Tennessee Fiddle Tunes Before 1830

Subject: Tennessee Fiddle Tunes Before 1830
From: Lighter
Date: 02 Aug 26 - 05:48 PM

The Paris [Tenn.] Post, Apr. 16, 1880, carries a detailed reminiscence by Mr. O. F. Brazwell of a "Grand Ball" to celebrate American Independence held in the town of Paris, in northwestern Tennessee, on July 4, 1826. The town's population at that time was roughly 700-800.

"Though quite a small boy," says Brazwell, "I remember everything, I believe, about as well as any boy under 7 years old could, being deeply impressed with everything I saw and heard."

Brazwell remembered an African-American fifer and a white drummer who had served at the Battle of New Orleans playing The White Cockade, "more familiarly known at that time as 'Jackson's Victory'" They also played "Yankee Doodle," "Come Haste to the Wedding," and "The Star-Spangled Banner."

"The ball music was furnished by two colored men, Dave and Cain; and the favorite pieces were the 8th of January, Lafayette's reel, Jackson's reel, Mrs. McCloud's reel, Possum up the gum stump, and lazy [sic] Kate, since changed to Arkansas Traveler."


West Tennessee was close to the "wild frontier" in 1826. The population of Paris, one of the biggest towns in Henry County, was between 700 and 800, and the "frontier" officially began just across the Mississippi, about 80 miles to the west of Paris. (Beyond it and occupying the whole West all the way to Spanish California was the officially established "Indian Territory.")


Brazwell's tune titles are a fascinating if unsurpising mix. "Yankee Doodle" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" were patriotic standards. (The "Banner" had been written to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heav'n" in 1814 but was not yet recognized as the national anthem.) "White Cockade," "Mrs. McLeod," and "Haste to the Wedding" are from British tradition and are still popular. "Jackson's Reel" might be British or American, possibly composed in honor of Andrew Jackson, the victor at New Orleans. Clearly of U.S origin, "Lafayette's Reel" is also otherwise unknown.

"Possum Up the Gum Stump" was a popular 19th century fiddle-tune title applied to several different tunes.

Traditional Tune Archive lists no fewer than *four* tunes called "Lazy Kate." None resemble "Arkansas Traveler," but it's fascinating to find the tune allegedly existing years before its now-familiar title.

Equally fascinating is the appearance of "The Eighth of January" (the basis of Jimmy Driftwood's "Battle of New Orleans.") Brazwell's 1880 article appears to be the earliest mention of the title in print. The venue in West Tennessee as early as the 1820s reinforces the suspicion that the tune was composed (or at least named) for the date of the battle, Jan. 8, 1815.

Brazwell offers by far the oldest list of fiddle tunes played anywhere in Tennessee and probably in the entire western region.