Annotation:Ways of the World (1)

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WAYS OF THE WORLD [1]. Old Time, Bluegrass; Breakdown. USA; Tennessee, Kentucky, southwestern Va. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The tune was first recorded in 1937 by Alan and Elizabeth Lomax from the playing of Dalesbury, Ky., fiddler Luther Strong. Tom Carter and Blanton Owen (1976) identify it as a popular Patrick County, Va., fiddle tune belonging to an early repertoire established before the "band" style, or fiddle/clawhammer banjo combination, became popular. Tom Paley thinks Strong may have used a DDae tuning. Jeff Titon (2001) notes that three fiddlers played “Ways of the World” (probably this version) at the 1919 Berea, Kentucky, fiddle contest.

Source for notated version: Highwoods String Band (Ithaca, N.Y.) [Brody].

Printed sources: Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; p. 286. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 253.

Recorded sources: Bobville, “The Red Hots.” Front Hall FHR 021, John McCutcheon "Barefoot Boy with Boots On" (1981. Learned from a recording by W.H. Stepp, Ky.). Meadowlands MS1, "Allan Block and Ralph Lee Smith." Philo 1023, Jay Ungar and Lyn Hardy "Songs, Ballads and Fiddle Tunes" (1975. Appears as second tune of "Twin Fiddle Medley"). Revonah RS 924, "The West Orrtanna (Pa.) String Band" (1977). Rounder 0023, Highwoods String Band "Fire on the Mountain."

See also listing at:
Hear Luther Strong's version at Slippery Hill [1]
See a standard notation transcription of Ky. fiddler John Salyer's version [2]

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