucky. He apparently was a well-liked character and entertaining performer. His grandfather taught him this tune and it's named after a dog, with the sharp barking being heard quite clearly!
1 commentPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 219
Size: 1,077kb, uploaded 4/4/2015 8:38:02 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 4/3/15, this version comes from Parley Parsons of Galax, VA, playing with Alice Gerard's guitar back-up. Mr. Parsons also recorded Virginia Reel with Paul Brown, available on Slippery Hill website, but it's a different tune. I really wonder whether people dance the Virginia Reel to either versions and haven't heard them played when I've seen that dance performed....
2 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by Leonard Bernstein
[download]
- Play count: 139
Size: 572kb, uploaded 1/4/2012 10:42:20 AM
Genre: Other / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
My father used to play the West Side Story album where I heard this long ago. I discovered I could play all of it out of closed chord positions and find it's quite fun.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 874
Size: 1,030kb, uploaded 7/5/2011 10:35:12 AM
Genre: Unknown/None Chosen / Playing Style: Unknown/None Chosen
This tune is probably Canadian. It used to be popular at fiddle contests. There's something poignant about it.
7 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by Frankie Rodgers
[download]
- Play count: 804
Size: 1,879kb, uploaded 9/14/2016 10:15:30 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
When I first learned this piece, 3-finger style, I hadn't checked out the composer's original recording. In this recording I play Canadian composer Frankie Rodgers' Ookpik Owl and then add the first version I'd learned. An Ookpik owl is the same as a Snowy Owl and is a main character in stories and legends, as well as being a popular Canadian stuffed animal. There are Inuit stories about Ookpik, which I think would be fun to collect. As my grandson is currently studying owls, this is a good time to re-visit and share Ookpik Waltz. It was a popular fiddle contest tune for a while and my grandson just began violin lessons. Good connections are made with a banjo!
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 705
Size: 967kb, uploaded 7/27/2011 9:43:58 AM
Genre: Traditional / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
The Civil War song with an Elvis touch.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 1237
Size: 1,226kb, uploaded 1/4/2014 3:15:25 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the Tune of the Week, 1/3/14, based on Franklin George's addition of a third part which may have been learned from Oscar Wright. The original seems to have been learned by Henry Reed listening to a steam-powered calliope! This is the first tune I ever worked out when first learning clawhammer in the 70's, so it's good to re-visit and learn more about it now. I start it off here in waltz time, then speed it up to 4/4 time to get ready to go over the waterfall.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 244
Size: 1,436kb, uploaded 2/13/2016 10:21:57 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 2/12/16, this was recorded on Thanksgiving Day, 1951, by Nebraska fiddler Bob Walters. I learned it listening to Dwight Lamb, who was befriended and mentored by Mr. Walters after hearing him on the radio in the 1940's and driving from Iowa to seek him out. This is tune #80 in R.P. Christeson's Old-Time Fiddle Repertory, Vol. 1 collection.
4 commentsPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 855
Size: 945kb, uploaded 3/17/2014 6:10:18 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For Tune of the Week, 3/14/14, from the fiddling of Lotus Dickey, played on a Gold Tone cello banjo tuned dADF#A. The tune was apparently first played on a fife and later by fiddlers. The history of an Oyster River Massacre in present-day Durham, New Hampshire goes back to the 1690's.
7 commentsPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 1841
Size: 1,339kb, uploaded 6/12/2014 5:54:47 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Learned from Yigal Zan's video with David Margolin's fiddling, Yigal attributes this version to Fiddlin' Arthur Smith. I've wanted to learn this ever since hearing Bill Monroe's instrumental. The title makes me think of Irish immigrants working on the railroad, but I don't know if that's the case.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 195
Size: 820kb, uploaded 7/4/2011 1:00:00 PM
Genre: Unknown/None Chosen / Playing Style: Unknown/None Chosen
"Well, God Bless America!"--JS That's what Joe Sweiggert said when Rough and Ready, California re-joined the Union to celebrate the 4th of July in 1853.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 201
Size: 914kb, uploaded 10/11/2014 8:07:09 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Learned from the fiddling of West Virginian Melvin Wine, thanks to Dave Douglass who uploaded this hard-to-find resource. Check out the Tune of the Week for 10/10/14. Pearl Blake was one of 14 siblings who died young in the mines, but played tfiddle and this was his favorite tune. http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/292592
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 186
Size: 1,087kb, uploaded 3/30/2019 9:38:34 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
An old and sweet waltz is the TOTW, 3-29-19. My arrangement is from Missouri fiddler Art Galbraith.
4 commentsPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 640
Size: 944kb, uploaded 11/1/2014 12:31:38 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 10/31/14. The history behind this name is fascinating. Check out the TOTW: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/293687 George Washington called Peter Francisco his "one-man army." I discovered I have the 1976 US stamp created in his honor, carrying a half-ton cannon on his shoulder! The tune appeared in Knauf's "Virginia Reels" book in 1839. I'm playing on a Gold Tone cello banjo, so it's in the key of D, played in what's equivalent to open G tuning.
6 commentsPosted by JanetB
[download]
- Play count: 184
Size: 2,202kb, uploaded 3/7/2015 1:07:16 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the Tune of the Week, 3-6-15, this one comes from Missouri and originally probably from Scotland. It has the feeling of a light country dance. I listened to my favorite fiddle player, James Bryan, who got it from a recording of the original source -- Art Galbraith. See the TOTW for more info and my tab. http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/300431
2 commentsCopyright Notice:
You are allowed to post recordings of yourself performing:
- public-domain (non-copyrighted) songs
- original songs written by yourself
- songs written by someone else and licensed through ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC
Anything posted in violation of this notice may be removed by the webmaster without prior notice, and may result in your myHangout account being locked. Read complete copyright policy.
