quietglow - Posted - 11/16/2015:  07:29:58

I just found out about this collection, and it sounds amazing (I lived in southern for a decade and I'd love to learn more about the fiddling style). I found a few threads around the web that say its due real soon now back at the beginning of 2015. Does anyone have any recent news about it? Is anyone aware of a used copy for sale anywhere?

Bizarrely, it's not held in the Chicago public library system, nor is it available via interlibrary loan at the university where I work. Seems like really interesting and important historical work to be so thoroughly unavailable. So sad!

Cyndy - Posted - 11/16/2015:  09:07:42

Skokie Public Library had a copy of both the book and the recordings. You might check with them to see if they're still available.

quietglow - Posted - 11/16/2015:  12:36:26

quote:

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Originally posted by Cyndy

 

Skokie Public Library had a copy of both the book and the recordings. You might check with them to see if they're still available.

 

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I noticed that, and the site says they're still there. Might have to take a run up there to see.

RobBob - Posted - 11/16/2015:  17:51:18

Found this although it may not be much help.  dearoldillinois.us/

bsed - Posted - 11/16/2015:  18:12:09

They've been saying that for well over a year. Maybe closer to two years. You gotta jump on these things as soon as you see them.

Case in point: How many of you know about the Mississippi tune collection that Harry Bollick is just now releasing?

amazon.com/Mississippi-Fiddle-...ry+bolick

I ordered mine.

Jimhand - Posted - 11/18/2015:  07:22:38

I am friends with the Harrison family and the new, revised edition is still in the works but has ran into some hurdles. They do hope to have it out as soon as possible.

rastewart - Posted - 11/18/2015:  08:37:31

I hope it does come out (and that I don't miss the opportunity to snag a copy).  It's not the musical style I'm following these days, but I grew up in southern Illinois and have lived in the state all my life.  Ours is an underestimated state, overshadowed as it is by our long history of appalling misgovernance and corruption and by an image of us as Chicago at one end and nothin' but cornfields and soybean fields for the rest.  I haven't even gotten my own kids to appreciate it fully.  Anything that documents our state's culture, musical and otherwise, is all to the good.

[trips over own feet, falls off soapbox]

quietglow - Posted - 11/18/2015:  10:55:40

quote:

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Originally posted by rastewart

 

I hope it does come out (and that I don't miss the opportunity to snag a copy).  It's not the musical style I'm following these days, but I grew up in southern Illinois and have lived in the state all my life.  Ours is an underestimated state, overshadowed as it is by our long history of appalling misgovernance and corruption and by an image of us as Chicago at one end and nothin' but cornfields and soybean fields for the rest.  I haven't even gotten my own kids to appreciate it fully.  Anything that documents our state's culture, musical and otherwise, is all to the good.

[trips over own feet, falls off soapbox]

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Yeah I am not a lifer, but I am approaching 20 years in the state -- split between Chicago and downstate -- and I feel like I'm getting close to being able to claim native status. I was elated when I learned that Illinois has a unique fiddling style, and I've been trying to find a good way of getting at it. This compilation appears to be the perfect path. The fact that so few libraries in the state have it on the shelves is telling of what might be at the root of the problem you identify: our state is rich in cultural and natural resources and we're really bad at promoting or even taking advantage of them. This project ought to have the full support of Springfield, and we're having to worry if it'll even escape out of print land.

K, I better get off my soapbox as well.

DougD - Posted - 11/18/2015:  11:09:53

BTW, there are 147 early field recordings made in Illinois in the Library of Congress card catalog:  memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/afc...eoSubject

An interesting mix of items ("Played by Mrs. Rindlisbacher on viking cello, with Italian accordion") but some were made at the National Folk Festival in Chicago of performers from other places. Too bad we can't hear them

RJL20 - Posted - 06/23/2016:  22:18:53

Got the following email from Jo Burgess today:

I am very pleased to announce that Dear Old Illinois is back in print!



For those of you who will be attending the Indiana Fiddlers Gathering this weekend in Battleground, IN, we will have copies of both the book and 3 CD set with us for sale. More info on the festival: indianafiddlersgathering.org

Look for Genevieve or Smith Koester or me if you are interested in buying a copy.



Beginning in early July, both the book and 3 CD set will be available to order from CDBaby.com



PLEASE NOTE: Because this is a print on demand book and CDBaby will only accept a certain number of books from us at a time, we do ask for your further patience if your order seems to take longer than expected. But rest assured that when they notify us they need more copies, we will act quickly to satisfy the demand.



We sincerely thank all of you who have written and asked to be placed on our notification list both for your patience and for your interest in Dear Old Illinois. We hope once you have a copy in your hands, you will feel it has been worth the wait.



Best regards



Jo Burgess

quietglow - Posted - 06/26/2016:  09:37:04

Turns out they were selling them yesterday at the Indiana Fiddlers Gathering, and I picked one up. Fantastic book and recordings!

Viper - Posted - 06/27/2016:  13:20:36

quote:

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Originally posted by quietglow

 

Turns out they were selling them yesterday at the Indiana Fiddlers Gathering, and I picked one up. Fantastic book and recordings!

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You mind me asking what they were asking for the book/CD set? I hope to get it from CDBaby when available. 

RJL20 - Posted - 09/10/2016:  11:29:34

The book is available through CDBaby now, as are digital downloads of the CD set: 

• Book


• CD 1


• CD 2


• CD 3

The book is $40 and the CD downloads are $8 each. NB: The digital downloads come with bad metadata: missing performer information, setting the year to 2007 for all tracks rather than their recording date, and adding "(Live)" to the title of every track. If you're a little OCD about your digital music library like I am, you'll want to fix those using the information at pickaway.press/doi/doicd.html