Fiddle Tunes in Texas, 1916, claiming 1875
Joel
from "Dr. J. B. Cranfill's chronicle", 1916
VIII
AN OLD-TIME COUNTRY DANCE
"THERE is going to be a party at George Galloway's tomorrow night!"
This is what my sister Carrie said to me on a November evening in
1875, as I came in from a hard day's work. The work in which I had
been engaged was what my father always called " righting up " the
fences. Every winter it was necessary to fill up the low places in the
old- fashioned South Texas rail fences, and in some instances, a new "
worm " had to be laid and an entirely new fence built.
A party at George Galloway's was no unusual occurrence, for parties
were had there frequently, and invariably meant a dance. Not the "
turkey trot," " tango," or " bunny hug " of the cities; not the "
german," but an old-fashioned country dance, where we " balanced all "
and " swung corners " from the time that the rays of the setting sun
kissed the western hills until the sheen of his rising splendor
proclaimed the golden dawn....
" Salute your partners! "
" Balance all! "
" Swing corners, and all promenade! "
Tuck Simms could play and prompt both at the same time, although he
was not so much of an adept in prompting as his uncle, Grant Simms,
who did not play " over the bass " and who was far superior to Tuck as
a fiddler.
There were no violinists in those precincts. If any of those old-
fashioned country folk had ever seen a violinist or had ever seen
violin tunes set to music, they would have " folded their tents like
the Arabs," and silently sought *he shades of the distant west in
which to hide their disgust.
But there were fiddlers, and such fiddlers they were! I can hear the
lively notes of " Fine Times at Our House," "Cotton-Eyed Joe," "
Mollie Put the Kettle On," and " Grey Eagle," as I write."
Dr. J.B. Cranfill is a familiar name, although I cannot recall why.
Perhaps someone can help.
Joel
AZJohnB
>
> Dr. J.B. Cranfill is a familiar name, although I cannot recall why.
> Perhaps someone can help.
>
> Joel
J B Cranfill's complete autobirgraphy, written in 1916 appears here
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.music.country.old-time/browse_thread/thread/fe78468ed37a23ab?hl=en
Joel
> > Dr. J.B. Cranfill is a familiar name, although I cannot recall why.
> > Perhaps someone can help.
>
> > Joel
>
Thanks, John. I searched in GoogleBooks, Public Domain under <Fine
Times At Our House, fiddle> and was sent to the proper page of
Cranfill's autobiography. I'm still wondering about him. It's very
interesting to use this search for early mentions of tunes/songs. You
can't get to music collections, by and large, because they can't well
be digitized, but old text just leaps up at you.
Joel
Kerry
Joel,
Cranfill was the second fiddler for some of Eck Robertson's
recordings.
-Kerry (who does not frequent this group regularly, alas)
Joel
> Cranfill was the second fiddler for some of Eck Robertson's
> recordings.
> -Kerry (who does not frequent this group regularly, alas)
Ah!! Thanks, Kerry. I knew it was something like that, but I couldn't
find him in Tony Russell's book.
Your Friend Joel
Kerry
I believe he is listed in Tony's book but may not be in the index
(I am not at home with my reference books at the moment).
Your Friend Kerry