This fiddle tune almost defies recounting due to its complex background. First, the
variety of titles: Forked Buck, Forky Deer, Forked-Horn Deer, Forked Deer Hornpipe,
Forked Deer River, Hounds in the Horn, Long-Horned Deer, Deer Walk, Bragg's Retreat,
Old Pork Bosom, and Van Buren.
Also, the title may be a corruption of Fauquier Deer, the name of a county in N. Virginia
or may be association with the Forked Deer River in Tennessee (i.e. 'the forks of the
Deer'). Or possibly Forked Air, meaning a “crooked melody”. Or maybe Forkadair from
Minstrel times. Or even Frisky Deer to evade the meaning of “horney”. Last thought
among many: the forked deer, or two-point buck, which was considered prime venison.
Second: The arrangements. In D Major, there are a variety of arrangements:
AB (Silberberg), AABB (most versions), AA'BB (Phillips), AA'BB'CC (Salyer).
This Rattlesnake Hill version is introduced by John Relph, an excellent mandolin picker
from the DC area. I remember his telling me that he once won the State of California 1st
Prize award for his Mandolin picking. We never practiced this tune, but thought to
record it off hand, and you can hear John’s excellent performance.
Rattlesnake Hill musicians:
Carolyn Kellock Bass
John Relph Mandolin
Terry Wittenberg Banjo
Ed Schaeffer Guitar
To listen, click: http://rattlesnakehill.org/Web_Music/edsmusic.html
Ed