Annotation:Lonesome John

Back to Lonesome John

LONESOME JOHN. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Kentucky. A Aeolian (Krassen): A Dorian (Reiner): A Mixolydian (Titon). Standard or AEae tunings (fiddle). AAB (Krassen): AABB (Reiner, Titon). Titon (2001) notes that his source, John Salyer (1882-1952) played his 'c' notes at an intonation between a 'c' natural and a 'c' sharp. This is not a mistake or poor technique, but a legitimate characteristic of the tonality of many old-time fiddlers. Salyer himself called such intonation 'wild' notes. Mike Yates (2002) believes this tune to be related to "Salt Creek," "Salt River (2)" and Hobart Smith's "Pateroller (1)" (the latter is not the tune that is alternately called "Run, N....r, Run").

Sources for notated versions: "Fiddlin' Sam Kelly" (i.e. Santford Kelly {1898-1973} of West Liberty, Morgan County, Ky.) [Krassen]; John M. Salyer (Salyersville, Magoffin County, Ky.) [Titon].

Printed sources: Krassen (Appalachian Fiddle), 1973; p. 38. Reiner (Anthology of Fiddle Styles), 1979; p. 28. Titon (Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 95, p. 124.

Recorded sources: Appalachian Center AC003, "John M. Salyer, Home Recordings 1941-42" (1993). Greenhays GR 710, John McCutcheon - "Fine Times at Our House" (1982. Learned from Scott Boatright, Fort Blackmore, Va.).

Back to Lonesome John