Now don't get me wrong I love the Tombigbee Waltz and play it a lot. But, the dang tune is sorta white bread and seems to cry out for improvisation. Today I decided to just let go and just have fun with it. OK, I realize I may take criticism for doing this. Some folks just may think OT tunes should be played in a traditional way (what ever the heck that is) and shouldn't be messed with. So, if I have offended anyone, please accept my apology. Also, I seem to be stuck in an A=414 tuning rut so even though I'm playing in D, standard tuning down to that lower pitch knocks this Key down about a half tone and it sounds like Db/C#.
Nice improv, Rich.
Rich, I guess as "Tombigbee Waltz" it has become an "oldtime" tune, but I believe it was originally a minstrel song called "Gum Tree Canoe." A pretty good song really - you might want to check it out if you haven't already. I think John Hartford did a nice version.
quote:
Originally posted by DougDRich, I guess as "Tombigbee Waltz" it has become an "oldtime" tune, but I believe it was originally a minstrel song called "Gum Tree Canoe." A pretty good song really - you might want to check it out if you haven't already. I think John Hartford did a nice version.
Thanks Doug, yes I'm familiar with Gum Tree Canoe and have heard Hartford's version. There sure are similarities but, I never was certain which one is older.
Edited by - RichJ on 09/22/2022 09:53:57
I first heard "Tombigbee Waltz" by James Bryan on his album "Lookout Blues," which came out in 1983. The Fiddlers Companion says he got it from Tom Jackson, who was an associate of his.
Over the last few years I've downloaded quite a collection of minstrel songbooks from the Google Play Store for free. Pretty interesting stuff, and "Gum Tree Canoe" is definitely in there (probably without a tune) so its older in my experience. If you take out the "darky" dialect (as John Hartford did) its really a pretty nice song.
All I know.
Edited by - DougD on 09/22/2022 10:35:34
I don’t see any connection, musically, myself, from TOMBIGBEE Waltz to Gum Tree Canoe. Except the name of the river appears in both. My guess would be the waltz would be the older of the two…but it’s just a guess…I have no idea, really…but I don’t think they are musically related…at least don’t sound like it to me…for whatever that’s worth. I seem to be loaded with opinions today…lol…
No idea why my computer capitalized TOMBIGBEE…oh look…it did it again…I guess I’m yelling out that word…lol
Lovely Rich!
quote:
Originally posted by RichJNow don't get me wrong I love the Tombigbee Waltz and play it a lot. But, the dang tune is sorta white bread and seems to cry out for improvisation. Today I decided to just let go and just have fun with it. OK, I realize I may take criticism for doing this. Some folks just may think OT tunes should be played in a traditional way (what ever the heck that is) and shouldn't be messed with. So, if I have offended anyone, please accept my apology. Also, I seem to be stuck in an A=414 tuning rut so even though I'm playing in D, standard tuning down to that lower pitch knocks this Key down about a half tone and it sounds like Db/C#.
No apologies needed for low tuning, Rich. I'd say at least 90% of the fiddlers in source recordings are tuned low. And, contrary to popular belief, this isn't due to faulty old equipment.
Go for it and enjoy it! That enjoyment comes through in our playing.
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