SAND RIFFLE. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Kentucky. G Major. GDad tuning (fiddle). AABB. Named for a creek in Franklin County, Kentucky, that runs into the Kentucky River. John Harrod points out the relationship with this tune and “Indian Squaw” and “Indian Nation,” and a more distant relationship with “Shaker Ben.” Franklin County, Kentucky, fiddler Kelly Gilbert (1895-1991) told John Harrod and Guthrie Meade that “Sand Riffle” (which he played in the key of ‘A’) was composed by Jim Clark, a left-handed fiddler born in the 1870’s.
Additional notes
Source for notated version: - Vincent Crawford (1918-19?? after 1992, Avenstoke, Anderson County, Ky., 1979), who learned the tune from Andy Palmer [Titon]. Palmer was once a member of the Jimmie Johnson String Band who recorded some 78 RPM sides in the 1920's. Crawford was a woodworker and craftsman, as well as a violin-maker.
Printed sources : - Titon (Old Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 147, p. 173.
Recorded sources: -Rounder 0377, Vincent Crawford (et al) – “Traditional Music of Kentucky, Vol. 2: Along the Kentucky River” (1997).
See also listing at:
Hear John Harrod's 1985 field recording of Crawford playing the tune at the Digital Library of Appalachia [1]
Hear John Harrod & Guthrie Meade's 1979 field recording of Crawford playing the tune at Slippery Hill [2]
Hear John Harrod's 1978 field recording of Kelly Gilbert playing the tune at Berea Sound Archives [3]
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