Hunting the Buffalo fiddle tune

Subject: Hunting the Buffalo fiddle tune
From: Ebbie
Date: 20 Feb 23 - 03:30 AM

Who wrote the instrumental 'Hunting the Buffalo'? I was under the impression that Vassar Clements wrote it, and that it was kind of a takeoff in a different key on Cherokee Shuffle. However, I don't find it on any of his playlists.

Anybody know?

Subject: RE: Hunting the Buffalo fiddle tune
From: cnd
Date: 20 Feb 23 - 08:10 AM

Here's a modern recording of the song: Hunting the Buffalo - Big Chimney Barn Dance

Here's a recording from Ramona Jones, wife of Grandpa Jones, from her album Back Porch Fiddlin' Vol. 1 (Happy Valley Records PRP-4387, 1973). She titled the song "Gonna Go Hunting For The Buffalo," and wrote the following about the tune:

Jimmy Driftwood of Timbo, Arkansas played this tune for me and it had such a haunting melody I couldn't get it out of my mind. He was kind enough to teach it to me and tell me the history behind it. His two uncles spent years on the Cherokee Indian Reservation, and when they returned, they were playing this and other old Indian melodies on the fiddles.

TuneArch similarly attributes Jimmie (or Jimmy) Driftwood. You can hear his recording here

I can certainly hear the similarities to Cherokee Shuffle.

Subject: RE: Hunting the Buffalo fiddle tune
From: gillymor
Date: 20 Feb 23 - 01:15 PM

From The Fiddlers Companion-

"HUNTING THE BUFFALO. AKA and see “Hunting for the Buffalo,” “We’re Gonna Hunt the Buffalo.” Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Arkansas. A Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The melody is apparently not related (according to Drew Beisswenger) to an old play-party song from the Ozarks, with similar and various titles such as “Shoot the buffalo” and “Gonna Go Huntin’ for the Buffalo.” Mike Seegar plays a version learned from Jimmy Driftwood (1907-1998, born John Morris of Timbo, Arkansas), who had the tune from his two fiddler uncles who lived in Indian territory for years. They played it in BEgb tuning (an E minor chord). Source for notated version: Barb Zavon (Cincinnati, Ohio) via Helga Sermat (Vancouver, B.C.) [Songer]; Jimmie Driftwood [Beisswenger & McCann]. Beisswenger & McCann (Ozark Fiddle Music), 2008; pg. 182. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 105. Dorian Discovery DIS-80103, Helicon - "Horizons" (1992. Learned from fiddler Freyda Epstein, Charlottesville, Va.). HPV1, Ramona Jones – “Back Porch Fiddling.” Shanachie 6001, Norman Blake - “Just Gimme Somethin’ I’m Used To” (1991). Time and Strike #7785, Clyde Curley and Oxymorons – “Old Time Mandolin Music.”

Nice tune.

Subject: RE: Hunting the Buffalo fiddle tune
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Feb 23 - 04:16 AM

Ah! Thank you both!

Subject: RE: Hunting the Buffalo fiddle tune
From: GUEST,Gopherit
Date: 21 Feb 23 - 06:57 PM

When I play/sing "Buffalo Skinners" I like to play HTB as a melody break in the middle of the song. Gopherit

Subject: RE: Hunting the Buffalo fiddle tune
From: Ebbie
Date: 22 Feb 23 - 12:49 AM

Interesting, Gopherit!

I read that the tune was originally played in Em in an alternative tuning but has changed to commonly being played in the key of A, standard tuning. I like to capo to the second fret for it, simply because I like the growl of Em coming out of G.