Angeline the Baker

Traditional old-time fiddle tune in D, instrumental clawhammer banjo & guitar.

Another Crookneck John tune, one of the two tracks I managed to finish during my failed attempt at RPM Challenge 2009.

(Get Flash to see the track player.)
posted by usonian (9 comments total)

Very nice. I kept waiting for it to rock out. (Grass-out?) It'd be fun to hear a violin or a vocal track on top of this.
posted by lholladay at 2:32 PM on November 18, 2009

Thanks, lholladay. I agree, old-time music without fiddle often feels lacking. It's next on my list of instruments to become mediocre at!

Old-timey music can get pretty blistery in its own right (eg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqPkBagKWVg&feature=player_embedded), but it's closer to traditional celtic stuff than Bluegrass in terms of performance; everyone plays the tune at the same time, all the way through, as opposed to each instrument taking a solo break for a few bars.
posted by usonian at 4:43 PM on November 18, 2009

Great tune! I love me some clawhammer banjo, especially at the comfortable tempo. The breakneck speed bluegrass tunes are fun too, but the speed you did this at really lets you hear the song. Well done.
posted by ctmf at 6:35 PM on November 21, 2009

This is so pure and enjoyable. I don't know who Crookneck John is, or what the RPM Challenge is, but I like this ditty. :D
posted by zhaytee at 10:04 AM on November 22, 2009

Well played, thanks!

P.S. How do you mike a banjo?
posted by abc123xyzinfinity at 8:43 PM on December 2, 2009

I believe both instruments on this tune were actually recorded with my iPhone's built-in mic using 4 Track by Sonoma Wire Works.
posted by usonian at 12:50 PM on December 3, 2009

er, Four Track. It's a pretty amazing app.
posted by usonian at 12:56 PM on December 3, 2009

One of my favorite old-timey tunes. Stephen foster was a genius, if a phoney.
posted by The White Hat at 7:06 AM on December 13, 2009

Your post inspired me to learn this tune on my banjo. Love it. Side effect: the only tab I had was from Mike Iverson's site and it includes an alternate-string pull-off with the left hand, which I didn't know how to do. So, indirectly you made me get more familiar with double-c tuning and learn a new technique. Thanks!

p.s. Love your YouTube channel, too.
posted by ctmf at 10:29 AM on December 13, 2009