This week’s tune is “Down in Little Egypt,” which comes from the playing of Noah Beavers (1897-1990), a farmer and coal miner from Elkville, Illinois, as collected by Lynn “Chirps” Smith. Beavers had no name for the tune, so Chirps gave it the nickname applied to southern Illinois. The nickname of Little Egypt for this area dates back to the early 19th century, and there are several theories on its origin. One theory is that a harsh winter in 1830-31 forced people in northern Illinois to trek south in search of food and supplies, and likened their story to the biblical story of the Israelites fleeing to Egypt for the same reason. Other theories on the nickname’s origin are the similarity of the land between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to the Nile river delta, and another theory makes the biblical allusion to the land of the Israelites’ bondage and the slavery and support for slavery that persisted in this part of the state (despite Illinois being a free state before the American Civil War).
I became obsessed with a banjo version of the tune after hearing Rachel Eddy play it a workshop last October. In my opinion, the drop thumb rhythms give the tune a special charm. If you have a chance to hear Rachel play the tune, take it! (In my recording I am using double C tuning.)
Source: Noah Beavers
Modern Recordings:
Sheet music:
https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Down_in_Little_Egypt
Nice one, Jim! It's lively and crooked and syncopated, fun to play. Fiddler Noah Beavers is well-represented in Steve Harrison and Jo Burgess' Dear Old Illinois compilation, with a style described as "intricate and driving'', but I don't see the tune Down in Little Egypt in the book. Tater Joe's tab is good, with lots of ideas for playing. My arrangement is from the playing of Chirps Smith. I have the CD with the tune's title and have plenty more tunes to learn from it (California Waltz is one). The 1940 painting on the cover is by Chirps' father, Milburn H. Smith.
Edited by - JanetB on 03/08/2025 11:49:27
I like how you play it, Janet! Very clean and lively. There are so many good tunes from the midwest.
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