[dcab-l] Rattlesnake Hill Cover: "Forked Deer"

Songwriters & Music Lovers:

 

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 1^st

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