Annotation:Coming down from Denver

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X:1 T:Coming down from Denver S:Bob Walters (1889-1960, Burt County, Nebraska) M:C| L:1/8 R:Hornpipe R:Quick D:Univ. of Missouri LP, Bob Walters - Old Time Fiddlers Repertory (1976) N:Recorded by R.P. Christeson F:https://www.slippery-hill.com/recording/coming-down-denver Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz K:A EG|A2 Ac BAGB|Aceg a2ga|bgeg aecA|dcBA GBEG| A2 Ac BAGB|Aceg a2ga|bgeg aecA|1dcBG A2:|2 dcBG A4|| |:A,ECE A,ECE|A,B,CE ABcA|EBGB EBGB|EFGE efge| a2ga faec|defg a2ga|bgeg afec|1 dcBG A4:|2dcBG A2||

COMING DOWN FROM DENVER. AKA - "Here and There (2)." See "Cowboys (2)," "Halfway House," "King of all Reels," "Lardner's Reel (1)," "Turnpike." Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; Missouri, Nebraska. A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. "Coming Down from Denver" is on Charlie Walden's list of '100 essential Missouri fiddle tunes'. Cleo Pursinger maintains the title for the tune is "Comin' Down from Denver (on a Trip to Galway Here and There)," but it may also have originally been "Coming Down from Boston." The 'A' part parallels "Lardner's Reel (1)" but the 'B' part shows some modification. The tune has been published as early as 1864 by Howe in Boston under the title "Lardner's Reel (1)" (Christeson), while a violin music collection published by George H. Coe in 1876 has it under the title "Old Gray Mare." Blackface minstrel troupe leader James Buckley published a version as "King of all Reels" in 1860. In the 20th century, fidder Tommy Jackson recorded it as "Here and There (2)," while Fletcher Bright plays it under the title "Turnpike Reel." Howard Marshall informs that the tune has two distinct second strains current in Missouri fiddling tradition, both different. Some fiddlers, like Johnny Bruce, Cleo Pursinger and Gene Goforth, play a third part. The low parts of "Coming Down from Denver" and "Hummingbird Reel" appear related. Similarities also to "Waynesburgh."

Additional notes

Source for notated version: - Bob Walters (Burt County, Nebraska) [Christeson]; Byron Berline [Phillips]; Johnny Bruce, who had the tune from his uncle, "Dude" Bruce [Marshall].

Printed sources : - R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 1), 1973; No. 14, p. 11. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 56.

Recorded sources: -Caney Mountain Records CEP 207 (privately issued extended play LP), Lonnie Robertson (Mo.), c. 1965-66. Rounder CD-0388, Gene Goforth - "Emminence Breakdown" (1997. Learned from Roy Wooliver). Rounder 0442, John Hartford - "Hamilton Ironworks" (2001. Learned from Cleo Pursinger). Voyager VRCD 3 44, Howard Marshall & John Williams - "Fiddling Missouri" (1999). Voyager Records, Johnny Bruce - "Play Me Something Quick and Devilish" (2013).

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