Annotation:Johnny Cope (3)

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JOHNNY COPE [3]. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, West Virginia. A Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (Phillips, Songer): AA'BB' (Krassen). Krassen says Franklin George probably learned this tune from his grandfather, William Washington George, and that the original title was not remembered. The tune bears some resemblance to an "obscure piping version" of "Johnny Cope." According to Alan Feldman, the 'B' part of the F. George tune has some phrases which are reminiscent of the last part of the Irish 6-part tune, as well as some affinity to Scottish versions. General Johnny Cope led the English forces routed by the Scots at the battle of Prestonpans, prior to their subsequent defeat at Culloden.

Source for notated version: W. Frank George (Bluefield, W.Va.) [Krassen]; Joe Herrmann with the Critton Hollow String Band (W.Va.) [Phillips].

Printed sources: Krassen (Masters of Old Time Fiddling), 1983; p. 108-109. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; p. 126. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; p. 114.

Recorded sources: Flying Fish 355, Critton Hollow String Band - "By and By" (1985). Folkways FTS 31009, Ken Perlman - "Clawhammer Banjo and Fingerstyle Guitar Solos."

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