groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/15/2012:  10:37:47

Where?... right here, of course,  on this Sound Off Forum.  Yes, yes, believe it or not, now, for the low, low price of two easy payments, of .... not 99.99, not even 9.99, but actually no easy payments of anything, because it's free... the Free Virtual Fiddling Festival.  Well ya know I like Free stuff, so I'll be there, er HERE... and here's the deal:  Since we are a virtual festival, we plan to have a virtual jam, mp3's, videos, youtubes, however you can get your fiddling to come across so we can enjoy it from the comforts of our own living rooms or porches.  This is a call to fiddling, working on one tune per month... really work at it ... share at our jam on or before February 15th, at which point we'll choose another tune to play.  This month's tune will be Did You Ever See the Devil, Uncle Joe/ Miss Mcleod's Reel, or even anything similar that suits your style that you'd like to share with us'uns right here at the virtual festival.  I even plan to get up a youtube of the skeletal gist of the tune as I understand it, and just as if we were sitting together under a big ol' weeping willer by the creekside with a drink about to topple over beside me and an ol' panting dog, I might just share what I'd LIKE to be able to do with the tune if I can practice at it, in a couple of youtubes before the final version is posted, on or before February 15th.  Sound complicated?  Well if it does I said it all wrong...lol... just play the tune with us, think about it and practice up and play it as good as you can for us by Feb 15th, 2012, and then we'll pick a new one.  We are picking tunes from this site for now:  oldtimejam.com/Jam.html    , since it's very user friendly and has a lot of popular tunes on it.  You can find Uncle Joe in the G tunes on that site if you need to hear it, want backup support, etc.  Otherwise, do it your own way, however you like.   Within the next couple of days I will get a youtube up of my beginning thoughts as I try to work up something to contribute by 2-15.

Stay Tuned... get your fiddles out... no cheating... make us a new one and play it different than you did before!!!   (or cheat and use the old one if you have one... it's just all for fun and to motivate ourselves to work at getting better!) 

outoftunes - Posted - 01/15/2012:  12:02:15

To save others a moment--the Old Time Jam site calls the tune "Hop High Ladies".

I'm going to try to participate in the "jam".  'll try to learn the tune by ear, but I see that the dots to Miss Mcleod's are in the back of one of the book's I'm going through at the moment--Craig Duncan's "You can teach yourself fiddling" (subtitle: if you are brave and foolhardy)--if I get stuck.

Mojohand40 - Posted - 01/15/2012:  12:56:06

Sounds great. Thanks, Peggy. I've been wanting to learn a version of this tune for awhile. It's a pretty universal tune, style wise so it's a good choice to get things going. I'll start working on it tonight.

LUV2FIDDLE - Posted - 01/15/2012:  13:28:17

Cool! I might if I'm not too busy with hw for college...speaking of Miss McLeod's Reel, I'm taking a jazz history class this quarter and on Friday we watched part of Ken Burn's documentary on jazz. There was some fiddle music on it and one of the tunes on it was driving me CRAZY because I couldn't remember what it was but knew I played it. So after class I went, got my fiddle out of my locker, played it, and remembered what the tune was!!! (Miss McLeod's Reel/Did You Ever See the Devil Uncle Joe/Hop Light Ladies) LOL!!! :D

Andah1andah2 - Posted - 01/15/2012:  14:02:29

I'm in.  I've been listening to versions on Yoohoo tube looking for a style I like best.  I've found a few.  I'll start noting it out soon.  Have fun!!!

fiddle and banjo player - Posted - 01/15/2012:  15:17:01

Count me in!  I'll  be posting my version of Miss Mcleod's Reel soon.  It's be SO enjoyable to hear everyone's versions!  

Mountainbanjo - Posted - 01/15/2012:  15:21:40

I will play along at home. The world isn't ready for my fiddling yet. Might never be.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/15/2012:  15:27:42

Mountainbanjo...we are ready for your fiddling here...please share it with us!

Mischa - Posted - 01/15/2012:  15:47:56

I shall attend......as a spectator!

martynspeck - Posted - 01/15/2012:  17:22:44

I'm in. A new tune to learn.

martynspeck - Posted - 01/15/2012:  20:13:13

I had a thought about this. Just because we add a new thread for a tune every month doesn't mean someone would be limited to posting to that month's festival in that month. These could become ongoing threads with people continually posting renditions of the tune.

squawkeye - Posted - 01/16/2012:  06:18:47

Great idea, Peggy!

As an added incentive for folks to post their versions, anyone who posts a version of the tune ("Hop High Ladies") before Feb. 15 will be entered into a drawing, and I'll randomly pick one winner to win a lifetime membership to the old-time jam. 

For those who like using notation/tab, I've attached a pdf of the tune in standard notation (with mando tab underneath it). And, remember, the arrangement is just a starting off point - feel free to put your own spin on it.

If you put something up on youtube, feel free to post a link on the old-time jam facebook page as well.

Josh

oldtimejam.com

Hop High Ladies

DougD - Posted - 01/16/2012:  06:39:35

For those who want to consult notation, this tune is also in Knauff's,Virginia Reels (as "Virginia Reel" in A), Ryan's Mammoth Collection, and O'Neil's Music of Ireland, all of which are available online. The notation from Knauff's is also at the Fiddler's Companion, along with a couple more.The older versions don't resolve to the tonic note - the ones in G end on A.

In response to your earlier thread, Peggy, although this tune is common in Irish and American traditions.its assumed to be Scottish in origin.

Mojohand40 - Posted - 01/16/2012:  07:27:57

quote:

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Originally posted by DougD



...SNIP....

In response to your earlier thread, Peggy, although this tune is common in Irish and American traditions.its assumed to be Scottish in origin.

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In regards to Scottish fiddle; I've heard it done as a reel and a strathspey, though most do it as a reel, which is way more common.

 The Scottish title is "Mrs. MaCleod of Raasay".  I'm working on a version based on Sarah Naylors' amazing version. (Though I don't think I'll play fiddle as well as her in this lifetime...).

Anyway..enough talk! lets post some videos/mp3s of us playing it!

guitarzan856 - Posted - 01/16/2012:  09:09:56

This sounds like splendid fun! I'm gonna get to work right away...

fiddle and banjo player - Posted - 01/16/2012:  09:51:12

quote:

---

Originally posted by squawkeye

As an added incentive for folks to post their versions, anyone who posts a version of the tune ("Hop High Ladies") before Feb. 15 will be entered into a drawing, and I'll randomly pick one winner to win a lifetime membership to the old-time jam.  

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 Now THAT is cool!  I love the old-time jam!  

I will be posting my version of the tune soon...

Andah1andah2 - Posted - 01/16/2012:  09:58:43

Thanks Squawkeye.  That's a very cool extra.  I started picking out the tune yesterday.  I like Mountnmonkey's version of Uncle Joe on yoohoo tube.  J. Krack is on fiddle.

outoftunes - Posted - 01/16/2012:  10:29:11

quote:

---

Originally posted by DougD

For those who want to consult notation, this tune is also in Knauff's,Virginia Reels (as "Virginia Reel" in A), Ryan's Mammoth Collection, and O'Neil's Music of Ireland, all of which are available online. The notation from Knauff's is also at the Fiddler's Companion, along with a couple more.The older versions don't resolve to the tonic note - the ones in G end on A.

---------------------------------------------

 I didn't know that those resources were online--thanks for that information!

DougD - Posted - 01/16/2012:  10:45:11

Not only are they available, but one of our esteemed members put together a wonderful Index for Ryan's. Here's the thread: fiddlehangout.com/archive/11637

outoftunes - Posted - 01/16/2012:  11:01:58

quote:

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Originally posted by DougD

Not only are they available, but one of our esteemed members put together a wonderful Index for Ryan's. Here's the thread: fiddlehangout.com/archive/11637

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 My hard drive is now the proud owner of a comprehensive 19th century fiddle collection and a very useful index. Thanks fiddlehangout members!

squawkeye - Posted - 01/16/2012:  12:11:47

Yes, thanks for the heads up on that collection Doug.

To make it easier, I went ahead and created a pdf of the arrangement from "Ryan's Mammoth Collection" which is attached to this post. Interesting to note how it differs from what you commonly hear these days - perhaps most notable is that, as Doug points out, both sections end on an A. After playing through it a couple of times, I felt so unresolved!! I don't think I could go to sleep without at least humming a G under my breath.

Very cool, though.

Miss McCloud's Reel

Mojohand40 - Posted - 01/16/2012:  12:41:50

here's my sad first attempt just to get things going..I tried this tune for the first time last night and worked on it some more this morning, so it's a little (lot) rough.

I'll keep at it and post a new one later this month. I'm doing the Scottish reel version here. I got a ways to go before it sounds like I want it...but I just wanted to get a video up so folks can see how awful I am and not be shy about posting there versions...soooo...don't let me twist in the wind alone...post early....post often....

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/16/2012:  13:26:00

Hey, cool, MojoH! You beat me to it! I plan to put up a rough cut version as a starting point fr thinking my way through, but just haven't gotten the time yet... In a few days, maybe. congrats fr being the bold one to go first...it does sound very Scottish...thanks for getting s all started. And Sqwakeye, thanks so much for helping us out with a great motivator! Come on, y'all...let's get this festival to smokin'!!!

slimman53 - Posted - 01/16/2012:  14:15:10

I'm in. Listener's beware.

tallgrass - Posted - 01/16/2012:  15:33:18

Great idea! I'll give it a try.

outoftunes - Posted - 01/16/2012:  16:57:21

Good man, Mojo, for being first to post!

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/17/2012:  08:00:56

HEre's my rustic, plan of action as it stands right now... I might change things as I get to practicing here and there and could possibly see things differently.  I will start by trying to get it to work out smoothly along with the Old Time Jam's slow version, and then try my best to get it going up to their fast version by Feb 15th... if I can't, I'll do it slower for the final version ...  here's where I am with it today:  youtube.com/watch?v=fIhkcVyIS-...ture=plcp

outoftunes - Posted - 01/17/2012:  08:54:31

Nice playing, Peggy. I really like those double-stop slides (if that's the right term) that you're putting into the B section.

Fidleir - Posted - 01/17/2012:  09:17:36

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mojohand40

here's my sad first attempt just to get things going..I tried this tune for the first time last night and worked on it some more this morning, so it's a little (lot) rough.

I'll keep at it and post a new one later this month. I'm doing the Scottish reel version here. I got a ways to go before it sounds like I want it...but I just wanted to get a video up so folks can see how awful I am and not be shy about posting there versions...soooo...don't let me twist in the wind alone...post early....post often....

 

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Hey - I think you sounded absolutely great on this tune - am especially fond of the Scottish flavor.  Nice clarity in your playing, too. 

squawkeye - Posted - 01/17/2012:  09:25:26

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fidleir

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mojohand40

here's my sad first attempt just to get things going..I tried this tune for the first time last night and worked on it some more this morning, so it's a little (lot) rough.

I'll keep at it and post a new one later this month. I'm doing the Scottish reel version here. I got a ways to go before it sounds like I want it...but I just wanted to get a video up so folks can see how awful I am and not be shy about posting there versions...soooo...don't let me twist in the wind alone...post early....post often....

 

---

 

Hey - I think you sounded absolutely great on this tune - am especially fond of the Scottish flavor.  Nice clarity in your playing, too. 

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 I thought there was a lot to like about it, too. Enjoyed the arrangement, tone, and the intonation. Certainly a very nice start!

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/17/2012:  09:48:09

Everybody should be getting to work on these now... come on, you guys, let's see what we can all come up with!!!  It's a great tune! 

fiddle and banjo player - Posted - 01/17/2012:  15:59:17

quote:

---

Originally posted by groundhogpeggy

Everybody should be getting to work on these now... come on, you guys, let's see what we can all come up with!!!  It's a great tune! 

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 Cool double stop stuff Peggy...For a minute there it sounded like you were playing a entirely different tune then me!    All I need is one afternoon to mess around with the tune (I know it as Miss Mcleods Reel) and I'll get it recorded and on here - soon!

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/17/2012:  17:24:04

Looking forward to hearing it, fidde and banjo player! It's a great thing that these tunes, wherever they came from, however they evolved, and whoever else did whatever to them before we get tp try 'em out ourselves, can sound as different as night and day, depending on who's fiddling them! Makes 'em truly our own music! Looking forward to evrybody's. I had to slap up that YouTube this morning in between phone calls and multiple obligations and stuff to do...have not yet had a quiet chance to sit and try to work it all out, or even think about it like id like to, but I hope to get to it very soon. Fun stuff!

Mojohand40 - Posted - 01/18/2012:  03:33:46

quote:

---

Originally posted by groundhogpeggy

HEre's my rustic, plan of action as it stands right now... I might change things as I get to practicing here and there and could possibly see things differently.  I will start by trying to get it to work out smoothly along with the Old Time Jam's slow version, and then try my best to get it going up to their fast version by Feb 15th... if I can't, I'll do it slower for the final version ...  here's where I am with it today:  youtube.com/watch?v=fIhkcVyIS-...ture=plcp

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Good work, Peggy. I like a lot of the ideas you are working on. I'm looking forward to see/hear the arrangement you end up with. I like the bow bounces on the "Hop up" parts.

I'm still polishing my version, trying to figure out some bowing on some parts.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/18/2012:  04:46:18

Thanks, mojo, I enjoyed hearing your too. Guess i got work to do...I get frustrated because I think about stuff and then wanna try it with my fiddle but seems rarey get the time anymore...very frustrating!!!! I thought once I retired I'd have mre time, never imagined I'd have no time...lol...mighta kept the job! Anyway, when I set out last summer to learn to play Fshers Hornpipe, just because I flat-out could not play it at all and I wanted too so much, I had a piece of paper and thought, however long it takes, I'll play the doggone thing slow and shaky 500 times...I counted, over the weeks fr a couple of months on that paper. Well it took a LONG time, and I only made it to half that amount before i stopped counting, and I don't play it that great....BUT...I can sit down and play it with the high speed backup on Old Time Jam...so that's something! Anyway...I'm gonna get me a piece of paper and see how many times in a month I can slowly work through this tune here, backing up where needed and going through the extra rough parts when I need to. At some point my count will move forward to the slow version on Old Time Jam and then onto the fast one...Weeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! That's when it turns from fun to wild
outrageously good stuff and the there's no stopping! Then it's suddenly payday!

squawkeye - Posted - 01/18/2012:  07:13:31

I enjoyed watching your video of you working through the creative process, Peggy. Sounds as if you're like me in that if tune has words you want to evoke those sounds on your instrument. In the case of this tune, each of the 1/8th notes in the first measure gets its own syllable ("did you ever see the devil") and I think the most natural way to replicate that stacatto sounding speech is with sawstrokes - it looked like you came to that conclusion in the video as well (though perhaps weren't thrilled about it :). I imagine if you didn't hear words associated with that melody then any number of slurs/patterns would sound acceptable. Anyhow, I thought that was interesting...

You've got a number of good ideas there - look forward to the final product!

Josh

squawkeye - Posted - 01/18/2012:  16:15:30

I invited the folks over at the banjo hangout to participate as well.

I also added that anyone who posts a version of themselves playing AND singing will be entered twice into the drawing :)

Josh

DougD - Posted - 01/18/2012:  19:28:21

Good on you, Mojo, for getting the ball rolling - and starting at the beginning too. I know you didn't want this to generate a lot of historical chit-chat, Peggy, but you happened to choose a tune that's been in print for over 200 years I guess. While looking up some lyrics I saw some posts that claimed that in Scotland it was played in A, with the "Hop Light Ladies" part being the A part, and "Did you ever see the devil Uncle Joe" being the B part. That's the way it is in Knauff's Virginia Reels, one of the earliest American printings (and where its referred to as "Mrs. McLeod's Reel" also). In that version, the B part resolves, but the A part doesn't (ends on B). Later Irish and American versions tend to be in G.

Anyway, here's a live recording from the archives from almost five years ago of one version that came along after it made its way to southwest Virginia:  fiddlehangout.com%2Fmyh...cID%3D9467">fiddlehangout.com%2Fmyh...cID%3D9467" target="_blank">hangoutstorage.com/jukebox.asp...ID%3D9467  Myself, violin and vocals; Pam Randolph, guitar and (somewhat reluctant) chorus vocals.

This is based on the 1920's recording by Fiddling Powers and Family, and I tried hard to decipher the words, but never could catch one verse, and when it came down to it could hardly spit them out anyway.

And speaking of lyrics, at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2003 a friend from the Hebrides sang: "The cow kicked Nellie in the belly in the barn, the cow kicked Nellie in the belly in the barn - etc." There was more, but I think part was in Gaelic. I think most of the words sung to this tune are more "mouth music" than real lyrics.

Edited by - DougD on 01/18/2012 19:36:15

outoftunes - Posted - 01/18/2012:  20:59:51

Here is my beginner's attempt at Uncle Joe / Mrs. McLeod's. I'm aiming for a hybrid version between the version in Ryan's Mammoth Collection and oldtimejam.com's version. Since I'm a beginner, it took a long time just to get the tune up to this point from scratch, and there's a very long way to go. My order of priority is: 1) Improve intonation, 2) Increase speed to 80 bpm, 3) Work on the bowing to smoothe out the rhythm, 4) find double stops to put in.

If I manage to achieve any 2 of those goals before Feb 15th, I'll repost. Otherwise, this is my contribution!

WARNING: Listening to the attached MP3 may seriously decrease your musical ability.

Uncle Joe / Mrs. McLeod's Reel

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/19/2012:  05:08:12

Hey, cool if the banjos are coming too...we need a bigger coffee pot or beer keg, more pizza! Maybe the mandos will show up too! Doug, I loved your link...I never heard it like that before...great fiddling, and the tune done that way sounds something like those mill pond tunes...fish in the millpond or some of those types tunes...very old sounding. I love the sound...I'll have to try it that way and see what happens ... Yes, the singing on any tunes that have the words as part silly, and part percussive rhythmic thing to go with the music...I always have mouth trouble trying that...you did good...so did your reluctant chorus...really nice job! Outoftines, I read your disclaimer and tried to get to your mp3 but the doggone iPad won't play it...so I usually get the chickens out and have breakfast before I fire up the big monster computer in the cold, uncomfrtaboe part if the house...so...looking forward to listening to that within the hour when I get down there. I usually put disclaimers on mine too...I will not be held responsible for resulting ear specialists bill from my fiddling, but I do guarantee it'll chase the rats away! Lol...I am really lookin forward to hearing yours! Will let you know when I do!

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/19/2012:  05:49:48

Yay!!!  Got to hear Out of Tunes' version while breakfast burns away over on the stove...lol... so gotta run on for now... you are doing great... sounds good to me!  Let's all keep working and see what happens by Feb 15th, oh, and if somebody thinks up what tune we should start working on then, for next month... please put in a suggestion here... It would be good if the tune was such that oldtimers, bluegrassers, and Irish could all join in with some similar type thing with it... but we'll do what we can to have a good time!  Now... let's get to work!

Mojohand40 - Posted - 01/19/2012:  05:59:57

DougD;

    The version I've been struggling with is from a recording of Sarah Naylor playing it. The Scottish Version is indeed in A.  I've been patiently listening and deciphering her slurs and such as best I can. Eventually I'll post my next, and hopefully better, attempt at this one.

OutofTunes:

  All right! Good first cut at it. Looking forward to hearing your next version!

It's good to see folks works in progress. Lets' us peek at the learning process.

Peggy;

 I did play a bit with the Old time version of "Hop High ladies" on my mandolin, I may post a version of that later this week.

Edited by - Mojohand40 on 01/19/2012 06:02:07

shellyrat - Posted - 01/19/2012:  08:15:48

Ill try to be there. I like the one by john morris and the one with beton flippen in it.Trying to add that old time sound of hiram stamper too by grabbing the low g over to the high g on the b part . Lots of fun

kathy c in ky

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/19/2012:  09:05:14

Good, good, GOOD, ShellyRat, that you wanna be here! Yes I love John Morris' version so much... I'm trying not to subconsciously try to imitate his cool licks in that version on YouTube of him playing it...I've listened to that one a lot and just really admire his fiddling but I really try to play like myself because I can't get it like the people I admire the mst...halfway.fearing some of his mighta rubbed off on me some, which would be great except for the fact that I'm no where near his league and I wouldn't do justice to any of his licks, plus the fact I try to play from scratch inside my own mind, if that's even possible at all. Morris, to me, has got to be the best old time fiddler alive today. His fiddling on Dwight dillers movie, The Fifth String, is what made me stop and think....ok, now we have climbed out of poverty and I can save up for a fiddle, why am I nt doing it? And so I did! And the poor guitars and banjos at my house sit lonely while I grab up what little time I have to myself with that doggone fiddle...lol...the thing just drives me crazy! This morning I found a couple f hours around here by myself in a situation where I could make a racket without doing any auditory damages except to the dogs, and I managed to disassemble or deconstruct my Uncle Joe to the point now where my version of the tune is a big ol nonsensical mess...lol...hope I can get it all put back together again...I feel like I'm getting out into a shaky limb with artistic license, which I tend to hog up with unbridled greediness... So I'm walking that fine line between good taste and flat-out sounding like a nut!

Edited by - groundhogpeggy on 01/19/2012 09:07:54

shellyrat - Posted - 01/19/2012:  09:10:09

archive.mandolinsessions.com/o...endy.html

This is mando tab but interesting stuff shows lowere octave and drones.

kathy c in ky

fiddle and banjo player - Posted - 01/19/2012:  09:17:48

I didn't know other instruments were allowed, maybe I'll come up with something on the Penny Whistle too!  Got music lessons to teach today, plus we got a snow storm coming - which means lots of prep work in the country...Maybe if we get snowed in I'll have time to record!  

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/19/2012:  10:00:22

Well we started out calling it a virtual fiddle festival, and here we are on fiddle hangout, so I guess as many fiddles as we can hear playing the tune would be great, but since these old time tunes are so popular on other instruments it might make it that much more fun if people just took the tune and tore right into it on other instruments too, not leaving their fiddles behind of course...so...more instruments, more fun. I haven't been to a fiddling festival, but I would imagine the fiddlers there would be warmly welcoming to hearing things on other instruments too! The more, the merrier...remember to bring your own drink! good luck with Uncle Joe!

Edited by - groundhogpeggy on 01/19/2012 10:02:33

DougD - Posted - 01/19/2012:  11:35:37

For those looking for a model to listen to, instead of notation, you can hear the Skillet Lickers record here:  1001tunes.com/PCvolume01/volume01.htm

I think a lot of people learned the tune from this record, starting in the 1920's. and later because it was on the first County reissue of Skillet Lickers material: amazon.com/gp/product/B0000012..._i=507846

outoftunes - Posted - 01/19/2012:  12:44:54

quote:

---

Originally posted by DougD

For those looking for a model to listen to, instead of notation, you can hear the Skillet Lickers record here:  1001tunes.com/PCvolume01/volume01.htm

I think a lot of people learned the tune from this record, starting in the 1920's. and later because it was on the first County reissue of Skillet Lickers material: amazon.com/gp/product/B0000012..._i=507846

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 Wow--that's a great collection. 

RE: Skillet Lickers' version--I was surprised how much it varied from Uncle Joe versions where the "Uncle Joe" and "Hop High" parts are really emphasized.