Annotation:Billy Wilson (1)

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X:2 T:Billy Wilson [1] N:"Revival" version L:1/8 M:C| K:A (3efg|a2 g2 afea|fedf ecBA|B2 G2 B2 G2|ABcd efge| a2 g2 afea|fedf ecBc|ABcd efed|cABc A2:| |:cB|ABcd efed|cABc B2 cB|ABcd efed|cA B2 A2:| |:EF|A2 AA AcBA|F2 FF F2 EF|A2 AA ABcd|e2 ef e2 c2| B2 BB BcBA|F2 FF F2 EF|A2 ae faed|cABc A2:||

BILLY WILSON [1]. AKA and see "Ace of Spades," "Little Billy Wilson," "Old Bill Wilson," "Reel des charretiers." American, Reel. A Major. Standard or AEae tunings (fiddle). AAB (Eck Robertson): ABC (Silberberg): AABBCC (Kuntz, Phillips). A three-part version was synthesized by fiddler and musicologist Joel Shimberg and entered 'revival' tradition, although based on Grand Ole Opry early star Uncle Jimmy Thompson's "Billy Wilson (2)" 1926 version. "Billy Wilson (1)" is a latter part of Texas fiddler Eck Robertson's "Brilliancy Medley." Some versions of "Billy Wilson" also feature pizzicato, or plucked notes. Most modern fiddle versions are based on Shimberg's tune, originally called "Old Bill Wilson." Musicologist Paul Tyler finds a cognate version of "Billy Wilson [1]" as an untitled tune (No. 29) in a volume published in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in 1926 by Charles Blee entitled Ball Room and Country Dance Music: Quadrilles, Schottisches, Watlzes, Polkas and the Danish, Rye Waltz, Varsouvienna, Oxford Minuet.

The first strain of "Billy Wilson [1]" is something of a 'floater', however, and crops up in unusual places. It is shared with North Dakota fiddler Joe Pancerzewski's "Original Canadian Hoedown" and appears Quebec as the first strain of fiddler Arthur-Joseph (A.J.) Boulay's (1883-1948) Reel des charretiers (Carter's Reel). Two untitled breakdowns printed by Missouri tune collector R.P. Christeson also utilize the first strain 'floater'^[1] Musicologist Paul Gifford also has evidence of unnamed breakdowns from Michigan musicians that employ the strain, and recorded hammer dulcimer player Paul Van Arsdale (western New York) playing an unnamed tune in 1975 with it as well. Paul Tyler recorded an Indiana fiddler who played the first strain in a tune he called "Old Woman, Stop Your Quarreling."

Gus Meade also suggests comparison with versions of "Ace of Spades," "Jack of Diamonds," "Possum up a Gumstump" and "Indiana Home" (there are also unrelated tunes with the same titles).

Additional notes
Source for notated version : - Pete Sutherland (Vt.), and Tara Nevins via Liz Slade (Yorktown, N.Y.) [Kuntz]; Jane Rothfield [Phillips]; Greg Canote (Seattle) [Silberberg].

Printed sources : - Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 2), 1995; p. 78. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 90.

Recorded sources : - County 2730, Rafe Stefanini - "Glory on the Big Spring." Marimac 9054, The Ill-Mo Boys - "Fine as Frog Hair" (1993). Victor V40298 (78 RPM), Eck Robertson (1930. Recorded Dallas, Texas, 10/11/1929 as part of "Brilliancy" medley, but side issued in 1930). Yodel-ay-hee #108327, The Critton Hollow Stringband - "Poor Boy" (1979).

See also listing at :
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Hear Uncle Jimmy's 1926 recording at Slippery Hill [2]

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↑ See R.P. Christeson, Old Time Fiddler's Repertory vol. 1 (1973, No. 37), and Old Time Fiddler's Repertory vol. 2 (1986, No. 14), both collected from African-American fiddler Bill Driver.

[1] See R.P. Christeson, Old Time Fiddler's Repertory vol. 1 (1973, No. 37), and Old Time Fiddler's Repertory vol. 2 (1986, No. 14), both collected from African-American fiddler Bill Driver.

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