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{{SheetMusic
{{SheetMusic
|f_track=Larry O'Gaffs.mp3
|f_track=Elk River Blues.mp3
|f_pdf=Larry O'Gaff.pdf
|f_pdf=Elk River Blues.pdf
|f_artwork=Samuel_lover.jpg
|f_artwork=Ernie Carpenter.jpg
|f_tune_name=Larry O'Gaff
|f_tune_name=Elk River Blues
|f_track_title=Larry_O'Gaff_(1)
|f_track_title=Elk River Blues
|f_section=abc
|f_section=abc
|f_played_by=[https://soundcloud.com/trad-tune-collection Fionnlagh Ballantine]
|f_played_by=[https://soundcloud.com/jatek-zenekar Jatek Zenekar]
|f_notes=Samuel Lover (24 February 1797 – 6 July 1868), also known as "Ben Trovato"
|f_notes=Ernie Carpenter (1909-1997)
|f_caption=Larry O'Gaff was a brave boy for marching, {{break}}
|f_caption=According to the booklet accompanying Carpenter's LP, the story behind the tune is one of a difficult adjustment to a forced change in Ernie's life.
His instep was larege--but his income was small;{{break}}
|f_source=[https://soundcloud.com/jatek-zenekar/elk-river-blues Soundcloud]
So he set up, one day, as a soldier of fortune--{{break}}
The meaning of which is--no fortune at all.{{break}}
|f_source=[https://soundcloud.com/trad-tune-collection/jig-larry-ogaffs-jig Soundcloud]  
|f_pix=420  
|f_pix=420  
|f_picpix=200
|f_picpix=200
|f_article=[[Larry_O'Gaff_(1) | '''Larry O'Gaff''']]
|f_article=[[Elk River Blues | '''Elk River Blues''']]


The "Larry O'Gaff" title for the tune comes from a nonsensical stage-Irish song whose words are only rarely reported (they can be found in a folk version in Creighton's '''Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia'''), and it appears the melody normally was used as an instrumental piece. The tune/song is firmly ensconced in the late minstrel/early vaudeville stage.  
Composed by Braxton County, West Virginia, old-time fiddler Ernie Carpenter (1909-1997).


It is usually associated with Northeastern players in the United States. The older title was probably "[[Hob or Nob]]" posits Bayard (1981), which was the title of an old British dance.
According to the booklet accompanying Carpenter's LP, the story behind the tune is one of a difficult adjustment to a forced change in Ernie's life. He had worked most of his life for the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company in Clarksburg, prior to retiring in 1972 to his home in Braxton County, West Virginia.  


However, as far back as 1840 it was entered into the music manuscript book of Cumbrian musician John Rook as "Larry O'Gaff is the boy" a title that seems associated with Samuel Lover's (1797–1868) comic piece called "Larry O'Gaff", which begins:
He was a regular visitor during his working years to his homeplace on the Elk River, and was witness to the planning and construction of the Sutton Dam by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the river during the 1950's and 1960's.
<blockquote>
 
''Larry O'Gaff was a brave boy for marching,''<Br>
Unfortunately, this resulted in the flooding of his boyhood home and the surrounding area, despite the efforts of himself and neighbors to forestall the project through a lobbyist. He refused the government's initial offer for his land (they didn't offer him anything for his house), and took the case to court.
''His instep was larege--but his income was small;''<Br>
 
''So he set up, one day, as a soldier of fortune--''<Br>
He was able to gain a marked increase in the money he eventually was paid through this process, although he had to pay legal fees out of his pocket. He stayed in his Elk River homestead while the dam was being constructed, even though most of his neighbors had already left.  Workmen blocked the roads in and out of the area, but Carpenter found alternate routes until they too were closed off.  
''The meaning of which is--no fortune at all.''<Br>
 
''In battles, bombardments and sieges he grew up,''<Br>
"I was the last person out of there," he said," I went ahead then and tore the old place town and brought it up here. Part of its in this house." Of the tune, he remarked: "I was sittin' here one day, an' I had the blues. I reckon as bad as anybody could, thinkin' about my old homeplace up on the Elk River. I started sawin' on the fiddle an' that's what I came up with."  
''Till he didn't much care if towns flourish'd or blew up,''<Br>
''And his maxims in life--for he pick'd one or two up--''<Br>
''Were short, sweet and simple for Larry O'Gaff.''<Br>
</blockquote>
Bronner (1987) suggests a connection with "[[Campbells are Coming (1) (The)]]" and "[[Miss McLeod's Reel (1)]]," which his source (central N.Y. fiddler Les Weir) also called "[[Hob or Nob|Hob or Knob]]". 
}}
}}

Latest revision as of 16:17, 4 October 2024



According to the booklet accompanying Carpenter's LP, the story behind the tune is one of a difficult adjustment to a forced change in Ernie's life.
Elk River Blues

Played by: Jatek Zenekar
Source: Soundcloud
Image: Ernie Carpenter (1909-1997)

Elk River Blues

Composed by Braxton County, West Virginia, old-time fiddler Ernie Carpenter (1909-1997).

According to the booklet accompanying Carpenter's LP, the story behind the tune is one of a difficult adjustment to a forced change in Ernie's life. He had worked most of his life for the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company in Clarksburg, prior to retiring in 1972 to his home in Braxton County, West Virginia.

He was a regular visitor during his working years to his homeplace on the Elk River, and was witness to the planning and construction of the Sutton Dam by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the river during the 1950's and 1960's.

Unfortunately, this resulted in the flooding of his boyhood home and the surrounding area, despite the efforts of himself and neighbors to forestall the project through a lobbyist. He refused the government's initial offer for his land (they didn't offer him anything for his house), and took the case to court.

He was able to gain a marked increase in the money he eventually was paid through this process, although he had to pay legal fees out of his pocket. He stayed in his Elk River homestead while the dam was being constructed, even though most of his neighbors had already left. Workmen blocked the roads in and out of the area, but Carpenter found alternate routes until they too were closed off.

"I was the last person out of there," he said," I went ahead then and tore the old place town and brought it up here. Part of its in this house." Of the tune, he remarked: "I was sittin' here one day, an' I had the blues. I reckon as bad as anybody could, thinkin' about my old homeplace up on the Elk River. I started sawin' on the fiddle an' that's what I came up with."

...more at: Elk River Blues - full Score(s) and Annotations



X:1 T:Elk River Blues C:Ernie Carpenter (W.Va.) M:4/4 L:1/8 R:Air N:Played slower than a breakdown, at a very brisk N:walking pace Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz K:G D EG|[M:5/4]A2A3 A/B/ AG E/D/E/F/|[M:4/4]G2G3 D EG|[M:5/4]A2 A3 A/B/ AG E/D/E/F/|[M:4/4]G2 G3 G/A/ B/c/d| [M:5/4]e2 e3 e/f/ ed B/A/B/c/|[M:4/4]d2 d3B G(3A/B/d/|[M:5/4]e2 e3 e/f/ ed B/A/G/B/|[M:4/4]A4- A:|]