Dandy Jim (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB, written by Clyde Davenport

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- Play count: 275

Size: 925kb, uploaded 5/31/2014 5:09:56 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 5/30/14, from Kentucky fiddler Clyde Davenport, recorded by Jeff Titon and in his book "Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes." The timing in the A part feels like it has African-American influence--something I'd like to know more about. For tabbing the tune I used two measures of 4/4 timing followed by a measure of 2/2 timing.

Dark as a Dungeon

Posted by JanetB, written by Merle Travis

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- Play count: 1366

Size: 773kb, uploaded 7/26/2011 8:32:51 AM
Genre: Popular / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This song reminds me of my dad who grew up in the coal mining town of Ashville, PA.

Dark Eyes Reel (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB, written by Albert S. Bowman

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- Play count: 278

Size: 1,016kb, uploaded 8/16/2014 5:33:51 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 8/15/14, learned from BHO member ajisai's fiddling. She learned it from an old violin instruction book of the early 1900's. Without a historic recording to go by, this reminds me of the manner in which Turlough O'Carolan's tunes were learned and carried on. Someone notated them and published them and we're all better off for knowing his beautiful music.

Darling Corey/Liquor Seller

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 816

Size: 1,213kb, uploaded 6/23/2014 11:06:13 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Liquor Seller came from James Bryan's fiddling, but I discovered that Roscoe Parish of Virginia recorded it on both banjo and fiddle and assume he's the source. I chose Darling Corey because of its similar theme and the fact that I was looking for a tune with the mixolydian mode to go with Liquor Seller.

Davy (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 137

Size: 1,005kb, uploaded 11/13/2020 2:07:47 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Often accompanying by some silly lyrics about Davy and gravy, here is just the instrumental as learned from 1928 recording by the Weems String Band. They only made two, yet many outstanding banjo players have recorded Davy and credited the family band.

Davy Come On Back and Act Like You Oughta (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 829

Size: 1,400kb, uploaded 8/4/2017 1:41:33 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 8/4/17, West Virginia fiddler Delbert Hughes (1905 -1982) recorded this one. It sounds like Davy is responding in the B part with his grievances, which he finds reasonable enough. I think this story ends where he comes back home....

Dead Man's Peace

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 753

Size: 884kb, uploaded 1/21/2013 12:28:49 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

As played by Dwight Diller who learned it from Lee Hammons.

Dead Man's Piece--cello banjo

Posted by JanetB, written by Lee Hammons

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- Play count: 1013

Size: 851kb, uploaded 1/27/2013 1:46:26 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

As played by Dwight Diller who recorded Lee Hammons' banjo piece in the 70's. I'm trying to get a good tone on cello banjo recording.

Dear Someone

Posted by JanetB, written by Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

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- Play count: 231

Size: 1,119kb, uploaded 11/6/2011 2:19:42 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This is one beautiful song when performed by Gillian and David. Kit and I were inspired when we saw them on the Chieftains Nashville Session and wanted to do this duet. Kit's mandolin on melody was so nice I chose to stay with harmony and hope it supports him.

Denver Belle

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 1094

Size: 2,616kb, uploaded 12/16/2016 6:33:15 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This tune comes from the repertoire of Bluegrass boy Kenny Baker. He learned it from his father, Thaddeus, and said he only heard it played by his family. I used Garage Band to combine my Mac Traynham Whyte Laydie openback with my Gold Tone cello banjo.

Devil in the Haystack

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 1158

Size: 1,304kb, uploaded 5/25/2013 2:00:32 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the Tune of the Week, 5/24/13, from the fiddling of Pappy Taylor of Illinois.

Dick's Handspike (CB)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 911

Size: 820kb, uploaded 5/4/2014 4:05:15 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Samuel Bayard collected this tune from fiddler and fifer Isaac Newton Morris. It's tune #45 in his book Dance to the Fiddle and March to the Fife. I learned it from the excellent recording by Mark Tamsula and Richard Withers in their CD Up in the Batten House. It's one of these tunes where the melody is embedded within some wandering passages. I'm playing in SRB tuning with tab in the BHO archive.

Dixie Hoedown

Posted by JanetB, written by Jim and Jesse McReynolds

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- Play count: 736

Size: 781kb, uploaded 10/2/2011 5:37:38 PM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Listening to a David Grisman collection called Mandolin Extravaganza, this one caught my attention.

Doc Corn's Tune (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 218

Size: 1,017kb, uploaded 1/29/2017 7:31:10 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 1-28-17, I listened to an Illinois fiddler John Ray "Doc" Corn recording, made on his birthday in 1976. The tune was also recorded by Lynn Chirps Smith, a fiddler whose work I respect and enjoy. There's not much other information yet on this tune other than it had another title that isn't so nice.

Don Tremaine's Reel (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB, written by Graham Townsend

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- Play count: 80

Size: 1,528kb, uploaded 9/6/2021 9:02:33 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

In topics:
TOTW 9/3/2021 Don Tremaine's Reel

Graham Townsend, Canadian winning dance fiddler and prolific tunester till his death in 1998, wrote this reel and played it rapidly and notes. I simplified the A part, but not as much the B part, and slowed it down here.

Don't Drink Nothin' But Corn (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 211

Size: 968kb, uploaded 12/2/2016 10:52:20 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 12/2/16, from the playing of Virginia fiddler Taylor Kimble (1892 - 1979). I wouldn't know much at all about this kind of corn, so I'm sure this version won't "set your head on fire," as the lyrics said.

Double File (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 707

Size: 1,640kb, uploaded 11/14/2017 10:17:22 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 11/12/17, Double File was recorded by Gaither Carlton. Anything that brings me closer to Doc Watson's family makes me hapy. I added a bit of cello banjo accompaniment.

Down at the Mouth of Old Stinson

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 822

Size: 877kb, uploaded 12/27/2013 10:56:25 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

From the fiddling of WV fiddler French Carpenter. I also heard Gerry Milnes play this, learned from Wilson Douglas' fiddling. It was a Tune of the Week a while back. I like the slide in the B part--it gives it a swing feel.

Down in the Valley to Pray

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 935

Size: 875kb, uploaded 1/23/2013 6:36:37 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Comparing this song to another I came to record it with the tuning f#DADE. I remember Doc Watson's singing of it best.

Down in the Willow Garden (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 131

Size: 1,204kb, uploaded 3/6/2021 3:56:04 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Also known as Rose Conley and Rosin the Bow, the melody is so nice, but the lyrics aren't, so I'd rather just play the instrumental. It's a song we all seem to learn, but why a murder ballad -- ugh!