forestabri - Posted - 06/01/2010:  09:50:15

I just found out that "Bucking Dun" which I learned from Rayna Gellert's album is really called "Bobtail Mule", and that Kenner C. Kartchner of Arizona is the source for the tune. I just listened to a recording of his Bucking Dun and it is a completely different song. I'd like to find a copy of his Bobtail Mule, but can't find it anywhere. I know about Tom Sauber's version, that's how I found out. Anyone know where to find Kartchner's 1940 Library of Congress recording? His son in law wrote a book that came with a cassette, is it on there?
Thanks,
Brian

wormbower - Posted - 06/01/2010:  10:28:43

I have it, Brian, and will send it to you tonight.

Paul

forestabri - Posted - 06/01/2010:  12:47:24

Thank you!

Resophonic - Posted - 06/01/2010:  12:58:45

Bob tailed Mule or Bucking Dun was the tune of the week over at the Banjo Hang Out a month or so ago, posted by Strokestyle. I can't tell you if it is the same or similar to the Kartchner recording you looking for though.

vrteach - Posted - 06/01/2010:  15:28:47

Here is a link to that Tune of the Week: banjohangout.org/forum/topic.a...ID=173245

forestabri - Posted - 06/01/2010:  16:35:39

Thanks. So I'm guessing that Tom Sauber got his version from Kartchner. Sauber taught it to Rayna Gellert, and one of them got the name mixed up. If Kartchner is the actual source then Bobtail Mule is the right name.

wormbower - Posted - 06/01/2010:  17:54:10

Ok, I'm home from work now and checked my library. I have a digital "transcription" of an old KC Kartchner album, labeled "Tunes from Deseret, AZ." On that album is a track labeled Bob Tailed Mule. It is verbally introduced as such on the track by Kartchner's daughter. This tune is identical to Rayna Gellert's Bucking Dun. But there's another track, just a fragment, that contains a bit more than once through an A part of a tune. This track, as well as the verbal callout of the title at the start of the track, is labeled Buckin' Dun. To my ears, that fragment sounds identical to the strikingly unique low part of the tune, George Booker, as played by Alan Jabbour. Interesting mystery!

Paul

wormbower - Posted - 06/01/2010:  17:58:32

Actually, there are two versions of Bob Tailed Mule on that album. The second is accompanied on piano. both have verbal introductions as "Bob Tailed Mule." But I'm really interested now in the relationship between Kartchner's "Buckin' Dun" and "George Booker."

Paul

BanjoBrad - Posted - 06/01/2010:  21:20:46

The appendixes to "Frontier Fiddler The Life of a Northern Arizona Pioneer", Kartchner,s autobiography, has one with 17 fiddle tune transcriptions "of which Kartchner left recordings."

Both Bobtailed Mule and Buckin' Dun are presented. They look like different tunes, Bobtailed Mule is shown with the fiddle tuned AEae, but BD appears to be standard GDae tuning.

This, by the way, is an excellent book with lots of history and nature in it, Kartchner being an employee of the US Forest Service from 1913 to 1956. I heartily recommend the book as a great read.

-B-

("George Booker" isn't included, Paul)

wormbower - Posted - 06/01/2010:  21:30:46

quote:

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Originally posted by BanjoBrad



("George Booker" isn't included, Paul)

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forestabri - Posted - 06/01/2010:  21:35:06

I think I'll get a copy while they are still in print. Thanks Brad.

The B part in this George Booker:
aca-dla.org/cgi-bin/showfile.e...OPTR=1900
is a bit different from this Buckin" Dun:
oldtownschool.org/fiddle/fun/b...n2702.mp3

Isn't it?

Edited by - forestabri on 06/01/2010 21:42:29

wormbower - Posted - 06/01/2010:  21:43:36

Ah, you found the whole thing, great! As I said, the track I have is only a short fragment--the A part, which does sound remarkably similar to the A part of George Booker, doesn't it?

Paul

forestabri - Posted - 06/01/2010:  21:58:41

The A parts are identical. A grafted song? That old folk-process that made the old weird America we all love!

wormbower - Posted - 06/01/2010:  22:04:50

Yep. I recently realized (and rediscovered today), that about half the versions of Shelvin Rock in my collection have A parts that are virtually identical to the A part of Come Back Boys, Let's Feed the Horses.

Paul