Arthur Berry
X:1 T:Arthur Berry N:From the playing of fiddler George Hawkins (1904-1991, Bath County, N:northeastern Ky.), recorded in the field by John Harrod in Nov., 1977. M:C| L:1/8 Q:"Fast" R:Reel D:https://soundarchives.berea.edu/items/show/3544 Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz K:D A,2-|A,-DDD D2D2-|D2 DF E-DB,G,|A,2E2C2E2|A,CEG FDEC| DEFA [A2A2]A2-|ABAG FDD2|fedf edBG |AGEC D2A,2-| A,-DDD D2D2-|D2 DF E-DB,G,|A,2E2C2E2|A,CEG FDEC| DEFA [A2A2]AB|cBAG FEDB,|fedf edBG |AGEC D2|| A2-|Addd d2d2|(3ABc df edBd|(A[ee])[e2e2][e3e3]f|ecef gfeg| fgfe dcdB|ABAG FEDF|[FA]-[AA]Ac BAdB |AFEC D2A2-| Addd d2d2|(3ABc df edBA|(A[ee])[e2e2][e3e3]f|ecef gage| fgfe dcdB|ABAG FEDE|F-GAc BcdB|AFEC D2||
ARTHUR BERRY. AKA – “Arthur Barry,” “Arthur Barrie.” AKA and see "Yellow Barber" {Ky.). American, Reel (cut time). USA; eastern Kentucky, southern Ohio, Indiana. D Major. Standard or ADae (fiddle). AABB. Kerry Blech remarks that source John Summers (Indiana) learned the tune from fiddler named Tom Riley, originally from Bath County, Kentucky, who also was a mentor to George Lee Hawkins. Hawkins himself had a great influence on the style and repertoire of Lewis County, Kentucky fiddlers (such as Buddy Thomas and Roger Cooper) and nearby Portsmouth, Ohio, fiddlers (such as Jimmy Wheeler). The tune is known as “Yellow Barber” in the Portsmouth area of Kentucky, however, south and east the “Arthur Barry” title is more common. Blech suggests that Arthur Barry might have been the name of the yellow (mulatto) barber.
Compare "Arthur Berry" with the latter 18th century Scottish air "Aldivalloch," which may be an ancestral tune.
