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'''BLACKBERRY BLOSSOM [4]'''. AKA and see "[[Garfield's Blackberry Blossom]]." Old-Time, Reel. USA, Kentucky. G Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB: AABB' (Silberberg): AABBCC (Ed Haley). This tune is simply labelled "Blackberry Blossom" on older recordings, but has picked up the nomen (perhaps originating with John Hartford) "Garfield's Blackberry Blossom" to distinguish it from the Arthur Smith tune (a related, later tune). Kentucky fiddler Dick Burnett said he learned his version "from a blind fiddler in (Ashland,) Johnson County, (eastern) Ky., named Ed Haley" (elsewhere Burnett said he actually learned the tune from northeastern fiddler Bob Johnson, who had it from Haley {1883-1951}, who was a legendary fiddler in east Kentucky). The tune was in fact Haley's signature tune, much associated with him, although he never commercially recorded it (Mark Wilson & Guthrie Meade, 1976).  
''''BLACKBERRY BLOSSOM [4]''''. AKA and see "[[Garfield's Blackberry Blossom]]." Old-Time, Reel. USA, Kentucky. G Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB: AABB' (Silberberg): AABBCC (Ed Haley). This tune is simply labeled "Blackberry Blossom" on older recordings<ref>Russell, Tony and Pinson, Bob (2004).  Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921-1942.  Oxford University Press. p. 144</ref><ref name=congress1942>Check-list of Recorded Songs in the English Language in the Archive of American Folk Song to July, 1940: Alphabetical List with Geographical Index (1942), Archive of Folk Song (U.S.) and United States. Work Projects Administration (Washington, D.C.), Volume 1-3, p. 28 </ref>, but has picked up the nomen (possibly originating with John Hartford) "Garfield's Blackberry Blossom" to distinguish it from the related, later tune by Arthur Smith. Kentucky fiddler Dick Burnett said he learned his version from Ed Haley<ref>Tincher, R.B. (1980). Big South Fork Folklife Study: The Old-time Music of the Big South Fork. Department of Anthopology, University of Kentucky. </ref>, a legendary fiddler in eastern Kentucky (elsewhere Burnett said he actually learned the tune from northeastern fiddler Bob Johnson, who got it from Haley). The tune was in fact Haley's signature tune, much associated with him, although he never commercially recorded it<ref>Meade, Guthrie T. and Wilson, Mark. Liner notes for Ed Haley: Parkersburg Landing. Rounder, LP 1010, 1976 </ref>.
==History==
[[File:haley.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Ed Haley]]
[[File:haley.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Ed Haley]]
 
A story about the origin of the Garfield title comes from Jean Thomas's book "Ballad Makin' in the Mountains of Kentucky"<ref>Thomas, Jean and Kob, Walter (1964).  Ballad Makin' in the Mountains of Kentucky.  Oak Publications</ref>. According to the story as told by America “Aunt Meckie” Morrison regarding her husband, a General Garfield (inferred to be Brigadier General and future president James A. Garfield) named the tune during the Civil War after hearing a man named Chris playing it on the harmonica. The musician remarked that it was his favorite tune, but said he couldn't remember the title. Garfield then expectorated a stream of tobacco juice onto a white blackberry bush blossom, and thus the tune was named. The tradition of Garfield's association with the tune was corroborated by Ed Morrison on an audio recording by Jean Thomas for the Library of Congress<ref>Strings (1993), String Letter Corporation, Volume 8, p. 47 </ref>. Morrison, who was the son of Christopher Columbus and America (nee ''Songer'') Morrison<ref>"Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1965," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9P7-DR8 : 9 January 2019), Edward Morrison, 25 Apr 1951; citing Death, Ashland, Boyd, Kentucky, United States, certificate , Office of Vital Statistics, Frankfort; FHL microfilm 2,241,088. </ref>, stated that Garfield learned the tune from his father.
A story about the origin of the Garfield title comes from Jean Thomas's book '''Ballad Makin' in the Mountains of Kentucky''', collected perhaps from several sources. It seems that a General Garfield named the tune during the Civil War after hearing a soldier playing it on the harmonica. He remarked to the musician that it was his favorite tune but said he couldn't remember the title, whereupon he expectorated a stream of tobacco juice onto a white blackberry bush blossom; this was noticed and the tune named. As improbable as that story sounds, the tradition of General Garfield's liking for the tune was insisted on by Fiddlin' Ed Morrison on his Library of Congress recording (an influential version); he says Garfield used to whistle the tune frequently and it was Morrison's harmonica-playing father who as a boy picked it up from the General. Betty Vornbrock and others have noted a similarity between "[[Garfield's Blackberry Blossom]]" and the West Virginia tune "[[Yew Piney Mountain (1)]]," a variant. This version is also played by Kentucky fiddlers J.P. Fraley and and Santford Kelly, has been recorded by Owen "Snake" Chapman. Jean Thomas recorded the tune for the Library of Congress in 1930 from fiddler Ed Morrison (Boyd County, Ky.) at the American Folk Song Festival (AFS 300A).  
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Christopher Columbus Morrison was born about 1846, was living in Greenup County in 1860<ref>"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZBJ-M27 : 14 December 2017), Christopher Morrison in entry for W H Morrison, 1860. </ref>, and enlisted in November 1863 in Company “G” of the 45th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry<ref>{{cite web|title=American Civil War Research Database|url=http://civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U.&2190367|accessdate=9 January 2020}}</ref><ref>"United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDG-DR4M : 13 March 2018), Christopher C Morrison, 1889. </ref>. This was about the same time James A. Garfield left the army and returned to Ohio to take his seat in Congress<ref>{{cite web|title=James A. Garfield|url=https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/james-a-garfield|accessdate=9 January 2020}} </ref>; this makes the story of his naming the tune somewhat unlikely, although it is possible that Morrison encountered Garfield during the Big Sandy Expedition in 1861 or 1862. Morrison died in 1926 in Ashland.<ref name=kydeath1926>"Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1965," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9B1-2MY : 9 January 2019), Christopher Columbus Morrison, 1926; citing Death, Ashland, Boyd, Kentucky, United States, certificate , Office of Vital Statistics, Frankfort; FHL microfilm 1,912,909. </ref>
==Versions==
Betty Vornbrock and others have noted a similarity between "[[Garfield's Blackberry Blossom]]" and the West Virginia tune "[[Yew Piney Mountain (1)]]," a variant<ref>Titon, Jeff Todd (2001).  Old-time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes. University Press of Kentucky. p. 43 </ref>. This version was also played by Kentucky fiddlers J.P. Fraley and Santford Kelly, and been recorded by Owen "Snake" Chapman as well. Jean Thomas recorded the tune for the Library of Congress in 1934 from fiddler Ed Morrison (Boyd County, Ky.) at the American Folk Song Festival (AFS 300A)<ref name=congress1942 /> .
==Sources==
''Sources for notated versions'': (Buddy Thomas (Ky.) [Phillips]; a home recording of Ed Haley (Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky) by his son Ralph [Titon]; Scott Marckx [Silberberg].  
''Sources for notated versions'': (Buddy Thomas (Ky.) [Phillips]; a home recording of Ed Haley (Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky) by his son Ralph [Titon]; Scott Marckx [Silberberg].  
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Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [http://ibiblio.unc.edu/keefer/b09.htm#Blablmo] <br>
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [http://ibiblio.unc.edu/keefer/b09.htm#Blablmo] <br>
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==References==
{{Reflist}}
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Revision as of 05:50, 10 January 2020

Back to Blackberry Blossom (4)

'BLACKBERRY BLOSSOM [4]'. AKA and see "Garfield's Blackberry Blossom." Old-Time, Reel. USA, Kentucky. G Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB: AABB' (Silberberg): AABBCC (Ed Haley). This tune is simply labeled "Blackberry Blossom" on older recordings[1][2], but has picked up the nomen (possibly originating with John Hartford) "Garfield's Blackberry Blossom" to distinguish it from the related, later tune by Arthur Smith. Kentucky fiddler Dick Burnett said he learned his version from Ed Haley[3], a legendary fiddler in eastern Kentucky (elsewhere Burnett said he actually learned the tune from northeastern fiddler Bob Johnson, who got it from Haley). The tune was in fact Haley's signature tune, much associated with him, although he never commercially recorded it[4].

History

Ed Haley

A story about the origin of the Garfield title comes from Jean Thomas's book "Ballad Makin' in the Mountains of Kentucky"[5]. According to the story as told by America “Aunt Meckie” Morrison regarding her husband, a General Garfield (inferred to be Brigadier General and future president James A. Garfield) named the tune during the Civil War after hearing a man named Chris playing it on the harmonica. The musician remarked that it was his favorite tune, but said he couldn't remember the title. Garfield then expectorated a stream of tobacco juice onto a white blackberry bush blossom, and thus the tune was named. The tradition of Garfield's association with the tune was corroborated by Ed Morrison on an audio recording by Jean Thomas for the Library of Congress[6]. Morrison, who was the son of Christopher Columbus and America (nee Songer) Morrison[7], stated that Garfield learned the tune from his father.

Christopher Columbus Morrison was born about 1846, was living in Greenup County in 1860[8], and enlisted in November 1863 in Company “G” of the 45th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry[9][10]. This was about the same time James A. Garfield left the army and returned to Ohio to take his seat in Congress[11]; this makes the story of his naming the tune somewhat unlikely, although it is possible that Morrison encountered Garfield during the Big Sandy Expedition in 1861 or 1862. Morrison died in 1926 in Ashland.[12]

Versions

Betty Vornbrock and others have noted a similarity between "Garfield's Blackberry Blossom" and the West Virginia tune "Yew Piney Mountain (1)," a variant[13]. This version was also played by Kentucky fiddlers J.P. Fraley and Santford Kelly, and been recorded by Owen "Snake" Chapman as well. Jean Thomas recorded the tune for the Library of Congress in 1934 from fiddler Ed Morrison (Boyd County, Ky.) at the American Folk Song Festival (AFS 300A)[2] .

Sources

Sources for notated versions: (Buddy Thomas (Ky.) [Phillips]; a home recording of Ed Haley (Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky) by his son Ralph [Titon]; Scott Marckx [Silberberg].

Printed sources: Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; p. 27. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 11. Titon (Old Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 10, p. 43.

Recorded sources: Burning Wolf 001, Reed Island Rounders - "Wolves in the Wood." Columbia 15567-D (78 RPM), (Dick) Burnett and (Oscar) Ruttledge (1930). Document-DOCD-8025, Burnett & Rutherford. Heritage XXXIII, Buddy Thomas - "Visits" (1981). Rounder 0378, Owen "Snake" Chapman - "Up in Chapman's Hollow" (1996). Rounder 1004, "Ramblin' Rickless Hobo: The Songs of Dick Burnett and Leonard Rutherford." Rounder 1133, Ed Haley vol 2 - "Grey Eagle".

See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]

References

  1. ↑ Russell, Tony and Pinson, Bob (2004). Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921-1942. Oxford University Press. p. 144
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Check-list of Recorded Songs in the English Language in the Archive of American Folk Song to July, 1940: Alphabetical List with Geographical Index (1942), Archive of Folk Song (U.S.) and United States. Work Projects Administration (Washington, D.C.), Volume 1-3, p. 28
  3. ↑ Tincher, R.B. (1980). Big South Fork Folklife Study: The Old-time Music of the Big South Fork. Department of Anthopology, University of Kentucky.
  4. ↑ Meade, Guthrie T. and Wilson, Mark. Liner notes for Ed Haley: Parkersburg Landing. Rounder, LP 1010, 1976
  5. ↑ Thomas, Jean and Kob, Walter (1964). Ballad Makin' in the Mountains of Kentucky. Oak Publications
  6. ↑ Strings (1993), String Letter Corporation, Volume 8, p. 47
  7. ↑ "Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1965," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9P7-DR8 : 9 January 2019), Edward Morrison, 25 Apr 1951; citing Death, Ashland, Boyd, Kentucky, United States, certificate , Office of Vital Statistics, Frankfort; FHL microfilm 2,241,088.
  8. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZBJ-M27 : 14 December 2017), Christopher Morrison in entry for W H Morrison, 1860.
  9. ↑ "American Civil War Research Database". Retrieved 9 January 2020. 
  10. ↑ "United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDG-DR4M : 13 March 2018), Christopher C Morrison, 1889.
  11. ↑ "James A. Garfield". Retrieved 9 January 2020. 
  12. ↑ "Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1965," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9B1-2MY : 9 January 2019), Christopher Columbus Morrison, 1926; citing Death, Ashland, Boyd, Kentucky, United States, certificate , Office of Vital Statistics, Frankfort; FHL microfilm 1,912,909.
  13. ↑ Titon, Jeff Todd (2001). Old-time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes. University Press of Kentucky. p. 43

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