Annotation:Cruel Master
X:1 T:Cruel Master N:"Ballydesmond Polka"? N:From the playing of Texas fiddler and guitarist Lewis Thomasson, brother of the N:better-known fiddler Benny Thomasson, both sons of fiddler N:Lewis Thomasson (1874 - 1924). Lewis Jr's style has little of the influence of N:western swing or contest style. M:2/4 L:1/8 R:March N:AEae tuning (fiddle) Q:"Moderate" D:Old Blue Records CD-501, Lewis Thomasson - "Old Texas Fiddle Tunes Played the Old Way" (c, 1969 or 1971). D:https://www.slippery-hill.com/recording/ballenger Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz K:Amix E>[A,A] [A,A]A/-B/| (A/B/d)-d2|[GA]>[EA] [GA]>A| [G2A2] ([EA]<[DA])| E<A [A,A](A/B/)|(A/B/d)-d2|(3efg (3edB |A2-A2:|| (3ef^g (3aga|{=c'}(3ba=g a2(g/a/|(3e)-ef (3gga|g2-ge/d/| (3efg (3aga|(3bag a>g|(3efg (3edB| A2-A(A-| [Ae])>a a2| abag a>(g|[Ae])>f [Ag]>[Aa]|[A2g2][Ae]d| (3efg (3aga|(3bag a>g|(3efg (3edB| A2 A2:|]
CRUEL MASTER. American, March (2/4 time). A Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. The tune is very reminiscent of "Ballydesmond Polka (2)" (esp. in the first strain) and is perhaps a derivative, although the relationship (if any) is not clear. It is an unusual tune in American old-time repertory, sounding very much like a Scottish march or strathspey. It may be a reworking of melodic double-tonic material that sprouted in both Ireland and Scotland, and made its way somehow to Texas (if Thomasson is to be believed that it is an "old Texas fiddle tune").
