Annotation:Frisky Jim

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 FRISKY JIM. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska. A Major. Standard or AEae tuning (fiddle). AABB (Christeson): AA'BB (Phillips): AA'BB' (Beisswenger & McCann). R.P. Christeson remarks that Nebraska fiddler Bob Walter's (1889-1960) father learned the tune around 1905-although he has heard no other fiddlers play it, save Walters. Mark Wilson points out the tunes popularity was given a boost by Walters, who played it on his radio broadcasts. There is a minstrel song called "Happy Frisky Jim," and although there is a similarity in the titles there appears to be no melodic material shared. Drew Beisswenger (2008) finds the 'B' parts of this tune and "Dance Around Molly" to be nearly the same.  Sources for notated versions: "Uncle" Bob Walters (Burt County, Nebraska) [Christeson. Milliner & Koken]; Dean Johnston (1919-2007, Lamar, Barton County, Mo.), learned from elderly fiddler Steve Charles (Prior, Oklahoma) in the 1930's [Beisswenger & McCann].  Printed sources: Beisswenger & McCann (Ozarks Fiddle Music), 2008; p. 75. R.P. Christeson (Old-Time Fiddlers Repertory, I), 1973; p. 4. Milliner & Koken (Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes), 2011; p. 220. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; p. 92.  Recorded sources: Rounder 0436, Dean Johnston - "Traditional Fiddle Music of the Ozarks, vol. 2: On the Springfield Plain" (2000).

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