From its European roots established by 18th-century settlers, mountain music played a vital part in the life of rural communities, accompanying barn raisings, square dances, weddings, and informal social gatherings.
| 1. |
Down Yonder is a typical Blue Ridge mountain square dance tune. When I first learned the "guitar lick" in this tune while playing with my grandfather, I thought I had arrived. Now Penny has inherited this part. Instruments: Steve - 1936 Martin D-28; Penny - 1944 Martin D-28 |
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Click here to listen to sample from this track (mp3) |
| 2. |
Red Wing, the story of a young Indian maiden, is an old song my grandfather used to play on his harmonica. This is one of the first songs I learned to play back-up on, once I learned that fourth chord.
Instruments: Steve - 1954 Martin D-28; Penny - D-size Henderson #75. |
| 3. |
Tennessee Waltz was a favorite amount the country musicians where I grew up in North Carolina. Most old-time people play this song in the key of D, but the country musicians used the key of C. If it was good enough for them, it's good enough for me.
Instruments:
Steve - D-size Henderson #256; Penny - D-size Henderson #75 |
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Click here to listen to sample from this track (mp3) |
| 4. |
Cincinnati Rag is also a tune I heard for the first time in the mid-70's at the Galax Virginia Fiddlers Convention. As a 20 year old, the chord progression of the B part really stuck in my mind. I thought it was "cool." Instruments:
Steve - 1954 Martin D-28; Penny - D-size Henderson #75 |
| 5. |
The Carter Family Medley is a medley of songs recorded by the original Carter Family. My grandfather played guitar in the style of Maybelle Carter and as a young teenager these were the songs I heard and wanted to play like they did. The songs are "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy", "Sailor on the Deep Blue Sea" , "Keep on the Sunny Side", Your Are My Flower" and, of course, "Wildwood Flower."Instruments: Steve - 1936 Martin D-28; Penny - 1944 Martin D-28 |
| 6. |
Gonna' Lay Down My Old Guitar is a song I first heard the great Doc Watson of Deep Gap North Carolina sing and play. I believe he heard the Delmore Bros. recording of it early in his career. I grew up in North Wilkesboro N. C., about 25 miles from Deep Gap, and Doc's music was a huge influence on me (and any other guitarist who has heard him).
Instruments: Steve - 1936 Martin D-28; Penny - 1944 Martin D-28 |
| 7. |
Flop-Eared Mule is an old-time fiddle tune played at a lot of local dances and contests. I heard this tune playing back-up at such a square dance. Later I heard both Clarence White and Wayne Henderson play it on a flattop guitar. Instruments: Steve - 2002 Martin D-18 GE; Penny - D-size Henderson #75 |
| 8. |
Rainy Day Waltz is a tune I wrote once on a rainy day. I've always been fascinated by chord progressions so I came up with these chords first, and then had to create a melody to follow them.
Instruments: Steve - 1948 Martin D-18; Penny: 000-size Henderson #238. |
| 9. |
Tallahassee is a tune written by Bill Monroe and recorded on one of his famous triple fiddle session in 1970. The fiddlers on the original were Kenny Baker, Red Hayes and Gordon Terry. I first heard this tune in the mid-70's at the Galax Old Time Fiddlers Convention. Instruments:
Steve - 1954 Martin D-28; Penny - D-size Henderson #75 |
| 10. |
Rosewood Casket is a true folk song that ame to this country from England. The casket in the song is not what you would think, but a small rosewood box in which a young girl would keep her love letters. My grandmother Kilby would sometimes sing this song while she churned her butter. Instruments: Steve - Fellenbaum dulcimer & 1948 Martin D-18; Penny: 000-size Henderson #238. |
| 11. |
Under the Double Eagle was the theme song of a radio station I listened to as a teenager. It was the last tune they played at night before they signed off the air. I later heard Doc Watson playing this tune, and like any other 20 year old guitarist, I wanted to play what Doc played.
Instruments: Steve - D-size Henderson #256; Penny - D-size Henderson #75 |
| 12. |
Virginia Waltz is a Jim and Jesse McReynolds song recorded in the early 1950's. It was on one of the first LP's I bought, and like in "Cincinnati Rag" I thought the chord progressions were "cool." Instruments: Steve - 1948 Martin D-18; Penny: 000-size Henderson #238.
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| 13. |
Forked Deer is a fiddle tune I learned by listeneing to Ashe County N.C. fiddler Albert Hash. He played a great version of this and was highly visible around the fiddlers conventions in North Carolina and Virginia in the early 1970's. Instruments: Steve - 1954 Martin D-28; Penny - D-size Henderson #75. |
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Click here to listen to sample from this track (mp3) |
| 14. |
Home Sweet Home is also a song my grandfather played on his harmonica and is one of the first songs I learned to play the chords to as a 12-year old. I have fond memories of playing this tune with him. There really is no place like home! Instruments: Steve - 1948 Martin D-18; Penny: 000-size Henderson #238. |
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Click here to listen to sample from this track (mp3) |
| 15 |
Shady Grove is a mountain folk song which has been done many different ways. This rendition has a more mournful, lonesome sound and is played on an unusual dulcimer built in the 1930's or 40's by Cruise Howell near Meadows of Dan, Virginia. It has a false bottom, four strings with a fret only under the lead string, and is tuned to Bb, C, C and a low C bass string.
Instruments: Steve - Dulcimer, 2002 Martin D-18 GE; Penny - D-size Henderson #75 |
| 16 |
Ragtime Annie and Fortune are two fiddle tunes played very frequently at local jam sessions and fiddlers conventions in themountains of northwest N.C. and southwest VA. Ragtime Annie is played by many guitar players, but Fortune is played by very few. Instruments: Steve - 1936 Martin D-28; Penny - 1944 Martin D-28 |
