Annotation:Red Bird Reel

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RED BIRD REEL. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; Iowa, Nebraska. A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Probably a version of the West Virginia “Red Bird (1)” recorded by Clark Kessinger, related to “Karo” and “Bull at the Wagon.” Collector R.P. Christeson, who recorded Nebraska radio fiddler Bob Walters playing the tune in 1950, apparently did not think much of the tune as he requested Walters play his version after Christeson heard a live band playing a "Red Bird" tune over station KFNF, Shenandoah, Iowa. He included the tune in his volume "as part of the record, but there are other tunes more desirable."

Bob Walters, with fiddle

Source for notated version: Bob Walters (Burt County, Nebraska) [Christeson].

Printed sources: R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 1), 1973; No. 20, p. 16.

Recorded sources:

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