Feel free to send me a video or sound file of the finished product. 1: 1927-1930" (1999 reissue). Sonyatone 201, Eck Robertson (Texas) – "Master Fiddler." Billy in the Lowground is in the key of C. The A-part is played twice. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. something but I forgot his full name. Where the happy Hoosier dwells. “Big Piney” so plaintive and slow, Thede (The Fiddle Book), 1967; p. 78. Bayard (1944) writes that when he collected the melody it was "current as a marching tune in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and is known to its 'Billy' form of the title farther south (as the tune resembles another Pa. tune called 'Jinny in the Lowlands'). County 733, Clark Kessinger – "The Legend of Clark Kessinger." Recorded Nov., 1927). Lowinger (Bluegrass Fiddle), 1974; No. 45-50) You’ll learn the A part to “Billy in the Lowground” in this video, and Sharon finishes by playing the A part a few times so you can play along with her. Phillips (Fiddle Case Tunebook: Old Time Southern), 1989; p. 6. Based in the West Country, UK but they'll go anywhere as long as there's free beer… Playing what could loosely be termed Folk-Rock (thin… read more 17.8k members in the harmonica community. It has also been pointed out the the 'B' part of \"Billy\" is quite similar to the 'B' part of the Irish tune \"The Sailor's Bonnet.\" Samuel Bayard (1981) agrees with Stenhouse‑Johnson in concluding that the tune originated in Britain as a slow 3/4 time song tune from c. 1710 or earlier, called \"O Dear Mother (Minnie) What Shall I Do?\" He sees the development of the tune as having then split into two branches, and that during the 1740's a 6/8 \"giga\" or jig form was composed called variously \"All the Blue Bonnets Are Over the Border,\" \"Blue Bonnets Over the Border [1],\" \"Over the Border [1],\" or \"Blue Bonnets [2].\" Later in the century the second branch was fashioned from the original 3/4 tune into a fast duple time (4/4) dancing air which went by several titles including \"The Braes of Auchtertyre/Auchentyre\" (the oldest and most common title), \"The Belles of Tipperary [1],\" and \"The Beaus of Albany [1].\" These latter tunes are the immediate ancestor of the \"Billy in the Lowground\" group of tunes in America. Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [2] Hear John Salyer's 1940/41 home recording at Berea Sound Archives [8] It has also been pointed out the the 'B' part of "Billy" is quite similar to the 'B' part of the Irish tune Sailor's Bonnet (The)." Hear Lowe Stokes' recording at Juneberry 78's [4] K:C 68–69. C Major (most versions): D Major (Bayard‑Marr). 5 (appears as "Reel"). "Billy in the Lowground" was played by Arizona fiddler Kenner C. Kartchner for dances in the Southwest at the beginning of the twentieth century (the piece was identified by him as having come to that region from the American South, and assessed it as "a good one"). rec. Christeson suggests it can be traced to the Scottish "Braes of Auchentyre (1)" in (Cole's 1000) {as John Hartford has supported} and "Beaus of Albany (1)" printed by Boston publisher Elias Howe. County 512, The Fiddlin' Bootleggers – "A Day in the Mountains" (orig. Appears as part of "Billy in Waynesboro"). There is no musical relation to the key of 'C' tune usually played under the title "Billy in the Lowground," beyond perhaps an attempt to enhance the value of the melody by linking it with the more popular tune. 192–194. And the old days rise before my eyes Indiana fiddler John W. "Dick" Summers (1887-1976) called his version of 'Billy' by the title "Red Church." Texas fiddler Eck Robertson recorded it commercially for Victor records in 1923 in a medley with "Sallie Johnson" (the disc was backed with "Done Gone (1)"). 9A,B,C (three versions), pp. In the heart of the Hoosier hills, border region fiddler Ed Haley's "Dunbar" for a related melody. From Bruce Greene). "Billy in the Lowground" is one of the most enduring and widespread of American traditional dance tunes in the key of 'C', known throughout the South, Midwest and West and even into the northern part of the United States. 54, p. 41. through an old field one time and he had his fiddle with him and Vocalion, 78 RPM, Burnett and Rutherford (Ky.) and Uncle Am Stuart (b. Davis Unlimited 33014, W. L. Gregory – "Monticello: Tough Mountain Music from Southern Kentucky" (1974). Rounder 0351, J. P. Fraley – "Mayville: Old Time Fiddler Tunes from Northeast Kentucky" (1995). Skip to main content. A great fiddle tune! Sound Recording (Form). he walked out on the bank of a sink hole and it broke off and he From “Natchez Under the Hill.” Let the “Rye Straw” tickle my ear, See also related tunes "Apple Blossom (1)," "Cranberry Rock," "Rymer's Favorite," "Dunbar," "Gilda Roy," Rocky Pallet," "Washroom Reel," "Indian Eat the Woodpecker," and the related part 'A' of "Shelvin' Rock (1)" (as played by Henry Reed and Melvin Wine, for example). Okeh 40020 (78 RPM), John Carson. To me it sounds like an old-time fiddle sort of thing. According to Bell Irvin Wiley, writing in his book The Life of Johnny Reb (1943), "Billy in the Lowground" was a favorite tune of Confederate fiddlers. Standard tuning (fiddle). Then fiddle me down to “Clear Creek,” County 512, The Fiddlin' Bootleggers – "A Day in the Mountains" (orig. rec. 3, No. Fiddler Magazine, vol. AB (Beissenger & McCann): AABB (most versions). County 703, Benny Thomasson – "Texas Hoedown." He just sat down there And fully as rich as old “Leather Breeches” Hear Delbert Hughes (Kanawha, W.Va.) home recording at Slippery Hill [10]. And play for me far in the night, Berea College Appalachian Center AC005, Walter McNew – "Black Jack Grove" (1993). And the strange wild calls the fiddler bawls, So come to the rare “Lost Injun,” Document DOCD-5631, Cuje Bertram – "Black Fiddlers" (1999). While the dancers never tire. The resemblances between this tune and 'Jinny in the Lowlands' may be fortuitous; but they have at any rate attracted enough notice from the players to cause confusion of the titles..." Tom Carter and Blanton Owen (1976) maintain the tune and title are characteristic of the Franklin, Floyd and Patrick County area of southwestern Virginia, and represent an older fiddle repertoire which predates the later development of stringband or fiddle/clawhammer banjo tunes. See also the similar "Green Back Dollar." O’er the “Sunk Lands” dark and still! CA,|:G,A,CD EGA(B|c)Bcd cGAG|E+slide+[A2A2]c AGEG|A(de)d ed c2| That gave such joy to the country boy, Later in the century the second branch was fashioned from the original 3/4 tune into a fast duple time (4/4) dancing air which went by several titles including "The Braes of Auchtertyre/Auchentyre" (the oldest and most common title), "Belles of Tipperary (1)," and "Beaus of Albany (1)." And the rustle of “Yaller Corn.” And shake the old farmer’s heels; Fiddle (violin) (Instrument). See also listing at : Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1] The melody appears under the "Billy/Low Grounds" title in George P. Knauff 's Virginia Reels, volume III (Baltimore, 1839)–see also note for "Billy in the Lowlands (5)". Great tune for Jams!!! A community for all harmonica players and enthusiasts. Let “The Wild Goose” call, and the echoes fall, 22, No. Document DOCD-5631, Cuje Bertram – "Black Fiddlers" (1999). American, Reel. Whether you play diatonic, chromatic, tremelo … As with most such long-lived and widely disseminated reels, there is a tremendous variation of the core melody due to both regional style, musical style (e.g. Gennet 3235 (78 RPM), Doc Roberts (1925). The American tune borrows motifs from British and Irish sources. It was recorded in 1937 for the Library of Congress by the Lomax's from the playing of Luther Strong in Hazard, Kentucky (see below). BILLY IN THE LOWGROUND [1]. Early American printings of the piece can be found from the early 19th century onwards. Billy In The Lowground MP3 Song by Clark Kessinger from the album Clark Kessinger, Fiddler: Old-Time Country Music. Q:"Quick" When the fiddle my memory thrills; M:C| While the current rolls o’er “Mussel Shoals,” Document 8045, "Lowe Stokes, Vol. Columbia 15620 (78 RPM), Lowe Stokes (1930). Davis Unlimited 33015, Doc Roberts (Ky.) – "Classic Fiddle Tunes" (One of the first tunes recorded by this fiddler.) - Collector's genre note: "fiddle breakdown" - Performance Note: "Billy in the Lowground" (fiddle with interjections) performed at home of Lake … Standard tuning (fiddle). OLD TIME BILLY IN THE LOWGROUND. Omac 1, Thomasson, Shorty, Morris, and O'Connor – "A Texas Jam Session." Chase the “Possum Up the Gum Stump,” "Billy in the Lowground" is mentioned in a poem by Richard L. Dawson entitled "The Hoosier Fiddle," printed in the Indiana State-Sentinel [Indianapolis] of July 29, 1885, p. 6: Bring up the Hoosier fiddle, USA, known under this title throughout the American South, Midwest, and Southwest. And play me the rollicking reels, And into “Broad Ripple” pours. So back to Billy in the Lowground, though if it weren’t for this ‘tune a day’ commitment I’d be playing Jerusalem Ridge. Email Newsletter. Oh how I love that tune. Vetco 102, Jilson Setters, 1928 (under the name Blind Bill Day) {b. Dance & fiddle music from Scandinavia, the British Isles, Canada, Appalachia and more. When arranging these variations I tried to stray from flatpicking cliches. County 507, Lowe Stokes (North Ga.) (1930) – "Old Time Fiddle Classics." No sweeter melody swells C Major (most versions): D Major (Bayard-Marr). Ruth Behan’s fiddle has a defiantly Irish sound that roots the rest of the band and underpins the Country feel to many of Chris Hibberd’s songs. “Billy in the Lowground” was a popular fiddle tune among Kentucky musicians. Then tune for the rich fantasias, There’s “Sugar in the Gourd.” A great version is played by Byron Berline (fiddle) and the late Clarence White (guitar) with the band Country Gazette. 40–41. Billy in the Lowground - Fiddle Tune a Day - Day 193 - YouTube 51–53. From the “Walls of Jericho;” Dance & fiddle music from Scandinavia, the British Isles, Canada, Appalachia and more. It’s in the key of C and played on the banjo in double-C tuning. Messer (Anthology of Favorite Fiddle Tunes), 1980; No. Put by the waltz and the schottische, .... (Charles Wolfe). Gennet 6390 (78 RPM), Doc Roberts (1927). Rounder 0046, Mark O'Connor – "National Junior Fiddle Champion." “The Black Cat’s” wail shall drown! African-American fiddler Cuje Bertram claimed to have taught it to Leonard Rutherford (Monticello, Ky.), and in Jeff Titon's (2001) opinion the two versions are in fact quite similar, although Bertram's is more intricate. Kaufman (Beginning Old Time Fiddle), 1977; pp. then the B-part is played twice (AABB). County 202, "Eck Robertson: Famous Cowboy Fiddler." Tom Carter and Blanton Owen (1976) maintain the tune and title are characteristic of the Franklin, Floyd and Patrick County area of southwestern Virginia, and represent an older fiddle repertoire which predates the later development of stringband or fiddle/clawhammer banjo tunes. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. “The Jaybird,” when “The Cackling Hen” Signup for Vi Wickam's Fiddle Tune a Day: http://www.vithefiddler.comI have been hearing Billy in the Lowground since I was young, but I really didn't play it for a long time.I first started working out an arrangement Billy in the Lowground when I taught it to one of my fiddle students, Andy Houck. Marimac 9110, Dr. Humphrey Bate and his Possum Hunters – "It'll Never Happen Again: Old Time String Bands Vol. Recorded sources : - Berea College Appalachian Center AC003, "John Salyer: Home Recordings 1941-42" (1993). Document 8045, "Lowe Stokes, Vol. Library of Congress. Nick Clinch – drums. 74, p. 27. [B A D C Am F Bb Eb G Ab Gb Bm Abm Dm] Chords for BILLY IN THE LOWGROUND - Bluegrass Fiddle Lessons by Ian Walsh with capo transposer, play along with guitar, piano, ukulele & mandolin. To the tunes that lighten my cares! He was working through the Tony and JayDean Ludiker breakdowns book, and I learned that arrangement as I was teaching it to Andy.I also took some licks from a transcription of Benny Thommasson playing Billy in the Lowground that Tony Ludiker had transcribed. A resource for traditional musicians. Hear Bath County, Ky., fiddler Carlton Rawling's c. 1960's field recording at Berea Sound Archives [9] Billy in the Low Ground according to Fiddler's CompanionBILLY/BILLIE IN THE LOW GROUND [1]. 92. USA, Kentucky. Rounder 0351, J. P. Fraley – "Mayville: Old Time Fiddler Tunes from Northeast Kentucky" (1995). Title: Billy In The Lowground - Old Ti Author: markw Created Date: Folkways 2337, Clark Kessinger (Va.) – "Live at Union Grove" (1968). Folklorist and fiddler Alan Jabbour finds that, in some sources, the title changed around 1800 to "Johnny in the Nether Mains." He sees the development of the tune as having then split into two branches, and that during the 1740's a 6/8 "giga" or jig form was composed called variously "All the Blue Bonnets are over the Border," "Blue Bonnets Over the Border (1)," "Over the Border (1)," or "Blue Bonnets (2)." AKA and see "Beaus of Albany (1)," "Billy in the Low Land (1)," "Braes of Auchtertyre (1)," "Fiddler's Drunk and the Fun's All Over," "Jinny in the Lowland," "Kerry Fulton's Schottishe," "Kerryman's Daughter (1) (The)." Old Time Billy in the Lowground A great tune that deserves to be more widely known, this quirkily crooked melody was played in Franklin County, Kentucky, in the 19th century, and predates the better-known bluegrass tune that most people know as Billy In The Lowground*. Yes, bring up your resonant fiddle, Rounder 0046, Mark O'Connor – "National Junior Fiddle Champion." Then stir up “Hell on the Wabash,” Ruth Behan’s fiddle has a defiantly Irish sound that roots the rest of the band and underpins the Country feel to many of Chris Hibberd’s songs. Billy in the Lowground formed back in 1991 as the Brew Band, since when they've slogged all over the country playing loud 'n' dirty folk rock (for want of a better description) to all & sundry. Sonyatone 201, Eck Robertson (Texas) – "Master Fiddler." Bayard (Hill Country Tunes), 1944; No. Elsewhere in the deep South, a Georgia fiddler named Ben Smith, serving with the 12th Alabama Infantry in the Civil War, played the tune in that conflict according to a memoir of the unit. Beisswenger & McCann (Ozarks Fiddle Music), 2008; pg. S:Leonard Rutherford (c. 1900-1954, Monticello, Ky.) What we do know is that Billy In The Lowground (also known as “Billy In the Lowlands,” also known as “Fiddler’s Drunk and the Fun’s All Over” (no joke)) was part of the repertoire of several old time source fiddlers from multiple regional traditions, suggesting a distant common ancestor. AB (Beissenger \u0026 McCann): AABB (most versions). Voyager 309, Benny and Jerry Thomasson – "The Weiser Reunion: A Texas Jam Session" (1993). The “Injun Creek” we ford. County 703, Benny Thomasson – "Texas Hoedown." Till the cares of the day are swept away His name was Billy Davis Unlimited 33015, Doc Roberts (Ky.) – "Classic Fiddle Tunes" (One of the first tunes recorded by this fiddler.) 234A-E, pp. North Georgia fiddler Lowe Stokes recorded "Billy" in 1930 with guitarist Riley Puckett; his rendition features an extra beat (as does Ozark fiddler Seth Mize's version-see Beisswenger & McCann). in 1928). And sorrow has taken flight; And of course a fiddle tune isn't complete unless you add a bit of yourself into the tune. Billy in the lowground This is close to the bluegrass version favoured by guitar players. The tune was in the repertories of Uncle Jimmy Thompson 1848–1931 (Texas, Tenn.), Fiddlin' Cowan Powers 1877–1952? Ruth (Pioneer Western Folk Tunes), 1948; No. T:Billy in the Low Ground [1] AKA and see \"Beaus of Albany [1],\" \"Billy in the Low Land [1],\" \"Braes of Auchtertyre [1],\" \"Fiddler's Drunk and the Fun's All Over,\" \"Jinny in the Lowland,\" \"Kerry Fulton's Schottishe,\" \"The Kerryman's Daughter [1].\" Old‑Time, Bluegrass; Breakdown. Brunswick 239 (78 RPM), Dr. Humphrey Bate and His Possum Hunters (1928) (Nashville, Tenn.) Billy in the Lowground, Part 1 This great fiddle tune is popular among old-time and bluegrass musicians alike. You know how come them to make that? I think of the farmer singing County 733, Clark Kessinger – "The Legend of Clark Kessinger." 1856, Morristown, Tenn.) (1924). 1." [1], Printed sources : - Adam (Old Time Fiddlers' Favorite Barn Dance Tunes), 1928; No. Okeh 45397 (78 RPPM), Oscar and Doc Harper. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 42–43. Take your playing to the next level with the help of a local or online banjo teacher. Titon (Old Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; nos. L:1/8 Billy in the Lowground has lots of possibility for embellishment and variation. Brunswick 239 (78 RPM), Dr. Humphrey Bate and His Possum Hunters (1928) (Nashville, Tenn.) Welling (Welling's Hartford Tunebook), 1976; p. 1. Listen to Billy in the Lowground for mandolin: Missouri State Old Time Fiddlers' Association, Casey Jones (1910-1967) – "Rocky Road to Jordon." F:https://www.slippery-hill.com/recording/billy-low-ground-9 From Bruce Greene). Miles Krassen (1973) identifies an Irish version called \"The Kerryman's Daughter\" which may be cognate or ancestral, while R.P. |:g3a gecd|e(ga)(g e)dcd|e+slide+a2a abag|egag edcd | Standard tuning. in 1928). 42. And play it again and again, And play no other then. Library of Congress 1010A2, Jilson Setters, recorded for Alan Lomax and the Library of Congress in June, 1937. Missouri State Old Time Fiddlers' Association, Cyrill Stinnett – "Plain Old Time Fiddling." What makes Billy in the Lowground more accomplished than many other Folk-Rock bands is the quality of the songwriting, the exuberance of the arrangements and the skill and enthusiasm of the playing. Appears as part of "Billy in Waynesboro"). The home of roots music instruction, gear, and news for players of guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro, fiddle, bass, and ukulele. Recorded Nov., 1927). Billy in the Lowground was a popular fiddle tune among Kentucky musicians. Vanguard VSD 9/10, Doc Watson – "On Stage." It was recorded from the playing of an Ozark fiddler for the Library of Congress by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph who collected in the early 1940's, and, likewise, by Herbert Halpert (also for the Library of Congress) in 1939 from Tishomingo County, Mississippi, fiddler John Hatcher. 1856, Morristown, Tenn.) (1924). Posted to the Mudcat Café forum, 26 Sept. 2019, https://www.slippery-hill.com/recording/billy-low-ground-9, https://tunearch.org/w/index.php?title=Annotation:Billy_in_the_Lowground_(1)&oldid=433898. 2, Summer 1996; p. 30. Omac 1, Thomasson, Shorty, Morris, and O'Connor – "A Texas Jam Session." Download Billy In The Lowground song on Gaana.com and listen Clark Kessinger, Fiddler: Old-Time Country Music Billy In The Lowground song offline. I listen and dream of my boyhood Ian Walsh teaches the classic bluegrass fiddle tune "BILLY IN THE LOWGROUND". Krassen (Appalachian Fiddle), 1973; p. 74 (an irregular version with nine measure parts instead of eight). Folkways 2337, Clark Kessinger (Va.) – "Live at Union Grove" (1968). While the dinner is on the fire, Ruth Behan’s fiddle has a defiantly Irish sound that roots the rest of the band and underpins the Country feel to many of Chris Hibberd’s songs.