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Posted by JanetB
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- Play count: 121
Size: 1,136kb, uploaded 10/26/2019 11:56:37 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time TOTW, 10/25/19, Valley Forge here is from Jimmy Driftwood's fiddled version. It's a 4-part tune where the C part represents to me the tension that must have been felt by Washington's soldiers during that horrendous experience wintering at Valley Forge. Playing it slower might be more effective to impart a story, but as it is, I'm playing at about 70% of the original recording tempo. It's said that Jimmy Driftwood learned the tune from Absie Morrison.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 194
Size: 1,567kb, uploaded 10/25/2018 5:47:24 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week, 10/26/18, comes from Kentucky fiddler John Salyer (1982-1952). Vance No More is based on a sad ballad about a murder and a hanging. It's a crooked tune that you get used to.
4 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 227
Size: 1,212kb, uploaded 7/31/2020 6:57:23 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Hobart Smith, the amazing musician we old-time players much admire, learned from sources that placed some of his tunes pre-civil war. Wabash Blues is a tune whose age I don't know, but it's only known to have been recorded by him, which happened in 1963 when Fleming Brown befriended him. Stephen Wade released those recordings of Smith in 2005, "In Sacred Trust," and still enjoys playing this very tune to this day.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by Daniyel Ben-Asher
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- Play count: 178
Size: 897kb, uploaded 7/20/2012 8:53:20 AM
Genre: Other / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Daniyel wrote this song and the cello banjo played along.
1 commentPosted by JanetB, written by Jimmie Rodgers
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- Play count: 435
Size: 1,000kb, uploaded 4/20/2012 6:15:10 AM
Genre: Country / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Known as the Singing Brakeman, Jimmie Rodgers (1897 - 1933) songs are fun to sing, but lyrically a bit sad. His yodel is famous!
1 commentPosted by JanetB, written by Jimmie Rodgers
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- Play count: 361
Size: 1,590kb, uploaded 4/21/2012 1:39:52 PM
Genre: Country / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
With apologies to Jimmie Rodgers, here are the vocals some of you wanted to hear.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 1181
Size: 835kb, uploaded 1/3/2015 1:07:02 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Learned for the old-time Tune of the Week, the story behind this tune is that it's one Melvin Wine learned by hearing his mother sing this hymn. Now the lyrics are most gone, but the melody is still shared. Check out the current Tune of the Week: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/297062
6 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 134
Size: 1,635kb, uploaded 1/5/2024 12:30:15 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
As learned from NC fiddler Marcus Martin, Wake Robin resembles a couple of other tunes. It's short and sweet.
1 commentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 230
Size: 1,424kb, uploaded 3/6/2016 2:19:37 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
West Virginia fiddler Melvin Wine learned this from his father. The title may relate to a cake walk song of the pre-minstrel era. Walk Chalk Chicken with a Bowtie On is another title Melvin gave the tune, which is the old-time Tune of the Week for 3/4/16. I found the timing a bit odd, though it has a cheery feel.
4 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 489
Size: 1,028kb, uploaded 9/10/2012 8:29:51 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
A Tune of the Week version from listening to several great players--Joe and Creed Birchfield, Franklin George, and Lester McCumber.
1 commentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 309
Size: 861kb, uploaded 9/10/2012 12:11:57 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
After recording with a fretted banjo I tried my small scale fretless gourd, too. I find getting all the notes challenging and think of the fiddle's challenge with a very short scale compared to a banjo.
5 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by Arnie Naiman
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- Play count: 93
Size: 2,944kb, uploaded 2/10/2024 12:54:19 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
The Tune of the Week features a contemporary old-time composition by one who is super talented at it -- Arnie Neiman. He truly loves his dog and the tune Walking the Dog is a happy one, with Arnie's ability to create something unique amidst so many hundreds of tunes in our repertoire.
Add CommentPosted by JanetB, written by Owen 'Snake' Chapman
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- Play count: 1479
Size: 1,496kb, uploaded 4/20/2013 10:20:03 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
This original song by Owen 'Snake' Chapman is named after a mountain feature close to his home in Letcher County, Kentucky. He wrote many tunes and reminds me of Banjo Hangout's Jim Reed from Pike County, Kentucky who also wrote many tunes and played with Owen.
8 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 375
Size: 1,269kb, uploaded 10/31/2015 3:23:39 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the old-time Tune of the Week 10/30/15. Many pickers have been inspired by Adam Hurt's lovely version. I thought I'd go back a little farther historically speaking and listened to DeCosta Waltz's Southern Broadcasters recordings of the 1920's, which is very similar to Adam's. I believe that the other historic recordings of The Wandering Boy (i.e. The Carter Family and the Stanley Brothers) are related. The lyrics are sad and meaningful, sung from a mother's view.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 287
Size: 1,112kb, uploaded 8/10/2013 2:02:01 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the Tune of the Week, August 10, 2013. This is based on Kentucky fiddler Perry Riley's recording. It has six measures in a part, which is rare. The upbeat feeling goes along with the story of going from one state (West Virginia) to the town of Warfield in another state (Kentucky) just because it was legal to drink there at the time.
1 commentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 76
Size: 3,000kb, uploaded 10/28/2023 2:52:49 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
We have a great presenter from the state of Ohio, who noted that we don't have that state represented in our many tunes for Tune of the Week. This tune comes from Estil Adams who lived in Washington Court House, an actual city with the longest name in Ohio!
Add CommentPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 872
Size: 1,412kb, uploaded 8/17/2013 5:16:25 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
For the Tune of the Week, 8/16/13, from the fiddling of Edden Hammonds.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 222
Size: 1,845kb, uploaded 1/9/2016 5:59:09 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Two versions here for this old-time Tune of the Week, 1/8/16. The first comes from Dirk Powell. The next is a mix of every one I've ever heard.
3 commentsPosted by JanetB, written by David Grier & Mike Compton
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- Play count: 878
Size: 1,448kb, uploaded 11/1/2011 5:49:07 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
Two of my favorite musicians wrote this.
2 commentsPosted by JanetB
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- Play count: 156
Size: 1,306kb, uploaded 4/21/2015 7:58:19 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time
As played by Emmett Lundy, I like the image of waves given by the song. It begins with something low and jumps to something syncopated up high -- like a big wave getting ready to break.
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