Annotation:Methodist Preacher
X:1 T:Methodist Preacher N:Learned by Bill Monroe from his "Uncle Pen", Pendleton Vandiver M:2/4 L:1/8 R:Reel N:Transcribed by John Hartford, who remarked: "A Methodist preacher N:was considered bad luck on a riverboat." B:Stephen F. Davis - Devils Box, vol. 31, No. 1, Spring 1997 (p. 36) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:G g/a/|b>a b>a-|a/b/a/g/ e<g|b>ang/a/|g/e/d/B/ A<G| b4|a/b/a/g/ e<g|b/g/a/g/ e/f/g/a/|g/e/d/B/ A/G/:| ge/f/ ge/f/|ge/f/ g(3D/E/F/|Gg- gg/a/|g/e/d/B/ A<G| +slide+B2 d>B|d/e/d/B/ A/G/E/G/|+slide+B2d2|g/e/d/B/ A<G| +slide+B2 d>B|d/e/d/B/ A/G/E/G/|G,/B,/D/G/ E/G/B/d/|g/e/d/B/ AG|| |:D/F/G/B/ AB|D/F/G/B/ A/G/E/G/|D/F/G/A/ B/d/g/b/|g/e/d/B/ AG:|]
METHODIST PREACHER. American, Reel (2/4 time). USA, Kentucky. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (Fiddler Magazine): ABCDC (Brody): ABCDDC (Phillips). The composition is sometimes credited to Kentucky mandolin player wikipedia:Bill Monroe (1911-1996), the 'Father of Bluegrass," however it would appear that it predates Monroe in the tradition (he is said to have learned it from his "Uncle Pen", Pendleton Vandiver). Likely, Monroe adapted the existing tune to his own style, and the tune was further refined by bluegrass fiddler Kenny Baker. Monroe's family lived near the town of Rosine, Kentucky, and would come to town on Saturday afternoons to trade or on Sunday mornings to attend the Methodist church (later celebrated by Bill in song as "The Little Community Church"--Monroe sang in the church's youth choir when aged 12-13).
The tune ends on the 'D' part in Monroe's version.
