The haunting traditional tune - legend has it that it commemorates the Battle of Culloden. " The fiddle tune Cold, Frosty Morning remembers the battle of Culloden Moor. On the morning of April 16, 1746 an English Army of 8,000 massacred a Scottish army of 7,000 ending the Jacobite Rebellion in Scotland." On the muted RK77 Elite with rhythm guitar, arrangement by Tony Trischka from his “Master Collection of Fiddle Tunes for Banjo”.
youtu.be/qAyhTt2XmtI?si=YEAYkNPr22Y-2hIx
Edited by - chuckv97 on 04/26/2025 21:54:11
Lovely, puts me in a trance.
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Originally posted by banjo bill-eLovely, puts me in a trance.
Thank you, Bill,,, yes, it has that effect.
It's a great tune. Nice playing. Bela Fleck recorded an uptempo version on an earlier recording.
There is some debate over its origin. There doesn't appear to be any record of this tune before it was captured from the playing of Henry Reed, in the 1960s. He called it "Frosty Morning."
There was a discussion of this tune a couple of years ago on the BHO.
There is another tune called "Cold Frosty Morning," although the Henry Reed tune is now almost always referred to as Cold Frosty Morning.
A lot of stuff gets passed around the internet, and the source of information becomes merely an earlier internet comment. Might be more accurate here to introduce the tune as "Legend has it that . . . ." The Battle of Culloden Moor is a suitable legend given the sound of the tune.
Nice job. Thanks for posting.
Great job, Chuck. That has a delightfully Celtic sound.
The Jacobite Rebellion is a big part of my family's history. My people fought with Bonnie Prince Charlie against the English and were exiled to Virginia during the first Highland Clearances.
A beautiful rendition. I had not known of the tune’s origin. So thank you for that too.
Bill Rogers thanks, Bill
I did research it a while ago and listened to different versions , , I like Nick Hornbuckle’s take on it.
Here’s Henry Reed playing it, as collected by Alan Jabbour.
Frosty Morning" sounds like a classic fiddle tune of the old frontier, but no clear variants of it can be cited from elsewhere. The title crops up elsewhere (sometimes as "Cold Frosty Morning"), but not for this tune. Henry Reed played it twice, and both times he began it with the high strain, showing the predilection of fiddlers in the Upper South for beginning their tunes with the upper strain, often at or near the top of the tune's compass. In both sets of "Frosty Morning" he tended to conflate the high strain with other tunes--on this occasion, with the high strain of the tune presented elsewhere in this collection under the title "Betsy," and once with the low strain of "West Virginia Gals," which he had just played. On yet another occasion (AFS 13037a16), he began with another tune, the "Breakdown in A," then conflated it with "Frosty Morning."
Edited by - chuckv97 on 04/26/2025 21:53:33
Such conflation is endemic in traditional tunes and song of course—and it’s readily detectable in bluegrass.
Well played! I’ve heard it played fast and slow, something about the slower rendition brings a solemn mood. I like this slower version better. Thanks.
Mike Thompson Thanks, Mike!
Beautifully played, Chuck. I LOVE those slow songs.
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Originally posted by GSBeautifully played, Chuck. I LOVE those slow songs.
Thank you!
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Originally posted by Bill RogersSuch conflation is endemic in traditional tunes and song of course—and it’s readily detectable in bluegrass.
Yep. That's the debate.
It would be helpful to locate anything that shows that this tune (not just the name) even existed prior to the 1950s.
Once that is found, then any connection of this tune to the memory of the Battle of Culloden Moor can be researched and traced backwards.
Sometimes it reminds me of a minor-key “Salt Creek”
I’m humbled when a pro compliments me on my playing - Glenn Lawson was J.D. Crowe’s singer/guitarist in the late 1970’s.
I love that tune. Great job picking it too!
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Originally posted by banjoman56I love that tune. Great job picking it too!
Thank you, Carl!
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