Origins: The Fiddler [bluegrass] (Charlie Moore)

Subject: Recordings of 'The Fiddler' bluegrass so
From: moongoddess
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 02:32 PM

I have the words to "The Fiddler" but now I need to hear it on a recording. Does anyone know who recorded this song and where I can get a copy of the recording?
Thanks!

Subject: RE: Recordings of 'The Fiddler' bluegrass so
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 11:08 AM

I think we need more information. Can you supply some lines from the song? Where did you learn about it?

Subject: RE: Recordings of 'The Fiddler' bluegrass so
From: moongoddess
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 12:17 PM

The lyrics can be found in the Mudcat database. I learned this song from a record about 40 years ago. Darned if I can remember who sang it. It was a male solo. Hope this helps.
Diana

Subject: RE: Recordings of 'The Fiddler' bluegrass so
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 02:05 PM

It's a fine song. Apparently it was written by a Vic Schwartz, but I haven't found a recording anywhere. I hope we can find the tune, because the song deserves to live on.

Subject: RE: Recordings of 'The Fiddler' bluegrass so
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 03:28 PM

[made this post as I searched about, so it's a bit stream of consciousness!]

According to the Folk Index at ibiblio.org, it is on these recordings:

When the Fiddler Has Play His Last Tune for the Night

   1. Carawan, Guy. Jubilee, June Appal JA 029, LP (1979), trk# B.08
   2. Mill Run Dulcimer Band. Sunday at the Mill, Lark LRLP 3094, LP (1980), trk# B.06

lyrics in the Digital Tradition

According to this memorial page for Vic Schwarz (a friend of Pete Seeger's who was active with the Clearwater), the song is "a romantic country waltz, probably from the 40's [or maybe much more recent], written and played by Charlie Moore." The attribution for Vic Schwarz shows up on one of those generic lyrics sites, but it may tie back to this post.

A second mention of Charlie Moore tied to the lyric (and not just the short title) is in a thread at MandolinCafe.org.

It's recorded on Charlie Moore and his Dixie Partners' 1975 album, The Fiddler.

You can hear a short (an maybe not entirely helpful) excerpt on this cdbaby page for a Janet Grace Rielh album (last track - #191).

Other people have recorded it, sometimes as "When the Fiddler has Played his Last Tune for the Night".

Here's a better clip: Hannes Wader & Friends, Folk Friends 1, 1978. Guy Carawan is one of this group.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Recordings of 'The Fiddler' bluegrass so
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 03:35 PM

Still wandering down the Google results, I find corroboration for the authorship by our own Kendall, who also says there was originally only one verse. The DT has three -- where did the other two come from?? (He says he wrote on more -- don't know if it's either of those in the DT.)

~ Becky in Tucson
about to PM Kendall

Subject: RE: Recordings of 'The Fiddler' bluegrass so
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 03:45 PM

(that's corroboration for the attribution to Charlie Moore)

Subject: RE: Recordings of 'The Fiddler' bluegrass so
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 04:06 PM

Also recorded by Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwartz on Good Songs for Hard Times.

This about.com track listing for that album, as well as this Midnight Special (radio) playlist show that they credit Charlie Moore.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Recordings of 'The Fiddler' bluegrass so
From: moongoddess
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 04:41 PM

Thank you so much for your research for me Desert Dancer. When you mentioned Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz (same last name but no relation to Vic) I realized that I have that CD and that is why I keep hearing the song running through my mind! But I learned so much about the song and about Guy Carawan that my search was worth it. And here it was, right here with me all along. I need to go back and listen to my Ginny Hawker CDs more often. She is one heck of a singer.
Diana

Subject: RE: Recordings of 'The Fiddler' bluegrass so
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 04:55 PM

Success!

I see I was having typing problems today (seem to have lost the end of a few words), but you got the gist of it, I guess. :-)

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Recordings of 'The Fiddler' bluegrass so
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 09:27 PM

Kendall sez: "Charlie Moore wrote it but I don't know how long ago that was. I wrote two additional verse in 1980 and gave them to Yodeling Slim Clarke. He recorded the thole thing.
I'm trying to remember who I got it from, and I think it may have been Lester Flatt. "

Then he posted to another thread:
Disc's with The Fiddler

From: kendall - PM
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 07:41 PM

When the fiddler has played his last tune for the night
The singer has sung his last song
All the mandolins guitars and banjos are quiet
And the loud noisy crowd has gone home.

Nothing's as quiet as a night without music
Or as dark as a night without stars
Nothing's as lonesome as a cold lonely room
Wondering all night where you are.

As we walked along the music was playing
It whispered so soft through the trees
With your arms around me I whispered "I love you"
The words seemed to float on the breeze.

Then when you told me that you would be leaving
I couldn't believe it was true
I stayed at the station long after you'd gone
Wondering what happened to you.

When the fiddler has played his last tune for the night...etc.

Now I walk alone and the music's still playing
But it's not the same without you
My days are endless now that you're gone
My nights are so lonely and blue.

Nothing's as quiet...etc.

Charlie Moore
Additional verses by Kendall Morse.
------
and

From: kendall - PM
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 07:43 PM

I think I heard this from Lester Flatt.
It was also recorded by Priscilla Herdman and Yodeling Slim Clarke.


-------

Desert Dancer again:

I don't find it in Priscilla Herdman's discography.

The DT has verse 1, chorus, verse 2 as above, and this third verse, as do the various lyric sites:


Now the fiddler has played his last tune for the night
The singer has sung his last song
The mandolins and guitars and banjos are quiet
Like the music, sweetheart, you are gone.


~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Origins: 'The Fiddler' bluegrass song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 May 13 - 09:28 PM

From above, it appears that Charlie Moore is the songwriter. Can we verify this?

Here are the lyrics from the Digital Tradition. Any corrections?

THE FIDDLER

When the fiddler has played his last tune for the night
The singer has sung his last song
The mandolins and guitars and banjos are quiet
The loud noisy crowd has gone on

cho: There's nothing as quiet as a night without music
As dark as a night with no stars
There's nothing as lonesome as a cold lonely room
And wonderin' all night where you are

As we walked together the music was playing
Whispering, soft, through the trees
With my arms around you I whispered "I love you"
The words seemed to float on the breeze

Now the fiddler has played his last tune for the night
The singer has sung his last song
The mandolins and guitars and banjos are quiet
Like the music, sweetheart, you are gone

@music
filename[ FIDDLER
DP
oct97

Subject: RE: Songs by Shay Healy
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 28 May 13 - 03:53 AM

The Fiddler in the DT is by Charlie Moore, the late bluegrass musician, I believe.

Subject: RE: Songs by Shay Healy
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 28 May 13 - 03:55 AM

Charlie Moore: The Fiddler

Subject: DT Correction: The Fiddler (Charlie Moore)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 May 13 - 04:39 AM

Thanks, Seamus. Based on what's posted above, I think we can be fairly certain about attributing the song to Charlie Moore. The Harry Fox Agency also attributes the song to Charlie Moore. Using the Charlie Moore recording, I've corrected the lyrics:

THE FIDDLER
(Charlie Moore)

When the fiddler has played his last tune for the night,
And the singer has sung his last song,
And the mandolins and guitars and banjos are quiet,
And the loud, noisy crowd is gone home.

CHORUS
There's nothing as quiet as a night with no music,
Or as dark as a night with no stars;
And nothing as lonesome as a cold, lonely room,
Just wonderin' all night where you are.

As we walked together, the music was playing,
The wind whispered soft through the trees;
With your arms around me you whispered, "I love you,"
And the words seemed to float on the breeze.
CHORUS

Now the fiddler has played his last tune for the night,
And the singer has sung his last song,
All the mandolins and guitars and banjos are quiet;
Like the music, sweetheart, you are gone.


@music
filename[ FIDDLER
DP
oct97

Subject: RE: Origins: The Fiddler [bluegrass] (Charlie Moore)
From: GUEST,fiddlynn
Date: 13 Mar 20 - 03:50 PM

Who owns the copyright on the Fiddler Has played His Last Tune for the Night? Vic Schwartz or Charlie Moore? Who wrote the music?