Annotation:Chuck in the Bush (1)

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X:1 T:Chuck in the Bush [1] N:From the playing of Texas fiddler Bryant N:Houston (1911-1997) in a 1955 home recording. M:C| L:1/8 R:Reel Q:"Fast" N:The ties in Houston's 4th strain are played as slides. D:https://www.slippery-hill.com/recording/chuck-bush D: Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz K:D FA2A A2Ac|BAFA dedB|FAAB A2 AB|AFDF EDB,D| A,CDF A2Ac|BAFA dedB|FAAB A2 AB|AFDF ED D2|| DFEF DFEF|DFAB AFDC|DFEF DFED|A,DDE DB,A,B,| DFEF DFEF|DFAB AFDC|DFEF DFED|A,DDE D2|| +slide+[D2D2]-|[D2D2]FD EDFE|DEFD EDB,C|[D2D2]FD EFAB|AFDF EDB,C| [D2D2]FD EDFE|DEFD EDB,C|[D2D2]FD EFAB|AFDF D4|| |:A6a2-|b2(abd'2)(b2|([A6a6]) A)b|afdf e(d[d2f2]):| |:[de]-[d2f2][de]- [d2f2]fg|fedf e(d[d2f2])|[de]-[d2f2][de]- [d2f2]fg|afdf e(d[d2f2])| [de]-[d2f2][de]- [d2f2]fg|fedf edBd|A(B/c/d)e fgab|afdf e(d[d2f2]):|]

CHUCK IN THE BUSH [1]. AKA - "Shuckin' the Bush." American, Reel (cut time). USA, Texas. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). ABBCCDD (Silberberg): AABBCCD (Phillips). "Chuck in the Bush" is a composition of Captain Poe Houston (1882-1954), father of champion fiddler Bryant Houston (1911-1995), and is said to have originally been called "Bush in the Shucks." Bryant won contest after contest (some 450 of them), and despite never recording commercially he is considered one of the most influential of Texas-style fiddlers. He learned the fiddle at age 14 and received classical violin training at the urging of his father. The Houston's formed a family band and travelled throughout West Texas performing. By the late 1920's they removed to California for several years and headlined at the Silver Spray Twin Ballroom in Long Beach. They returned to Texas in the 1930's where they continued to perform.

Benny Thommasson's "Bush in the Shucks/Chuck in the Bush" is considered by many a different tune, however. Source Matthew Hartz can be heard playing the tune on the 1995 Weiser contest recording. Silberberg and Phillips have the parts in different order.

Additional notes

Source for notated version: - James Chancellor and Matthew Hartz (Meridian, Idaho) [Phillips]; Carthy Sisco [Silberberg].

Printed sources : - Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 52. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 23.

Recorded sources: -Chancellor Records (PO Box 6058, Richardson, TX 75080), Jim Chancelor {AKA Texas Shorty}--"Best of Texas Shorty" (originally recorded in the late 50's, early 60's on a 45 RPM). Gillian Music (Rt. 3, Box 39, Chandler, OK, 74834)--"Benny Thomasson , volumes 1 and 2."

See also listing at:
Hear Bryant Houston play the tune at Slippery Hill [1]

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