Annotation:Sally Ann Johnson (1)
X:1 T:Sally Ann Johnson S:Henry Reed (1967, Glen Lyn, Virginia) M:C| L:1/8 R:Reel D:Library of Congress AFS 13703B10 Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz K:D (F[A2A2])[AA]- [A2A2][A2A2]|BABd ed3|{e}f3d e2d2|fded BdAG| (F[A2A2])[AA]- [A2A2][A2A2]|BABd e2d2|ffaf egfe|[D2d2]d2[D2d2]A2|| |:defg a4|b4 f3f|gfgf e2d2|fded B2A2| defg a4|b4 f3f|gfgf e2d2|fded BdAG||
SALLY ANN JOHNSON. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; Virginia, West Virginia. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (Brody): AABB' (Phillips). The title is sometimes confused with "Sally Johnson (1)" ("Katy Hill" family), a different tune altogether, as is the similarly-titled "Sally Ann" ("Great Big Taters") family of tunes. Alan Jabbour, in his notes to his source Henry Reed's )Glen Lyn, Virginia) version of the tune notes that Irish variants of the tune go by the name "Boys of Bluehill (The)," "Freedom for Ireland" and "Nights of Gladness Quadrille." ; Roche, vol. 3, 74 (#196) "Nights of Gladness Quadrille." Jabbour also says "Sally Ann Johnson" compares with "Banks of Inverness" and the American variants "Beaux of Oak Hill (1)," "Two Sisters (The)," and "Lonesome Katy." A cognate Blue Ridge tune is Taylor Kimble's "Old Ark's a-Moving (The)". "Many printed sets are cast as hornpipes," notes Jabbour, "with the characteristic three eighth notes ending each strain. Henry Reed's tune has the feel of an American breakdown, but its circular structure for the melody leading from the second strain back to the first is unusual."[1] According to Guthrie Meade, this piece was a favorite competition number for St. Albans, West Virginia, fiddler Clark Kessinger at fiddlers' contests.