Annotation:Old Red Barn (The)
X: 1 T:Old Red Barn, The R:Jig Z:Chris Falt <cfalt@trytel.com> M:6/8 L:1/8 K:G D|G,B,D G2B|AGF G2B|ded cBA|GFE D2D|! G,B,D G2B|AGF G2B|ded cBA|G3 G2:|! |:d|g2g f2f|e2e d2B|cAF DFA|edB G2d|! gag fgf|efe d2B|cAF DEF|G3 G2:|]
OLD RED BARN, THE. AKA and see "Little Red Barn (The)," "Little Red Wagon." Canadian, American; Jig or Quadrille. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (Messer): AA'AA'BB (Phillips). The jig is popular with older fiddlers in central New York state, according to local fiddler Chad Miller, where at least one called it the "Red Barn Quadrille," in imitation of John Baltzell's recording "The Red Barn Medley Quadrille." Baltzell, from Ohio, recorded the tune with piano accompaniment in New York City in September, 1923, and it is thought that this recording alone is responsible for the wide dissemination of the melody. It's popularity was given further impetus when is was picked up by Canadian radio and TV fiddler Don Messer, who frequently recorded and broadcast the tune as part of his core repertoire. The jig enjoys wide popularity throughout the northern United States and Canada.
The title "Old Red Barn" title was transformed into "Little Red Wagon" in the Mid-West (where, for example, it was collected by R.P. Christeson from Missouri fiddler Charlie Walden). Paul Gifford says it is fairly common among older Michigan and Ontario fiddlers. Keys vary: A and G major are the most common.
