Susan H - Posted - 05/17/2010:  04:30:45

I first learned a very simple version of this one on mandolin. When I started playing fiddle I liked how it sounded on there and just started playing it there. My version is extremely simple with a few shuffles in there for good measure (scus the pun there).

It was the state song for Arkansas from 1949 to 1963. The music was compsed by Colonel Sanford C. "Sandy" Faulkner in the 1800's. Here is a link to learn more about the song and the lyrics if anyone is interested en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Arka...Traveler_(song) .

I just like the song, because it's easy to learn for most any stringed instrument. Fast or slow it sounds good, and it's jam standard where ever I play.

Edited Subject Line. Please use the form: TOTW - m/d/year - Tune Title. - wormbower

Edited by - wormbower on 05/20/2010 06:19:52

Chuck Naill - Posted - 05/17/2010:  05:05:44

This is a recording I made some time ago. I am playing it slow and laid back. box.net/shared/reknikx5y7

DougD - Posted - 05/17/2010:  07:23:00

There is an account of this tune, along with a piano transcription, which disputes the story of it being composed by Col. Faulkner, here: archive.org/details/ontrackofthearka00merc Its from the Century magazine of March 1896, which also may be found at the Library of Congress "American Memory" website. Ben Botkin also discussed the tune's history in his Treasury of American Folklore.

The Wikipedia article linked in the OP mentions the great 1922 recording by Eck Robertson and Henry Gilliland, archive.org/details/Gilliland_..._Traveler (the flip side of "Sallie Gooden") but it was also recorded in 1916 by Don Richardson, and there has been some debate as to whether this is the first commercial recording of "country" fiddling or not: archive.org/details/Don_Richar..._Traveler

The skit, with music, was recorded several times on cylinders by Len Spencer, beginning before 1900. Search for the title here: cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/

Edited by - DougD on 05/17/2010 08:21:20

Ozarkian D.L. - Posted - 05/17/2010:  11:36:19

My version of one'a tha first tunes I ever learned on mandolin & fiddle, :

fiddlehangout.com/myhangout/vi...p?id=2610

I remember visiting bro. ( he really was an Arkansas Traveler ), while attending U.of A. in Fayetevfille, Ark. Reading off the book titles on his study desk ( out-loud ) ....Probabilities in
Mathematics, Calculus 3, Advanced Physics, Analogic Mathematics...etc. etc....then, Tarzan
of the Apes..."HUH ?", I said. Me & his roomate David had a good laugh.

A good write-up bout tha subject :

arkansastraveler.it/heritage.htm

Edited by - Ozarkian D.L. on 05/17/2010 20:04:28

fiddlepogo - Posted - 05/17/2010:  13:12:02

I have it on my ezfolk page.

You can access it either in the player or through the "Songs" tab.

c1.ezfolk.com/Michael_Springer/#

Edited by - fiddlepogo on 05/17/2010 13:16:14

DougD - Posted - 05/17/2010:  20:11:47

D.L. Nice version. Your link is mostly a transcription of my earlier link from the Century, which is interesting reading.