That's My Rabbit, My Dog Caught It (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 144

Size: 1,264kb, uploaded 4/18/2022 10:21:48 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

From the Walter family's 1930's recording and in the Milliner Koken book. This is a dance tune whose title can be literally sung in the B part.

The Baltimore Fire (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB, written by Charlie Poole

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- Play count: 51

Size: 2,114kb, uploaded 3/7/2026 2:52:04 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

In topics:
TOTW 6 March 2026: The Baltimore Fire

Charlie Poole wrote the song and recorded it with the North Carolina Ramblers in 1929, but it's said that a similar older song centered around a much earlier fire in Boston was the inspiration.

The Blackest Crow

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 1249

Size: 1,043kb, uploaded 3/6/2012 5:55:07 AM
Genre: Traditional / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This old English ballad is powerfully emotional in melody and lyrics.

The Blue Goose

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 961

Size: 1,100kb, uploaded 11/17/2015 8:53:43 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Played by Kentucky legendary fiddler Buddy Thomas. Every time I learn one of his tunes I feel like I'm doing extra credit homework for a master's thesis. They're always challenging -- he was a heckuva a fiddler!

The California Stage Company

Posted by JanetB, written by John A. Stone

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- Play count: 194

Size: 1,110kb, uploaded 7/15/2011 8:55:14 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This song was a parody of the stage coaches of the Gold Rush era written in 1858.

The Cat Came Back

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 300

Size: 2,358kb, uploaded 4/8/2013 4:45:56 PM
Genre: Other / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

The Cat Came Back is the Tune of the Week for April 5th, 2013. This one doesn't sound like the TOTW, though I've now learned that this folksong from my childhood does have older roots. The closest one I've heard seems to be Fiddlin' John Carson's recording in the 20's. My first graders here sing it for the first time.

The Cat Rambles to the Child's Saucepan

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 79

Size: 2,361kb, uploaded 8/2/2024 3:07:10 PM
Genre: Fiddle/Celtic/Irish / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

An Irish "traditional slide", meaning it's kind of like a jig, but it's not. I'm always learning something on the Tune of the Week. :)

The Cherry Tree Carol (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 77

Size: 1,476kb, uploaded 12/23/2024 7:29:56 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This old English carol has undergone many changes. I've attempted to capture the melody as sung by Shirley Collins, an English folk singer of the 1950's.

The Devil Eat the Groundhog

Posted by JanetB, written by Doc Chapman

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- Play count: 1722

Size: 1,184kb, uploaded 7/19/2013 6:44:17 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

For the Tune of the Week, July 19, 2013. Owen Snake Chapman learned this from his father. The title refers to an angry hunter after his dog ate the prepared meat.

The Eagle's Whistle/Bonaparte's Retreat march medley

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 320

Size: 811kb, uploaded 9/22/2014 6:23:05 AM
Genre: Fiddle/Celtic/Irish / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Researching more about the current old-time TOTW, 9/19/14, I looked for the Irish march tune linked to Bonaparte's Retreat through the research of Samuel Bayard. In a Fiddle Hangout link I found the notation by Patrick Weston Joyce in his 1909 book Old Irish Folk Music and Songs. The first part I'm playing comes from Joyce. The second part is my own interpretation of how Bonaparte's Retreat may have evolved from such a march. The Eagle's Whistle was said to be the marching song of the O'Donovan clan of Ireland.

The Fairy Queen

Posted by JanetB, written by Turlough O'Carolan

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- Play count: 900

Size: 1,448kb, uploaded 4/11/2015 9:55:25 PM
Genre: Fiddle/Celtic/Irish / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This tune of O'Carolan's has a classical, ethereal sound. I dedicate it to Laurence Diehl, friend of O'Carolan's music and inspiring to all us little folk.

The Fermoy Lasses (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 77

Size: 3,144kb, uploaded 9/6/2025 11:06:55 AM
Genre: Fiddle/Celtic/Irish / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This Tune of the Week is an old one that comes from Ireland. The town of Fermoy is in County Cork, a place where fine musicians have originated from, as well as gold rush immigrants who ended up in my native California.

The Fiddler or a Dram (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 236

Size: 1,304kb, uploaded 9/29/2017 11:50:13 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

From the playing of Virginian fiddler C.B. Wohlford in 1938, this old-time Tune of the Week was recently recorded by Bruce Molsky, a favorite fiddler and banjo player of mine. My arrangement is based on the older source recording.

The Hog Went Through the Fence, Yoke and All

Posted by JanetB, written by Luther Strong

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- Play count: 174

Size: 456kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 11:46:54 AM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This Tune of the Week is a bit hard in deciding what to do with that one note, so I choked it. Imagine losing a hog in the wild and trying to get him back to the pen. I guess a couple of good hound dogs could do the job.

The Jolly Blacksmith (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 86

Size: 2,153kb, uploaded 5/17/2025 12:20:41 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

From the playing of the late Christian Wig and the collections of old tunes by William Hamblen. Blacksmiths are near and dear to me, as my son is one.

The Last of Callahan (TOTW 5/1/14)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 417

Size: 961kb, uploaded 5/3/2014 5:38:18 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

From R.D. Lunceford's tab in Banjo Newsletter, Nov. '99;. I played it faster than this and than remembered that R.D. said it was pretty and melancholy, but not sad. Slowing it down seemed like the right thing.

The Merry Blacksmith (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 79

Size: 1,763kb, uploaded 6/1/2024 11:51:04 AM
Genre: Fiddle/Celtic/Irish / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Arranged from the O'Neill's Music of Ireland source. My son is a farrier and does blacksmithing ALL the time. Sometimes he's merry!

The Mountain Road (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB, written by Michael Gorman

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- Play count: 277

Size: 2,281kb, uploaded 9/22/2023 2:31:52 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

Written in 1922, this upbeat tune had six parts notated for fiddle and I play three here.

The Night That Paddy Murphy Died (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 225

Size: 801kb, uploaded 3/14/2015 4:55:24 PM
Genre: Fiddle/Celtic/Irish / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

This week's Tune of the Week was in honor of St. Patrick's Day. It's actually a drinking song about a man who was disliked and the town celebrates upon his death. You've got to hear the lyrics to appreciate it, so tune in to: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/300790

The Old Churchyard (TOTW)

Posted by JanetB

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- Play count: 63

Size: 5,043kb, uploaded 7/12/2025 4:35:34 PM
Genre: Old Time / Playing Style: Clawhammer and Old-Time

A song from an 1800's hymnal, being brought back to life, as the departed souls are promised to be in the last verse.