The case of Blackberry Blossum
This resource is authorized to include instructional ("how-to") information not available on Wikipedia. Please help to expand that section below.
The case of Blackberry Blossum
Educational level: this is a research resource. |
The fiddle tune "Blackberry Blossom", a fiddle tune in the key of G Major, [1] is classified as a "breakdown" and is popular in old time, bluegrass [2]and Celtic [3]traditional circles. It is considered one of the best known fiddle tune of the twentieth century.
History
editThe tune [4] has been added to many tune books - as many as 277, according to The Session, an online resource for traditional musicians. [5] The tune became popular as a tune recorded by "Fiddlin'" Arthur Smith and that version, according to Alan Jabbour, supplanted an earlier tune played by Sanford Kelly from Morgan County,[6] which is now represented by the tune "Yew Piney Mountain". [7] [8] It is also called Garfield’s Blackberry Blossom, perhaps to distinguish it from the earlier version.[9] Contradicting Jabbour, who clearly distinguishes the earlier version, is the account of Andrew Kuntz to the effect that "Betty Vornbrock and others have noted a similarity between 'Garfield’s Blackberry Blossom' and the West Virginia tune 'Yew Piney Mountain', a variant...also played by Kentucky fiddlers J.P. Fraley and and Santford Kelly". [10]
Culture: use in different genres
editAlthough the tune is closely associated with the old time/ bluegrass traditions of the United States,[11] it enjoys the distinction of often being frequently played by traditional Irish musicians.[12]
In Irish music
editThis is a partial list of covers by Irish musicians and bands.
- An Fhidil, Sraith 2 by Sean Keane, Kevin Burke, Paddy Glackin And Seamus Creagh
- Ireland's Best Session Tunes CD 1 by Waltons Recording
- Irish Dances by Various Artists
- Top Of Coom by Conal Ó'Gráda
- Traditional Irish Dance Music by All Star Ceilidhe Band
- Traditional Irish Dance Music: All Star Ceili Band by Joe Derrane
- Traditional Irish Music by William Sullivan
- Traditional Irish Tunes Played On The Tin Whistle (1/2) by Geraldine Cotter
- Traditional Music Of Ireland by Various Artists
In Bluegrass
editAccording to Devon Wells, Blackberry Blossom, as a banjo tune, was brought to the public's attention as one of the earliest arrangements of Bill Keith. [14] Wells, a bluegrass teacher, asserts that the tune is a standard in the bluegrass banjo repertoire.[15] Some of the older recordings archived at the Digital Library of Appalachia include:
- Davenport, Clyde
- Fiddle tune played by Clyde Davenport at the Berea College Celebration of Traditional Music on 11-03-84
- Rawlings, Carlton
- Fiddle tune played by Carlton Rawlings and recorded by John Harrod in Bath County, Kentucky [1970s].
- Higgins, Charlie
- Smithsonian FOlkways [1]
Structure
editLike most traditional fiddle tunes, Blackberry Blossom has an A part and a B part; the former is in the key of G Major but the latter switches explicitly to the key of E minor. E minor is the relative minor of the key of G Major - it uses the same sharps and flats but its' modal center is E rather than G. This provides the tune with an unusual mood shift which adds complexity. [16] According to Anthony, "The note played on the 1st & 3rd beat of the first 2 measures are the first 4 notes of the descending scale of G. Each of these notes is the beginning of a 3-note run, returning to to this base note, before moving on to the next note in the G scale. "[17]
Videographic documentation (various instrumentation)
editFiddle and Guitar [18]
Fiddle Guitar and Banjo [19]
Mandolin [Mark O'Connor)[20]
Fiddle & percussion- interpretive - (Carrie Rodriguez) [21]
Twin fiddlin' [22]
Electric violin/ rock band [2]
Collection of video links at World News website
Instructional resources
editReferences
edit- ↑ Website of Sean Ray|http://seanray.com/2010/blackberry-blossom-2/
- ↑ ref name=Anthony|Building a Traditional Tune Repertoire|Wendy Anthony |http://archive.mandolinsessions.com/jun08/Anthony.html
- ↑ The Sessions
- ↑ ref name=DLA-Dickerson|played by Emma Lee Dickerson and| recorded by= Barbara Kunkle |date recorded=2-9-74|Greenup County, Kentucky|performer=Dickerson, Emma Lee|Place=Greenup County, Kentucky|Original Format=Reel-To-Reel Audio Tape|Holding Library|Berea College |http://www.aca-dla.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/Berea43&CISOPTR=571&CISOBOX=1&REC=2
- ↑ ref name=The Session|Please expand this reference|http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1365
- ↑ Note: As an E minor tune. He ends the tune "that's the way that God made peace".|http://www.aca-dla.org/cgi-bin/showfile.exe?CISOROOT=/Berea43&CISOPTR=3533&filename=3534.mp3
- ↑ ref name=Jabbour BBB Transcript|cited=Wikiversity Ethnography of Fiddle|Fiddle tune played by Alan Jabbour at Berea College on 5-28-08, while participating in Berea's Appalachian Music Fellowship Program.c; Jabbour, Alan; Blackberry Blossom;
- ↑ Blackberry Blossom|Lecture and performance by Alan Jabbour|Madison County, Kentucky|Audio Compact Disc|On web Digital Library of Appallachia| Archives, Hutchins Library, Department of Special Collections & Archives.
- ↑ ref name=Kuntz|The Fiddler’s Companion|Andrew Kuntz|1996[?]|Citing Jean Thomas's Ballad Makin' in the Mountains of Kentucky|http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/BLACK.htm#BLACKBERRY_BLOSSOM_[2]
- ↑ Kuntz
- ↑ Note: The Digital Library of Appallachia has recordings primarily from Kentucky. http://www.aca-dla.org/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=exact&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOROOT=all&CISOBOX1=%20Blackberry%20Blossom
- ↑ The Sessions
- ↑ The Sessions
- ↑ ref name=Wells|Saturday, April 2, 2011| Exploring Blackberry Blossom|Website of Devon Wells|Devon's Banjo Homepage|http://banjohomeplace.blogspot.com/2011/04/exploring-blackberry-blossom-part-i_02.html
- ↑ Wells
- ↑ Anthony
- ↑ Anthony
- ↑ Doc and the Lady (Fiddle and Flatpick Guitar)Operation Smile ocncert|instumentation=(fiddle and guitar)|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqtqdQBaYjA%7C11/16/2007%7Chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXdhej_q7sg&feature=related
- ↑ Inland Northwest Bluegrass Association in Spokane Washington. Every month the INBA has what they call a Bluegrass Thang
- ↑ album =Markology|label= Rounder| Released: 24 Jul 2007| url=|http://www.last.fm/music/Mark+O%27Connor/Markology
- ↑ Carrie Rodriguez performing live at the Rosendale Cafe in Rosendale, NY on January 3, 2008. Playing with Carrie are her band members Hans Holzen and Javier Vercher.|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifAlMxMsckE&feature=related
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fse3uUd_EfY&NR=1
Category:Research projects