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fiddlerdi - Posted - 04/12/2010: 06:16:01
Hi All,
"Glory in the Meeting House" is kind of a new tune to me. I have been playing it for several months now and teaching it to my advanced beginning fiddlers, and it's on the playlist for group class.
The tune is a Kentucky FIddle tune first recorded by Luther Strong in Ashland, Boyd County in 1937. It was also recorded by Hiram Stamper. You can hear Luther's version in the Library of Congress recordings.
aca-dla.org/cdm4/browse.php?&C...ORT=title|f
Numbers 1225, 1226, and 1227
The tune is in E Mixolodian with a D natrual instead of a D sharp and has a wonderful haunting minor sound that I really like in a tune. It also has a lot of opportunities for playing on two strings with drones and double stops.
Like a lot of old tunes it has really changed from the original over time. I found a recording of Bruce Molesky playing it on a his "Contented Must Be" CD which is available on I-Tunes or Rhapsody. He plays it a little faster than I like it but it's a great version.
I have recorded it for you to learn, in a slow version without drones and double stops and a faster version with drones and doublestops on my member page.
Edited subject line format - wormbower
Edited by - wormbower on 05/20/2010 06:24:55
dancinbear - Posted - 04/12/2010: 06:58:55
Thanks for getting us started on this tune!
robinja - Posted - 04/12/2010: 07:29:29
Great tune choice! I love this tune but haven't tackled it yet. I'm looking forward to listening to all of the versions and hopefully picking it up.
The only recording of this tune that I have is on the Songs from the Mountain CD with Dirk Powell, John Herrmann, and Tim O'Brien. Great CD! "Glory" follows a tune that John Herrmann wrote called "Cherokee Trail", which is one of my favorite tunes to play. "Glory" has always eluded me, though.
Judy
fiddlerdi - Posted - 04/12/2010: 07:35:25
I didn't cross tune for this, although I know that it would have probably been done that way traditionally. I like the idea of dropping the G down.
In order to teach the tunes with my students I don't get to cross tune very often. We have done it occasionally but usually it takes up to much time in a lesson setting. The Clifftop Contest link is a realy good one. Thanks for posting it.
Edited by - fiddlerdi on 04/12/2010 07:43:35
DougD - Posted - 04/12/2010: 08:13:38
I guess Erynn is playing Hiram Stamper's version of this tune, which is also at the DLA (follow fiddlerdi's link).
You can also hear Luther Strong's version, as well as his other LOC recordings, at the wonderful Roots Music Listening Room: juneberry78s.com/sounds/Listen...trong.htm
Although I guess you can hear that low E string resonating, I don't think this is a tune that really requires cross tuning, since those low notes are never really played.
woodwiz - Posted - 04/12/2010: 08:18:11
Erynn's playing with a drop D. Maybe DDAD? A little easier to play. I tried it both ways - ATM, I think I like the E tuning better on this particular fiddle.
groundhogpeggy - Posted - 04/12/2010: 08:24:32
I love the tune... it's one of those that I've always been in awe of, but afraid of. Not that it might be so technically difficult, but hard to get right. I loved Erynn's GITMH on the youtube link... I mean, WOW, I think she got it RIGHT, for sure. Very nice job.
I've heard it done really well on banjo too. To me, these types of tunes, like this one and Elzick's Farewell, Yew Piney Mountain, Piney Woods, Fall of Richmond, etc., etc., etc.; lots of 'em... they are tough to do because there is just a lot of "stuff" in those tunes and it's scary that you could play them and just not get all the stuff to come outta there. That's why I don't play most of those... well, I have done one or two on banjo... maybe one on guitar picking... but not comfortable at all. I love those tunes, though... I hope someday I feel up to playing them.
lrhamp - Posted - 04/12/2010: 08:28:25
You're right Woodwiz. Erynn is playing her version in the key of D which sounds a lot more mellow. I may try to work up a version in D in standard tuning.
Edited by - lrhamp on 04/12/2010 08:33:09
DougD - Posted - 04/12/2010: 09:46:24
Luther Strong's version is in E (Dorian - almost - listen for the slightly flat C# in the high part) as noted in Titon's book. The two recordings of Hiram Stamper at the DLA are in B and C, some kind of minor or Dorian scale. Erynn's is in D, but I can't tell the tuning. I saw her a couple weeks ago, and actually meant to ask her about this performance, but didn't get around to it.
BTW, there's a brief account of Erynn's Appalachian Music Fellowship work at Berea here: berea.edu/hutchinslibrary/spec...l2006.asp including her transcription of Hiram Stamper's playing of this tune (in D "modal" [Dorian by the key signature], fiddle tuned DDAD): berea.edu/hutchinslibrary/spec...House.pdf
I visited Hiram Stamper once with Bob Butler, and made a recording, which I need to transfer. I can't remember if he played "Glory at the Meetinghouse" or not, but unfortunately he was well past his prime by then.
Edited by - DougD on 04/12/2010 10:11:43
scrubber - Posted - 04/12/2010: 11:15:30
Wow!
I was worried about my tempo being too fast until I heard Luther Strong's version!
fiddlehangout.com/myhangout/me...archived=
I had never heard this tune prior to a year ago -- I listened to some YouTube postings (including Erynn Marshall's clip) and went from there...
dave
Edited by - scrubber on 04/12/2010 11:51:48
fiddlerdi - Posted - 04/12/2010: 13:25:34
I just tried it in D and I really like it there too!
Interesting the way changing a key makes a difference in the overall sound isn't it?
Now I'm going to try it in G-flat....kidding...really.
fiddlerdi - Posted - 04/12/2010: 16:36:29
I added the music to "Glory in the Meeting House" under tablature in the Learn to play section on the left. This is the one in Em.
Edited by - fiddlerdi on 04/12/2010 16:54:27
bsed - Posted - 04/12/2010: 18:29:25
Very nice version, Scrubber! There's no question I like it better in E (whatever mode it's in). I think that key gives the tune more of an "edge", makes it more fun to listen to.
Peghead - Posted - 04/12/2010: 19:04:49
fiddlerdi - great tune choice, thanks for the info and link. We play it up here once in a while too. I never heard Luther Strong do it, it's really quick! Just for fun, have the guitarist use an E major instead of the minor and check it out. I'm hooked on that sound but it takes a little getting used to. Greg
lrhamp - Posted - 04/12/2010: 19:09:33
So----I start playing with "Glory In The Meeting House" and all of a sudden I'm playing "Say Old Man, Can You Play The Fiddle". I put the fiddle down and started thinking all afternoon. About 9 PM it hit me. Somewhere in the past I had read of a connection. More thinking and finally: ibiblio.org/fiddlers/SAR_SAY.htm Roll down to say old man.
Edited by - lrhamp on 04/13/2010 03:33:08
scrubber - Posted - 04/13/2010: 06:57:30
quote:
Originally posted by lrhamp
So----I start playing with "Glory In The Meeting House" and all of a sudden I'm playing "Say Old Man, Can You Play The Fiddle". I put the fiddle down and started thinking all afternoon. About 9 PM it hit me. Somewhere in the past I had read of a connection. More thinking and finally: ibiblio.org/fiddlers/SAR_SAY.htm Roll down to say old man.
I find my tunes 'morphing' when I play sometimes too!
A friend of mine pointed out simularities between
Glory... and
Jerusalem Ridge which is
also a Kentucky tune, I
think...
Sometimes, I get
both of these tunes 'mixed-up' with (yet
another Kentucky tune):
Dusty Miller!
dave
Edited by - scrubber on 04/13/2010 07:03:53
DougD - Posted - 04/13/2010: 08:57:29
We used to play this tune sometimes when the banjo or guitar player broke a string. Here's a recording of Walt Koken and Bob Potts playing it somewhere in Germany, Spring, 1978: fiddlehangout.com/myhangout/me...archived=
I'll leave this up for this week.
hendrid - Posted - 04/13/2010: 09:50:42
I was not highly motivated to massage this tune but after the working over Soldiers Joy (which I must learn) got in the extreme last week DI girl you forced? us all into this one…. Guess I will have to run through it a couple of times. A tab shot on the melody for us cripples. Hope it makes some sense.. No promises on errors. Don
GLORY IN THE MEETING HOUSE Tab D
||: A A3 32AD3 | A A2 3 3 | A A3 32AD3 | D2AD32 D D3 |
A A3 32AD3 | A A2 3 3 3E | E1 E E1 E A3 2 A D3 | D2 A D3 2 D :||
||: D D1 2 3 A AA | D3 A D3 2 D G3 13 | D D1 23 A D3 | 3 A 3 A |
D D1 23 A AA | D3 A D3 2 D DD1 | 2 1 DG3 1 G 1 3 D D :||
Simple ABC version D Help a little with timing the above tab maybe..
||: A d dcAG | Ac d d | A d dcAG | FAGF D G |
A d dcAG | Ac d d de | fefe dcAG | FAGF D :||
||: DEFG A AA | GAGF DCA’C | DEFG A G | G/2 A G/2A |
DEFG A AA | GAGF D DE | F E DCA’G’ | A’C D D :||
scrubber - Posted - 04/13/2010: 10:58:32
quote:
Originally posted by DougD
We used to play this tune sometimes when the banjo or guitar player broke a string. Here's a recording of Walt Koken and Bob Potts playing it somewhere in Germany, Spring, 1978: fiddlehangout.com/myhangout/me...archived=
I'll leave this up for this week.
Please leave it up permanently!
This is a performance that many would enjoy beyond the end of this week!!
dave
Ozarkian D.L. - Posted - 04/13/2010: 12:19:00
Say Old Man, Can You Pla Tha Fiddle ?.....not to tha tune of "GLORY IN THA MEETIN HOUSE" I ca'nt. 
Using my own LLP method ( look, listen, practice ), it'd take me sum time on thet'n. Say, would'nt "Glory In The Meeting House" be considered a really crooked tune ? Like ur post of Stampers rendition Diane.
Here's one I like : youtube.com/watch?v=GtGygFcyBr...1&index=2
Edited by - Ozarkian D.L. on 04/13/2010 15:57:06
Ozarkian D.L. - Posted - 04/14/2010: 10:01:58
From : THE FIDDLERS COMPANION............
GLORY AT/IN THE MEETINGHOUSE. AKA – “Glory to the Meeting House.” Old#8209;Time, Breakdown. USA; Mt. Airy, N.C., Ky. D Mixolydian (Carlin/Sing Out): E Major/Mixolydian (Phillips): E Mixolydian/Dorian (Titon/Strong). Standard, EDae or ADad tunings. AABB'BB'C (Carlin/Sing Out): AA'BB'AA'B"B"' (Phillips): ABABACB’ABABA (Titon/Strong). Jeff Titon (2001) gives its provenance as the Kentucky River basin. The melody was in the repertoires of Kentucky fiddlers Luther Strong and W.H. (Bill) Stepp. It was also collected from fiddlers Bev Baker (Luther Strong’s father-in-law) and Boyd Asher, from the same region. The EDae tuning appears to have been generally applied to the tune in the region. Strong (like Baker and Asher) recorded his version for Alan Lomax and the Library of Congress in 1937, a trip which resulted in several eastern Kentucky fiddler’s waxing their renditions (on aluminium disks!) of this tune for the musicologist. The piece is heard played either in the major or mixolydian mode, and Titon says that Strong’s version has a dorian character. His version has been so influential, that dorian versions among modern fiddlers are prominent (Jody Stecher gives a considered musical analysis in his Fiddler Magazine article). Kentucky fiddler Hiram Stamper recorded a ‘crooked’ version in the key of D minor, with three parts, and other regional fiddlers also had ‘crooked’ versions—in fact, Strong’s version is the only older one to be ‘foursquare’. These older versions started with one of the high parts first.
***
Despite what might be inferred from the title, the tune apparently has no connections with hymnody, although Titon says “the C and B’ parts suggest the excitement of ‘shouting’ (getting happy, feeling the Spirit) in a church.” According to musicologist Jeff Titon, Stamper told Bruce Greene that "Glory in the Meetinghouse" was a contest tune that he originally learned from Bev Baker, a notorious figure but an influential fiddler. Stamper also indicated the tune was known to other fiddlers at the time and that Baker had played it in the 1919 Berea fiddle contest. Luther Strong says, “I won $500 on this tune” at the end of his LC AFS field recording. The tune has similarities to the bluegrass composition “Jerusalem Ridge.” Sources for notated versions: Luther Strong (Hazard, Perry County, Ky.) [Titon]; Mark Graham (Seatle, Wash.) [Carlin/Sing Out]; Armin Barnett with the Hurricane Ridgerunners [Phillips]; Luther Strong via Jody Stecher [Fiddler Magazine]. Sing Out! ("Teach In: Clawhammer Banjo," Bob Carlin). Fiddler Magazine, vol. 14, No. 4, 2007; pg. 43. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 56. Titon (Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001
Edited by - Ozarkian D.L. on 04/14/2010 10:11:15
