Spanish fandango and variants

[Brad Sondahl]

Joe Scott's mentioning this "parlor tune" reminded me I've been
wondering about its origins and variants. Elizabeth Cotten recorded a
Spanish Fandango. It was pretty genteel. I assume the name referred
either to the country or the tuning, or both, and fandango is a dance.
Then I learned a tune from the record of some white kids called
themselves Backwards Sam Firk and Delta X, a tune called Spanish
Flangdang, which they said in the notes probably came from a fan dance
from Spain. The tunes of these two seem unrelated, but the similarity
in name still leaves some doubt. You can hear my version of the tune on
Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGdDqqqe3E4 played in standard
tuning.
Then John Fahey recorded the same tune called Hawaiian Two Step.
That's all I know about it--anyone else know about this topic?
Brad Sondahl
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[j_ns...@msn.com]

This page gives some context on roots of both Vestapol and Flangdang:

http://www.kshs.org/research/collections/documents/personalpapers/findingaids/worrall_henry.htm

Note the description of "Sebastopol" as a march. Tunes called
"marches" were in the repertoires of players such as Daniel Womack and
Etta Baker.

Joseph Scott

[Brad Sondahl]

That was indeed interesting and apropos. I always assumed Spanish
tuning referred to the way one tuned guitars in Spain. I wonder which
of Sam McGee's tunes the author was referring to... I know Eliz. Cotten
played a version of Sevastapol...

[Tony]

I played flamenco for a while and can tell you that "Spanish Fandango" is
not really related to any actual fandango - which is a rhythm, not a tune.

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"Brad Sondahl" <bradg...@sondahl.com> wrote in message
news:dzxOh.14213$l96.7591@trndny06...

[Joel]

On Mar 28, 1:26 pm, Brad Sondahl <bradgarb...@sondahl.com> wrote:
>>... Elizabeth Cotten recorded a

> Spanish Fandango. It was pretty genteel. I assume the name referred
> either to the country or the tuning, or both, and fandango is a dance.
> Then I learned a tune from the record of some white kids called
> themselves Backwards Sam Firk and Delta X, a tune called Spanish
> Flangdang, which they said in the notes probably came from a fan dance
> from Spain. The tunes of these two seem unrelated, but the similarity

> in name still leaves some doubt. ....

> Then John Fahey recorded the same tune called Hawaiian Two Step.
> That's all I know about it--anyone else know about this topic?
> Brad Sondahl

Well I have some foggy memories that might could give you some
directions to gallop off in. I remember reading that "Spanish
Fandango" was a mid-19th century guitar composition, and I think that
I*'ve seen a printed copy -- possibly on the web, although I think I
saw it too long ago for that. I'd check with the American Memory site
in LOC.gov. As I recall Backward Sam Firk was one Mike Stewart and
it's possible that Delta X was John Fahey. the LP(s?) came out in the
early 60s.

Joel

[Brad Sondahl]

On the side of the album, it says Backwards Sam is Michael Stewart,
Delta X is Stephan Michaelson, a third musician identified as Fang,
could, if your rumor is correct, be Fahey.
Brad

[carlbaron]

Brad Sondahl wrote:
> Joe Scott's mentioning this "parlor tune" reminded me I've been
> wondering about its origins and variants.

Try the jacket notes for any of the over 40 recordings which can be
found at:
http://www.ibiblio.org/folkindex/s15.htm#Spafada
Carl

[pvc]

Brad Sondahl wrote:
> Joe Scott's mentioning this "parlor tune" reminded me I've been
> wondering about its origins and variants. Elizabeth Cotten recorded a
> Spanish Fandango. It was pretty genteel. I assume the name referred
> either to the country or the tuning, or both, and fandango is a dance.
> Then I learned a tune from the record of some white kids called
> themselves Backwards Sam Firk and Delta X, a tune called Spanish
> Flangdang, which they said in the notes probably came from a fan dance
> from Spain. The tunes of these two seem unrelated, but the similarity
> in name still leaves some doubt. You can hear my version of the tune on
> Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGdDqqqe3E4 played in standard
> tuning.
> Then John Fahey recorded the same tune called Hawaiian Two Step.
> That's all I know about it--anyone else know about this topic?
> Brad Sondahl
>

The only hands-on copy I have seen was published by Ditson with no
author, and
was already "The Celebrated" Spanish Fandango in the 1870s. Also note
is made
as "arranged for guitar" which may be a sign of a previous variation.
I say 70s as a
guess only by the look of the copper or steel plate engraving and the
Spencerian look
of script. It was uncredited and undated, 2 leaves and the title page,
and as from
Ditson's Washington St. address in Boston.As you see, I have too much
time on my
hands now.

pvc

[Joel]

>As you see, I have too much
> time on my
> hands now.
>
> pvc

Dare one hope for a resurrection of the Musum to take up some of that
time?

I think that the Diston publication may have been what I saw also. I
took my own advice and checked with American Memory. They offer a copy
of SSStewart's arrangement for the banjo. It seems to match my memory
of the melody as seen, but there's no help with the guitar tuning, of
course. Did the guitar arrangement have a special tuning, Pat?

Joel Shimberg

[pmit...@email.unc.edu]

> On the side of the album, it says Backwards Sam is Michael Stewart,
> Delta X is Stephan Michaelson, a third musician identified as Fang,
> could, if your rumor is correct, be Fahey.
>

Hello Brad,
Why not ask the man himself? You can find Mike (and Delta X) through
correspondence at:

http://grrecords.com/

(Green River Records).

Paul

[j_ns...@msn.com]

On Mar 29, 11:09 am, "Joel" <Fiddlins...@cs.com> wrote:
> >As you see, I have too much
> > time on my
> > hands now.
>
> > pvc
>

> Dare one hope for a resurrection of the Museum to take up some of that
> time?
[...]
>
> Joel Shimberg

Did you buy any of the Secret Museum Of Mankind CDs, Joel? I did and
they're excellent.

Joseph Scott

[pvc]

Wow, of course that is the money question and I never really made
great notice of it. But looking now at the top left it says in fine
print "Tune The Guitar Thus" and gives a small staff reading up
DGDGBD. Thanks for asking, it's something we all just assume at this
point, but there it is, finally!

pvc

[Brad Sondahl]

Okay, I emailed him, I'll report if he answers.

[Brad Sondahl]

Mike Stewart wrote:
"Nice to hear from you. No, Fang was a whole different guy, played
left-handed - I taught him - Fahey sort of taught me, without meaning
to, hanging around with him some. Spanish Fandango is in Spanish tuning,
which I figured was why the name, but I may have been mistaken. I don't
do much research, just play the piece, although sometimes I notice
earlier versions etc."

submitted by Brad Sondahl

[j_ns...@msn.com]

On Mar 30, 6:40 pm, Brad Sondahl <bradgarb...@sondahl.com> wrote:
> Mike Stewart wrote:
>

> "Nice to hear from you. No, Fang was a whole different guy[....]

http://www.bluesworld.com/Fang.html

Joseph Scott

[Brad Sondahl]

Thanks for the link--interesting.
Brad