Annotation:Ducks on the Pond

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DUCKS ON/IN THE POND. AKA and see "Lady of the Lake (6)." Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; western Virginia, West Virginia. A Major ('A' part) & A Mixolydian ('B' part) [Brody]: A Mixolydian [Krassen]: A Dorian (Johnson, Songer). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody was learned by most modern sources, including West Virginia fiddler Oscar Wright, from Glen Lyn, Virginia, fiddler Henry Reed (d. 1968).

Josh and Henry Reed

The tonality varies depending on the source for the tune, but dorian mode versions seem to have persisted. Bayard (1981) identifies this tune as belonging to the "Paddy on the Turnpike (2)" family of tunes. It was published by George P. Knauff in his Virginia Reels, volume III (Baltimore, 1839), under the title "Lady of the Lake." The reel is not related to the similarly titled "Ducks on the Millpond," although there is sometimes confusion between the two. Perhaps related to the Patrick County, Va., version of "Grey Eagle" (??).

Source for notated version: learned by the Red Clay Ramblers (Durham, N.C.) from Glen Lyn, Va., fiddler Henry Reed via Alan Jabbour [Brody]; also learned from Henry Reed by Oscar Wright (W.Va) [Krassen].

Printed sources: Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 94. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 2: Occasional Collection of Old-Timey Fiddle Tunes for Hammer Dulcimer, Fiddle, etc.), 1982 (revised 1988 & 2003); p. 11. Krassen (Appalachian Fiddle), 1973; p. 33. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; p. 67.

Recorded sources: Flying Fish 260, Alan Jabbour- "Sandy's Fancy." Folkways FTS 31039, "Red Clay Ramblers" (1974). Jim Martin Productions JMP201, Gerry Milnes (et al) - "Gandydancer." Reed Island Rounders - "Wolves in the Wood" (1997). Rounder 0089, Oscar and Eugene Wright- "Old-Time Fiddle."

See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Hear Henry Reed playing the tune at Slippery Hill [2]

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