Album Notes

Fiddle-meister Charlie Walden plays 32 Missouri-style fiddle tunes one time through fast and then slower so you can learn them. No accompaniment so you can hear clearly. The original recording has been around for nearly 20 years. Many of my students have used it as a guide to building repertoire and technique in playing Show-Me style fiddling. I’ve always contended that anyone who wants to fiddle should school themselves in the “standards” and many of these are presented herein.

Leadout – We used to call this piece “the tune with a thousand names”. That’s a bit of exaggeration of course, but the tune seems to have more titles Carter had Little Liver Pills. I’ve seen it on recordings, in books, or announced when performed as Too Young to Marry, My Love is But A Lassie-O, Hornet’s Nest, Soapsuds, Hell on the Wabash, Chinquapin, Chinky-Pin, &c. The title Leadout comes from Tommy Jackson. The rendition I performed on the recording is largely taken from Cyril Stinnett.

Liberty – This is a fine old square dance standard that every fiddler should know.

Lost Indian – One of the best tunes for a square dance. This version I borrowed from several players, among the Kenny Baker.

MacCleod's Reel – This is an old Scottish tune, also known as Uncle Joe in some parts. This tune appears in Cole’s.

Marmaduke's Hornpipe – Often called the “national anthem” of Missouri fiddling, this tune commemorates J. S. Marmaduke. Marmaduke was a Confederate general and later served as Governor of Missouri. It is related to Cricket on the Hearth.

Mississippi Sawyer – One of the best tunes for a square, Mississippi Sawyer is must know tune for any old-time fiddler.

Missouri Mud – This is a Missouri Valley Region tune that comes from the playing of Cyril Stinnett and Bob Walters. R. P. Christeson cited an alternate title as “Stuck in the Mud”.

MO Waltz – The official state song of Missouri, this version with the minor key section is how I heard Bob Holt of Ava play it.

Mockingbird Hill – This is just an old traditional song you can play for waltzing.

O’er the Waves – one of the big waltzes.

Old Joe – This tune I first heard from R. P. Christeson. I learned this version from Cyril Stinnett. Appears in Volume 1 of the Old Time Fiddlers Repertory.

Old Joe Clark – one of the standards. We play it a little differently in Missouri by staying away from the modal parts.

Old Molly Hare – Recorded by Cyril Stinnett as Old Mother Blair, this is a great old tune with Scottish origin.

Peek-A-Boo Waltz – Another popular waltz. The best performance I ever heard of this was by Jake Hockemeyer of Mokane, MO. He had a way of rolling the notes in the first part that always put me in mind of a slow turning water wheel at an old mill.

Rachel – also known as Missouri Quickstep. I first learned this from Taylor McBaine and then borrowed a little from Cyril Stinnett.

Ragtime Annie – This is another classic tune that belongs in every fiddler’s toolkit.

Red Fox Waltz – I believe this waltz came to Missouri by recordings from out West, especially of the early Weiser contests. I learned this from Taylor McBaine and it likely came from the previously referenced Lloyd Wanzer LP.

Red Wing – “There once was an Indian Maid who said she wasn’t afraid…”

Rickett's Hornpipe – This is another of those 19th century fiddle tunes. It can be found in Cole’s.

Rose Waltz – I learned this from Cyril Stinnett.

Shenandoah Valley Waltz – This tune comes from Virgil Smith. He learned it from Vee Latty of Fulton, MO. It has been played and sung by various Blue Grass bands.

Soldier's Joy – An old standard that can still work for a square dance.

Spanish Two-Step – This is a traditional tune that was recorded and popularized by by various Western Swing bands. This version comes from Cyril Stinnett.

St. Anne's Reel – This is a Canadian tune that undoubtedly came into Missouri on a Ned Landry record or via the previously reference K-TEL LP.

Sugar in the Coffee – This is a good beginner’s tune and nice little ditty.

Sweet Bunch of Daisies – A fine old song, it works well as an instrumental waltz.

TN Waltz – another classic waltz.

Wagner – This is one of the best square dance tunes around.

Walk Along John – A nice hoe-down I learned from Bob Holt.

Walking in my Sleep – This is an old Arthur Smith tune.

Westphalia Waltz – Every fiddler should know this time-worn favorite.

Whiskey Before Breakfast – This is a popular fiddle tune I learned from Cyril Stinnett and Taylor McBaine.

Woodchopper's Breakdown – Another Canadian import, which I learned from Cyril.