Annotation:Dawn Waltz (1) (The)
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DAWN (WALTZ) [1], THE. Canadian, American; Waltz. USA; Vt., Oklahoma. B Flat Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Messer): AA'BB' (Phillips). Although this composition is often credited to Maritime fiddler Don Messer (1909-1973) it was recorded in 1930 by Jack Cawley's Oklahoma Ridge Runners; it is likely that Jack Cawley is the actual composer. The flip side of Cawley's record had The White River Stomp. Messer's original 1945 single also had this tune on the flip side so it is likely that Messer had access to Cawley's recording (the tune is best described as country swing, not the usual sort of tune associated with Messer).
Source for notated version: Ron West (VT) [Phillips].
Printed sources: Messer (Way Down East), 1948; No. 88. Messer (Anthology of Favorite Fiddle Tunes), 1980; No. 165, p. 112. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; p. 250.
Recorded sources: Fretless Records 132, "Ron West: Vermont Fiddler." Marimac 9111, Jack Cawley's Oklahoma Ridge Runners - "Goin' Up Town: Old Time String Bands, vol. 2" (orig. rec. 1930). MCA Records MCAD 4037, "The Very Best of Don Messer" (1994).
See also listing at:
Hear Don Messer's recording at Ted McGraw's site [1] [2]