Bluegrass to pipes

[SmiseGander]

I know this has been covered to some extent before, and after doing a number of searches on the forum I haven't seen much of the information on common tunes of bluegrass (old time mountain music) and pipes. In particular I suppose I am looking for old (public domain) bluegrass tunes which are also played on the pipes; i.e. Red Haired boy/Jolly beggerman sort of relationship.

I understand and really appreciate the difference between mountain music and bluegrass, (having been part of a bluegrass band 20 years ago), and have forgotten and lost a large part of my bluegrass collection.

I am hoping those who are both more knowledgeable and have a better memory than I do can help out.

'Smise

[Rich Mayo]

Smise,

I can't help you, but I certainly applaud your request.


It would be an awesome group performance (i.e. seconds, counter melody, etc.) number!!

BTW, I have a BMW for Jolly Beggerman, do you require it???


R.

[Airborne92]

At a Chieftans performance years ago in Houston, Paddy Maloney mentioned that "Cotton-Eyed Joe" was probably based on an old Irish tune called "The Mountaintop". Both should be in the public domain, even if some arrangements are not.

SCK

[Klondike Waldo]

Napoleon's Retreat, segue into Waterloo- mighty be a good start

[dorothy]

Cripple Creek and Old Joe Clark work pretty well, as does Will the Circle Be Unbroken.

[pancelticpiper]

Of course you know that Bluegrass is a 20th-century invention. But if you're speaking about "old-time" music (the indigenous music of Appalachia)give a listen to the fiddling of Edden Hammons (died in 1955 aged about 80). His playing sounds, on some tunes especially, more like Shetland Island fiddling that what we think of today as "American" fiddling. That his music has a British source is obvious. His tune "Queen of the Earth and Child of the Skies" is a version of the air that survives in Ireland called "The Blackbird". Note that Appalachia was settled in the beginning of the 19th century, long before the mass migrations from Ireland to the US began. Many early settlers were what we would call "Scotch-Irish" (Lowland Presbyterian Scots)so a researcher might do well to start with Border repertoire. Also listen to old-time banjo player Ronald Lunceford (you can get his CDs at Elderly Records)who plays the GHB tune "Battle of Waterloo" - it sounds great.

[Matt Buckley_dup1]

Originally posted by pancelticpiper:

Note that Appalachia was settled in the beginning of the 19th century, long before the mass migrations from Ireland to the US began. Very informative post. Thanks. Only one quibble: Many parts of Appalachia were settled at least a quarter-centry prior the start of the 19th century. And many, e.g. Simon Kenton, Daniel Boone, had already pushed into the flatlands of Ohio, Kentucky and beyond.

[Pat Farrell]

Originally posted by Airborne92:
At a Chieftans performance years ago in Houston, Paddy Maloney mentioned that "Cotton-Eyed Joe" was probably based on an old Irish tune called "The Mountaintop". Both should be in the public domain, even if some arrangements are not.

SCK The Chieftains did an album called "Another Country", which features the Chieftains with various Appalachian style musical groups and performers, and which includes "Cotton-Eyed Joe".

You gotta hear the album. It's a total treasure. Even you forumites outside of the US will get a real kick out of it.

Cheers, Pat

[pancelticpiper]

Oh, another tune is the reel the Scottish call "Mrs MacLeod of Raasay", the Irish call McCleod's Reel", and in Appalachia serves as the tune to the song "Hop High Ladies". About the settlement of Appalachia- people always look at the early date of the settlement of Kentucky, see that Appalachia is further east, and come to the false conclusion that Appalachia must have been settled earlier. The mountains of West Virginia, where I come from, were still Indian country at the time Kentucky was gaining statehood. My ancestor fought Indians there, being among the first white settlers, in the early 19th century.

[Rich Mayo]

On a related note, does anybody have music for "Will the Circle be Unbroken". One which I think would sound GREAT on pipes...

[dorothy]

It does. There are plenty of sites with the sound, but not the score. Just start on low A and go for it.

A B D D F E D F ...etc.

[Rich Mayo]

Originally posted by dorothy:
It does. There are plenty of sites with the sound, but not the score. Just start on low A and go for it.

A B D D F E D F ...etc. Dot,

Sadly, picking up tunes by ear is, by far, my weakest area of musicianship. I'll give it a shot, though.

Anybody interested in helping me in this effort??


Thanks,
R.