What does "breakdown" mean?

Jim Harlan

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Feb 26, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/26/98

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What does "breakdown" mean in old-time and bluegrass music?
Thanks!
Jim
har...@fc.hp.com

Oldtime1

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Feb 27, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/27/98

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We argue about this one. An eastern Virginia definition from black lore says it
is for a tune played fast and hard that makes the dancers break down the floor
of the cabin. And don't forget to roll up the carpet. Joe Wilson

Bill Martin

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Feb 28, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/28/98

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Jim Harlan <har...@fc.hp.com> wrote:
: What does "breakdown" mean in old-time and bluegrass music?

I've got a late 19th century book of quadrilles that refers to the final
figure of a set of quadrilles as the "breakdown" figure. This figure seems
to have often been a mixer. Since it was customary in those early
quadrilles for each figure to have its own tune, I would make the wild and
unscholarly guess that a lively tune was attatched to the breakdown
figure. Maybe some tunes picked up "breakdown" as part of their name from
their association with the dance figure. Now, someone with real knowledge
could step in here and breakdown my supposition.

Does anyone know of the earliest use of "breakdown" in reference to a
fiddle tune?

Bill Martin

Gail Gillespie

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Feb 28, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/28/98

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There's also the phrase "breaking" as in "breaking up Christmas" and
"school breakings" that some have suggested has to do with dancing until
the backlog breaks up on a large fire. (see Paul Brown's notes on this for
his wonderful Breaking up Christmas radio program and recording.) And
could this be related to the phrase "bust down!" uttered by the Skillet
Likkers and their buddies?

-Gail (looking forward to a big ol "school breaking" myself!)

Jim
Harlan (har...@fc.hp.com)

wrote: : What does "breakdown" mean in old-time and bluegrass music?

: Thanks!
: Jim
: har...@fc.hp.com

Kerry, Sheila, Louise or Mirabelle Blech

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Feb 28, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/28/98

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Gail Gillespie wrote:
>
> And
> could this be related to the phrase "bust down!" uttered by the Skillet
> Likkers and their buddies?

You really meant to say: "uttered by Seven Foot Dilly and the Dill
Pickles and their buddies," right? ;>)

k
--
***** ****** ***** ***** ***** ***** ******
Kerry, Sheila, Mirabelle Rose & Louise Marie Blech
blec...@wolfenet.com + http://www.wolfenet.com/~blechfam
"The Old Tunes Are the Best Tunes." -- Luther Davis

Gail Gillespie

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Mar 1, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/1/98

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Kerry, Sheila, Louise or Mirabelle Blech (blec...@wolfenet.com) wrote:

: Gail Gillespie wrote:
: >
: > And
: > could this be related to the phrase "bust down!" uttered by the Skillet
: > Likkers and their buddies?

: You really meant to say: "uttered by Seven Foot Dilly and the Dill
: Pickles and their buddies," right? ;>)

Oops...you're right...hit him Dilly, hit him!!

David Lynch

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Mar 1, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/1/98

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In article <6daie4$bg6$1...@fddinewz.oit.unc.edu>, mggi...@email.unc.edu
(Gail Gillespie) wrote:

> Oops...you're right...hit him Dilly, hit him!!

I wanna hear Soldier's Joy.
I don't believe you can play it!

--
- David Lynch
dly...@mindspring.com
Check out the Old Time Music Home Page
http://www.oldtimemusic.com

"Whooooooooooo!"
--As uttered frequently by Steve Millard whenever Bruce Greene is fiddling.

Gail Gillespie

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Mar 1, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/1/98

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David Lynch (dly...@mindspring.com) wrote:
: In article <6daie4$bg6$1...@fddinewz.oit.unc.edu>, mggi...@email.unc.edu
: (Gail Gillespie) wrote:

: > Oops...you're right...hit him Dilly, hit him!!

: I wanna hear Soldier's Joy.
: I don't believe you can play it!

I AM playing Soldiers' Joy...now, go on, get outta here!