CALHOUN SWING. American, Reel (cut time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). According to Gerry Milnes, source Melvin Wine [2] (1909-2003) [Braxton County, West Virginia] said the tune could be considered a 'clog' (i.e. a tune appropriate for clog dancing) [Beisswenger, Fiddling Way Out Yonder, p. 127), or, when played at a faster tempo, could be a square dance tune. It was one of his favorite tunes (ibid, p. 159), and he said he had learned it from his father, fiddler Bob Wine, although he did not know for sure where his father had learned it. Milnes suggests the source for the Wine family's version was African-American fiddler Jilly Grace, who traveled through Braxton County in the company of a circus he sometimes played for Sam Hacker, c. 1940. West Virginia University [1]The reel was also in the repertoire of another Braxton County fiddler, Sam Hacker (1876-1952[1]) of Little Otter, a contemporary of Wine's with a reputation as a good fiddler (who could also clog dance while he played). Hacker was recorded by Louis Watson Chappell in 1947. Calhoun County is the neighbor of Braxton County. Melvin Wine
Additional notes Source for notated version : - Melvin Wine [Beisswenger].
Printed sources : - Beisswenger (Fiddling Way Out Yonder), 200; p. 160 (standard notation transcription).
See also listing at : Hear Melvin Wine's recording at Slippery Hill [3]
Hear Melvin Wine and Sam Hacker's versions at the Old Towne School of Folk Music [4][5]
