Annotation:Ways of the World (1)

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X:1 T:Ways of the World [1] S:Luther Strong (1892-1962, Hazzard, Perry County, east Ky.) M:C| L:1/8 Q:"Fast" N:DDae tuning (fiddle) N:From a 1938 field recording by Aland and Elizabeth Lomax D:Library of Congress AFS F:https://www.slippery-hill.com/recording/ways-world-0 Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz K:D A2-|ABd2[df]e f2|edBd A2A2-|ABde f2a2|e3f e4| ABde fedf|eddB A2(B/c/B)|A2F2EF2E|[D,6D6]|| (B/c/B)|AGFG A3B|A2+slide+ [F4A4] (B/c/B)|AG F2 +slide+[A4A4]|[D,6D6] (B/c/B)| AGFG A3B|A2 FE D2 (D2|D)FED EF3E|[D,6D6||



WAYS OF THE WORLD [1]. Old Time, Bluegrass; Breakdown. USA; Tennessee, Kentucky, southwestern Va. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The tune was first recorded in 1937 by Alan and Elizabeth Lomax from the playing of Dalesbury, Ky., fiddler Luther Strong. Tom Carter and Blanton Owen (1976) identify it as a popular Patrick County, Va., fiddle tune belonging to an early repertoire established before the "band" style, or fiddle/clawhammer banjo combination, became popular. Tom Paley thinks Strong may have used a DDae tuning. Jeff Titon (2001) notes that three fiddlers played “Ways of the World” (probably this version) at the 1919 Berea, Kentucky, fiddle contest.

Additional notes

Source for notated version: - Highwoods String Band (Ithaca, N.Y.) [Brody].

Printed sources : - Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; p. 286. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 253.

Recorded sources: -Bobville, “The Red Hots.” Front Hall FHR 021, John McCutcheon "Barefoot Boy with Boots On" (1981. Learned from a recording by W.H. Stepp, Ky.). Library of Congress AFS 01536 A01, Luther Strong (1937). Meadowlands MS1, "Allan Block and Ralph Lee Smith." Philo 1023, Jay Ungar and Lyn Hardy "Songs, Ballads and Fiddle Tunes" (1975. Appears as second tune of "Twin Fiddle Medley"). Revonah RS 924, "The West Orrtanna (Pa.) String Band" (1977). Rounder 0023, Highwoods String Band "Fire on the Mountain."

See also listing at:
Hear Luther Strong's version at Slippery-Hill [1]
See a standard notation transcription of Ky. fiddler John Salyer's version [2]



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