Flog (Fiddle Blog) » Old Time Ensemble

Old-Time Ensemble (Wed) – week 3

Paul — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:16:34 +0000

A tune from the great Lee Stoneking of Clinton, Missouri. At least he was the source. Geoff Seitz, an equally great fiddler from St. Louis is heard on this recording. (Geoff will be at the Old Town School to play a square dance in the fall.)

Hell Against the Barn Door by the Ill-Mo Boys, 1992

And a song . . .

Did You Ever See the Devil, Uncle Joe? by Fiddling Powers & Family, 1927

Get’cher lyrics, right here (click).

Old-Time Ensemble (Wed) – week 2

Paul — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:01:11 +0000

Here’s how it sounds.

Little Doney Indian Creek Delta Boys

Hey, can somebody post the lyrics in a comment?

Thanks

Old-Time Ensemble (Wed) – week 6

Paul — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:01:17 +0000

Lasts night’s tune is also the Tune of the Week for last week on the Fiddle Club of the World blog. The earliest recording of the tune, plus photos and tributes can be found there.

Piney Woods Gal played by Frank Hall, 2007

And here’s the source of the singing version of Angeline the Baker that we did. Obviously, the melody recomposed itself in my head over the years. The singing part is close to what we did. The instrumental part is, shall we say, a variation.

Angeline the Baker Uncle Eck Dunford & E.V. Stoneman, circa 1927

Old-Time Ensemble (Wed) – week 5

Paul — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:22:10 +0000

Jack Wilson

The slow recording below should help everybody. It is of special interest to the fiddlers, because it is played in ADAD tuning. The tune also works well in standard tuning or high bass (G string up to A).

Jack Wilson in cross-tuning played slowly

Old-Time Ensemble (Wed) – weeks 2&3

Paul — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:09:37 +0000

In week 3 we learned a tune from the Leake County Revelers, a Mississippi string band that recorded in the 1920s. Plus, we did Old Dan Tucker, using Steve’s distinctive melody. Compare to the 1920s recording below by Al Hopkins & his Buckle Busters.

Been to the East, Been to the West (I’ve been to Alabama)

Old Dan Tucker

In week 2, we learned Arrington’s Breakdown, as played by the Volo Bogtrotters
Arrington’s Breakdown, medium tempo by Paul & Steve

Old-Time Ensemble (Wed) – week 1

Paul — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:51:11 +0000

“Chase the Squirrel” is a fine D tune, perhaps related to some others, such as “Cricket on the Hearth,” that I learned from a home recording of Frank Wisehart of Frankfort, Indiana. The recording below is by the Volo Bogtrotters with myself and Chirps Smith on fiddle. We recorded the tune as a tag to a song. This recording is the tune only.

Chase the Squirrel

Click title or the arrow to listen, or right-click the title to download and save link.

Old-Time Ensemble (Wed) – week 6

Paul — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:20:59 +0000

You run your G-string up to A, your D-string up to E. If you’re a fiddler.

Lost Indian by Bob Holt of Ava, Missouri

And here are the Volo Bogtrotters playing Lost Indian with the fiddle tuned to GDGB.

Don’t forget the square dance this Friday (2/17) with the Volos in Old Town School East.

Old-Time Ensemble (Wed) – week 5

Paul — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:11:50 +0000

You start in G, then you go to D. Then you come back and do it all again.

Puncheon Floor by Esker Hutchins of Dobson, North Carolina

Old-Time Ensemble (Wed) – week 4

Paul — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:19:16 +0000

Ladies on the Steamboat by Burnett & Rutherford of Monticello, Kentucky

Leonard Rutherford played the fiddle. Richard Burnett played banjo. This classic recording is from 1928 or ’29.

Old-Time Ensemble (Wed) – week 3

Paul — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:48:23 +0000

Boatin’ Up the Sandy, fiddled by Craig Johnson with the Double Decker String Band

There is also a slower demo version in the Tune Archive.