X:1
T:Snowbird on the Ashbank [2]
S:Earl Collins (1911-1975, Missouri, Oklahoma, Calif.)
M:C|
L:1/8
N:AEac# tuning (fiddle)
N:The 'B' part is played with a fast détaché bowing.
D:Briar BR 4204, "That's Earl: Collins Family Fiddling" (1975)
F:https://www.slippery-hill.com/recording/snowbird-ashbank
Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz
K:A
(EF|A)2A2 AcBA|F2A4(EF|A2)A2 AcBA|F2E4 (EF|
A2)[A2c2] [Ac][cc][Bc][Ac]|F2[A4c4]AB|c2c2 e2c2|[B2c2][A4c4]:||
AB|.c.c.e.c .e.c.c.A.|e.c.e.c .f.ec2|.c.c.e.c .e.c.c.A|[B2c2][A4c4]AB|
.c.c.e.c .e.c.c.A|.e.c.e.A .e.c c2|.e.c.e.A .f.c.c.A|[B2c2][A6c6]||
+slide+[A4c4]B2AB|c2 [c4e4]e2-|eeef e2[c2e2]|B2 A4[B2c2]-
[ce]ec2 B2AB|c2[c4e4]e2-|ecef e2[c2e2]|[B2c2][A4c4]||
SNOWBIRD IN/ON THE ASHBANK [2]. AKA - "Snowbird in the Ashes." American, Reel (cut time). USA, Missouri. A Major. AEac# tuning (fiddle). AA'BB'C. The ‘B’ part is unusual in that it consists of sliding or détaché the bow along the fingerboard (as can be viewed in The Films of Bess Lomax Hawes), so that the effect evokes a bird fluttering in a bank of snow. This “Snowbird in the Ashbank” tune seems unique to the Collins family. Drew Beisswenger (2008) points to similarities between the first strains of this melody and “Horse and Buggy-O],” while fiddler Dave Reiner records “Dry and Dusty” has some similarity to the Collins tune.
Additional notes Source for notated version : - W.S. (Willie) Collins via his son, Earl Collins (the family is from Missouri/Oklahoma) [Beisswenger & McCann, Reiner & Anick].
Printed sources : - Beisswenger & McCann (Ozarks Fiddle Music), 2008; p. 177. Reiner & Anick (Old Time Fiddling Across America), 1989; p. 125.
Recorded sources : - Briar BR 4204, Earl Collins - "That's Earl: Collins Family Fiddling." Voyager 309, Benny & Jerry Thomasson - "The Weiser Reunion" (1993).
