Annotation:Still on the Hill
X:1 T:Sells’ Brothers Circus Rag T:Still on the Hill L:1/8 M:2/4 S:Howdy Forrester, learned it from Uncle Dave Macon B:The Devil’s Box N:Transcribed by John Hartford, who notes Forrester recorded the tune N:under the title “Still on the Hill.” N:Order of the parts is ABCABDA K:D F/G/||AA B/A/F/E/|DA, DA,|FF/G/ F/D/D/F/|EA, EA,| cc/d/ c/B/A/F/|EE/F/ E/D/C/B,/|A,/d/c/B/ A/G/F/E/|D3:| F/G/||AD/F/ A/F/A/d/|fA fA|e/d/c/B/ A/c/e/f/|dgAg|gg g/f/e/d/|cc/d/ c/B/A/G/| A/B/c/B/ A/G/F/E/|d3 F/G/|AdAd|ff/g/ fd|e/d/c/B/ A/c/e/f/|gAgA| e/d/c/B/ A/c/e/f/|g/f/g/a/ g/f/e/d/|eB A/B/c/A/|d3|| A|:(a2 a>)b|a3 A|(d2 d/)B/A/F/|E4|g4|g3 c/B/|A/B/c/B/ A/G/F/E/|d3:| e|:c'3 e|a3 e|(a2 a/)f/e/c/|B4|g(b b2)|b3 g/f/|e/f/g/f/ e/d/c/B/|A3:|
STILL ON THE HILL. AKA and see "Sells' Brothers Circus Rag." American, Country Rag/Swing Tune (2/4 time). D Major ('A', 'B' and 'C' parts) & A Major ('D' and 'E' parts). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCCDDEE. The alternate title refers to the Sells Brothers circus, a latter-19th century outfit dominated by Peter Sells. Circusus provided employment for many musicians at various times in their careers. The first strain of "Still on the hill" corresponds with "Sells' Brothers Circus Rag." The remainder of the tune may have been an improvisation by fiddler Howard "Howdy" Forrester, captured on his recording.
