Tune Req: Red Hills polka

Subject: Tune Req: Red Hills polka
From: GUEST,fiddler 434
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 03:26 AM

Does anyone know where to find the sheet music for Red hills polka? Thanks

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Red Hills polka
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 08:21 AM

I found nothing at The Fiddlers Companion or Tune Index at Ceolas - just to save others the search.

In the extremely unlikely event that the Curlew Hills Polka is related here 'tis:

T:Curlew Hills Polka
T:the Glenbeigh Hornpipe
T:McDermott's Barndance
T:Morrison's Polka
R:Hornpipe
N:This is really a barn dance.
N:"Hornpipe" noted above only to get the right lilt.
D:John & James Kelly
Z:Lorna LaVerne
Z:Lorna LaVerne
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
(3DEF | GABc dg(3fga | g2B2 d3B | ceAB c2cA | BdGA BcBA |
GABc dg(3fga | g2B2 d3B | ceAB cAFG | AGGF G2 (3DEF |
GABc dg(3fga | g2B2 d3B | ceAB c2cA | BdGA BcBA |
GABc dg(3fga | g2B2 d3B | ceAB cAFG | AGGF GA(3Bc=c |
d2b2 c2a2 | Bggf gdBG | FGAB cAFA | GFGA BA(3Bc=c |
d2b2 c2a2 | Bggf gdBG | FGAB cAFG | AGGF GA(3Bc=c |
d2b2 c2a2 | Bggf gdBG | FGAB cAFA | GFGA BA(3Bc=c |
d2b2 c2a2 | Bggf gdBG | FGAB cAFG | AGGF G2 |

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Red Hills polka
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 01:40 PM

This guy says he knows it; it's on his play list. There is an e mail contact at the bottom of the page. Ask him where he found it, or to write it down?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Red Hills polka
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 09:56 PM

This is a tune that I have been meaning to inquire about for some time. Just never got around to it. Now you've pushed me into it.

If you take a close look at the references on the net, you'll notice a strong bias toward the Lower Midwest, notably Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois.

Here's the reason.   The Allen Street Stringband (Springfield, Illinois) was playing a festival some years ago. A lady played this tune for them. One of the band members grabbed a recorder and managed to catch the tune. Unfortunately, what they failed to get was her name OR the name of the tune.

So lacking the real name, they named it after Red Hills State Park ~~ the festival site in Illinois.

All of the musicians listed in a Google search, Bob Holt, The Dixie Darlin's, Joe Jewell, Diane Ippel, etc. learned the piece either directly or indirectly from members of the Allen Street String Band. (For example, take note on Ippel's site ~~ Bill Rintz of the Allen Streeters is listed on her 1996 CD credits)

This accounts for the regional location of the tune, but does NOT answer the question. WHAT IS THE REAL NAME OF THE PIECE? Red Hills Polka is just what the members of the Allen Street String Band decided to call it. It is a good name, but not the original name by any means.

If anybody can take this little bit of information and run with it, additional facts concerning the history of the tune would certainly be appreciated. My only copy of the tune (by The Dixie Darlin's) is not handy at the moment, but when I locate it, I will get a copy to Joe to help in the search.

Source for some of the information above: Archival recordings of the Ozark Folk Center and conversations with some of the musicians involved.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Red Hills polka
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 10:19 PM

I know some might quibble over my characterization of that combination of states as being in the "Lower Midwest." How about Ozark area? (Both Southern Illinois and Eastern Oklahoma are sometimes considered part of the Ozarks, for some who might quibble over that as well!)

I would also hazard a guess that Fiddler 434 also comes from one of those states.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Red Hills polka
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 10:33 PM

Ah, one more post and I'm done ~~ for now.

The usual 30 second sound sample from Amazon. Bob Holt of Ava, Missouri from his Rounder album Got A Little Home To Go To. (track three)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Red Hills polka
From: nickp
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 02:35 AM

Funny, I've recently been picking up on this one but learnt from a banjo playing friend (oxymoron?!). DOn't know his source but I expect it's Holt. There's a couple of notes different to the Amazon clip above but they may only be in 'that time around'. Think I'll add this to my tracer!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Red Hills polka
From: nickp
Date: 23 Jul 04 - 03:18 PM

played it last night at the session - admittedly I led it - shame about the tone deaf bass player who insisted on playing 3 semitones flat......

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Red Hills polka
From: nickp
Date: 27 Jul 04 - 05:29 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Red Hills polka
From: GUEST,Diane Ippel
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 03:57 PM

Yes it is correct that the Allen Street String Band plays this tune, but more specifically, Fiddler Bill Rintz - whom I believe now lives in Missouri, did indeed 'collect' this tune from the lady in Red Hills State Park, in Illinois. When he played it, he slid his bow smoothly from pitch to pitch in the runs, not playing separate individual notes. It took about 7 months for me to figure out how to get this "slide" effect on a hammered dulcimer with fixed pitches. But it works. I play the tune backwards starting with the B part instead of the A part first, (because the B part stuck in my mind more strongly and that was how I remembered the tune) just to give some clarity to the form in case anyone learns it from my versions. I stayed absolutely true to the melody I learned directly from Bill Rintz, not from an Allen Street recording. I would love to find out the older name of this tune or its earlier origins. However we call it, it is an incredible tune! Diane Ippel

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Red Hills polka
From: GUEST,Eric Zorn
Date: 20 May 15 - 03:56 PM

http://taterjoes.com/fiddle/RedHillsPolka.pdf should do the trick

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Red Hills polka
From: GUEST,Eric Zorn
Date: 20 May 15 - 03:58 PM

Sheet Music for Red Hills Polka is clickable, I hope.