Annotation:Hopping John

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HOPPING JOHN. Old-Time, Reel (cut time).. USA, western North Carolina. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. "Hopping John" was recorded from the playing of William Andy "Fiddling Bill" Hensley (1873-1960), who in his career had worked for the railroad man, and held jobs as a machinist, cabinetmaker and farmer. His principal interest was in fiddling, learned, according to the family "on his father's knee," and his uncle, Mac Hensley of Graham County, had a reputation as an excellent fiddler. Hensley's lifelong passion is represented by his last spoken words, inquiring about his fiddle which he called "Old Calico." "Just before his death he turned to a daughter, Mrs. Mamie Larson of Denver, Colo., who happened to be in Western North Caolina on a visit and asked, "Did you get Old Calico." He seemed uninterested in what happened to the rest of his property in the home" <ref>https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42453321/william-andy-hensley<ref>. According to his contemporary, North Carolina fiddler Manco Sneed, Hensley, "was a pretty good fiddler, but played a little rough and drank too much."

"Hopping John" features slides and staccato-like quarter note cadences which is meant to suggest hopping.

Fiddlin' Bill Hensley, 1937. Photograph by Ben Shahn, 1898-1969.

Source for notated version: Bill Hensley [1] (1873-1960, Sleepy Gap, near Arden, Buncombe County, western North Carolina) [Milliner & Koken, Phillips].

Printed sources: Milliner & Koken (Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes), 2011; p. 305. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), 1994; p. 114.

Recorded sources:

See also listing at:
See Bob Carlin's article "The Life and Music of Fiddlin’ Bill Hensley", The Old-Time Herald, Volume 11, Number 4.

See also listing at:
Hear Bill Hensley's c. 1940's recording at Slippery Hill [2]

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