For this tune of the week, I’ve chosen another tune from the Hamblen collection, “Queen of France,” most likely referencing Marie Antoinette. I’ve primarily learned the Hamblen pieces from the playing of Chris Wig off of his “Fiddling on the Frontier” CD series. I had this tune come to mind again and had picked it up on the fiddle back in the Fall, going by memory. I worked it up recently on banjo for this installment.
The original notation, in C, as played by Williamson and David R. Hamblen: www.chriswig.com/hamblen/tune22.html
Variations (by A. Porter Hamblen): www.chriswig.com/hamblen/tune23.html
Chris’ recording with Mark Ward on twin fiddles from “Come Back Boys & Feed the Horses” (both fiddles are tuned down half a step, sounding in B):
https://christianwig.bandcamp.com/track/queen-of-france
It lays out pretty straight forward in gCGCD tuning about note for note with the fiddle, the only exception being (for the player’s sake) a reentrant first note (G) played on the third string open while the fiddle plays the open bass string below the root C, starting the linear string of notes G, C, E, and G in the first measure. Those with 5+1 banjos can simply glide over the open low G and C notes in linear order. The B part is more melodic, but I found it easier this way using a barre on the seventh fret across the third (sometimes lifted), second, and first strings, making it easier to catch the high B note and others at the ninth fret, with some variation. Going back and listening to Chris’ recording and viewing the notation, I realize I’m playing the second measure slightly different, mainly holding two notes on the C with a C-D hammer up to the E, and not the C-D-C bounce followed by a G note below that before jumping to the E. It also appears I’m adding an extra note in the third measure, but, all seems to align, though.
My take (fiddle and banjo): https://youtu.be/hKUR-YUg644?si=fFf9L34WmX9FxE9f
A previous take of mine, just fiddle: https://youtu.be/dpDHyyawwoU?si=NeqWKFbPTZcK1bF8
Here is one other recording I was able to find:
Jason Cade (fiddle) and Rob McMaken (mountain dulcimer): https://youtu.be/ME3qbbDaD5M?si=TfTa94hmASB2OHZ6
(In the comments, Bruce Green commented saying it’s an ancestor of “Billy in the Lowground,” and now I can’t unhear the similarity). But, I’ll treat them as separate tunes, feeling each is unique enough even with the possible relation.
Look forward to your thoughts and posts, hopefully with more recordings of this tune.
Edited by - Noah Cline on 02/12/2026 17:19:25
Fun! And nice playing!
I worked this out a few years ago on fiddle (s l o w l y) from the Hamblen Collection book (purchased a facsimile copy from the Library of Congress or Smithsonian I think?, but it's easily findable nowadays online). I haven't got much traction on it in jams, but with a couple recent recordings I hope it'll be played more.
I do play it (fiddle) slightly jazzed and sped up, and on the first high G on the second part I make that an obvious G chord. My fiddling isn't good enough to record/post though.
I haven't worked it out on banjo yet - felt like it would be too challenging (partly from the wide range) to make it "work" and didn't bother - but you seemed to have managed it quite well. Maybe I'll see if I can hack it out!
quote:
Originally posted by slcFun! And nice playing!
I worked this out a few years ago on fiddle (s l o w l y) from the Hamblen Collection book (purchased a facsimile copy from the Library of Congress or Smithsonian I think?, but it's easily findable nowadays online). I haven't got much traction on it in jams, but with a couple recent recordings I hope it'll be played more.
I do play it (fiddle) slightly jazzed and sped up, and on the first high G on the second part I make that an obvious G chord. My fiddling isn't good enough to record/post though.
I haven't worked it out on banjo yet - felt like it would be too challenging (partly from the wide range) to make it "work" and didn't bother - but you seemed to have managed it quite well. Maybe I'll see if I can hack it out!
Thanks, Stefan!
After playing it on fiddle, I tried mapping it out in my mind how I'd play it on banjo. Initially, it was to start on the third string and work my way up the neck, but the more I thought about it, it seemed a bit cumbersome given the range as you mentioned. The reentrant note is a good compromise, I feel, keeping it in a more comfortable range on the banjo. Plus, it blends some being the same octave note (G3) that the fiddle starts on.
What a great tune!
Thanks for another nice tune, Noah. Your arrangement is brilliant!
I went with cello banjo and an open C tuning. Perhaps a 5+1 banjo is the thing (Ryan Navey?!). Avoiding extremely high frets, I went down an octave for part of it, but like getting down to the bottom notes in this tuning. I also like the Em chordal sound I hear in my head in the 11th measure, followed by a D in the 12th measure. I wonder how guitar accompaniment would sound here...
Great job Noah. I've played this tune for a few years on fiddle but really never thought to try it on my banjos. Now I'm inspired. Thanks for the motivation and a great TOTW write up. Cool looking fiddle too by the way.
Cheers
quote:
Originally posted by JanetBThanks for another nice tune, Noah. Your arrangement is brilliant!
I went with cello banjo and an open C tuning. Perhaps a 5+1 banjo is the thing (Ryan Navey?!). Avoiding extremely high frets, I went down an octave for part of it, but like getting down to the bottom notes in this tuning. I also like the Em chordal sound I hear in my head in the 11th measure, followed by a D in the 12th measure. I wonder how guitar accompaniment would sound here...
Thanks! What a peaceful recording, Janet. I like the alternate octave phrasings.
quote:
Originally posted by jasperGreat job Noah. I've played this tune for a few years on fiddle but really never thought to try it on my banjos. Now I'm inspired. Thanks for the motivation and a great TOTW write up. Cool looking fiddle too by the way.
Cheers
Thank you! The fiddle is one that I made based on the William Sidney Mount "Cradle of Harmony" fiddles, with styling cues from the one made by his nephew, being a cornerless shape with a hollow or concave back.
Noah, do you have the “Cradle of Harmony, William Sydney Mount’s Violin and Fiddle Music” CD by Gilbert Ross? I’ve tried several tunes from it: William Sydney Mount music on banjo.
quote:
Originally posted by JanetBNoah, do you have the “Cradle of Harmony, William Sydney Mount’s Violin and Fiddle Music” CD by Gilbert Ross? I’ve tried several tunes from it: William Sydney Mount music on banjo.
I've listened to most of it on YouTube. Only tune I've tried working out/playing is "Possum Hunt". The Seabury fiddle is the one I believe was used on those recordings (and the one I based mine on). Not sure what type of strings are on it, but it would have been interesting hearing it strung with gut as it most likely would have been strung with as I don't think steel or metal wrapped strings started being used on violins until the early 1900s.
I had a go at this one, I struggled with getting a decent verion within a week, but here's what I came up with. Maybe if I keep doing it, it'll get easier... It's a fun tune, thanks for sharing it!
Went with double C, three finger style.
Tried to stick to the score from chriswig.com/hamblen/tune22.html but figured the start is just an arpeggio, so changed the first note to a D rather than a G, (though I play it as written, but an octave higher, on the repeat).
As usual it's great to hear the different intepretations!
quote:
Originally posted by snootI had a go at this one, I struggled with getting a decent verion within a week, but here's what I came up with. Maybe if I keep doing it, it'll get easier... It's a fun tune, thanks for sharing it!
Went with double C, three finger style.
Tried to stick to the score from chriswig.com/hamblen/tune22.html but figured the start is just an arpeggio, so changed the first note to a D rather than a G, (though I play it as written, but an octave higher, on the repeat).
As usual it's great to hear the different intepretations!
Thanks for sharing your take! I enjoyed it.
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