Annotation:Moonlight Clog
MOONLIGHT CLOG. Canadian, American; Schottische. Canada, Cape Breton. The tune is to be found not only in Cape Breton tradition (recorded by Cape Breton fiddler Angus Chisholm for Decca in 1934) but was also played by Southern fiddlers as well (it was recorded in Memphis, Tenn., by Mississippi fiddler Gene Clardy in 1930) [Tony Russell]. Clardy (pronounced 'Clair-Dee') was one of the older Mississippi fiddlers to record in the 78 RPM era, although his career was cut short when he was killed by a dancer at a dance after he refused to continue playing. It is said he taught Mississippi fiddling great Willie Narmour to play. In between those geographical extremes, the melody was cited as having commonly been played at country dances in Orange County, New York, in the 1930's (Lettie Osborn, New York Folklore Quarterly), and it was in the repertoire of Norway, Maine, fiddler Mellie Dunham (1853-1931), who so impressed Henry Ford. It appears in Ryan's Mammoth (1883)/Cole's 1000 (1940) and other publications, and is a member of a widespread tune family that includes "Peacock Rag," "Parkersburg Landing," "Rustic Dance," "Nightingale (2) (The)," "Limber Neck Blues" and other titles. The second strain of "Moonlight Clog" is usually the first strain of these schottische melodies.
