I very much enjoyed this! I am always impressed by your blending of setting and song. I just recently witnessed Dr. Stanley perform, and he had some trouble with the lyrics; but he gracefully ended the song with a quick improvisation. Anyone still tromping around the world in their 80's performing music deserves accolades.
This song OOOOOLLLD! It is almost as old as death himself. I read a version of this in a book called The Stripping Of The Alters, by Eamon Duffy. It was written in a sorta Middle English. It was decypherable, but only just.
@blueridger28 Yeah, I was a good ways up in a beech tree (where I spent most of my youth when I wasn't plugged in). I'm always humbled to be heard in the company of Dr. Stanley- I don't know that he's ever pretended to play a fiddle as I do but, dang, you should see his pink Caddy. One of these days...
Check my Channel I share musical videos mostly folk music, I think You Will appreceate my Channel, very good Channel this of your's! Love from Rome Italy! All best
Thanks, that was gorgeous. I caught the Mountain Tour in NYC, but you are right, the venue was too big (Hammerstein or something like that). The evening before though, a bunch of the younger cats (Riley Baugus, Ollabelle, and some others; IIRC you were there, Tim) played that music at a small club called the Living Room, for about 20 of us. THAT was the right size venue!
That was awesome man! Love everything about it! I've been listening to Ralph Stanley sing that song all my life and I even have my own little rendition of it that I do on the guitar, but that's the first time I've ever heard it done like that. Just subscribed after watching this video about 17 times lol! Great work sir👍👍
Excellent! Yeah, Ralph Stanley has an amazing voice too. "Nothing will satisfy me but your soul"--great line. Have you heard The Incredible String Band song "My Name Is Death"? And wow, you look high up at the end there.
A true musician, thank you for posting up your performances up. It's great that you take the time out reply to your comments too. I want to buy some of your music. What should you recommend I start off with?
whoaaaa. gives me the shivers, equal to the ralph stanley version if not better (and that really IS a compliment!) one of my favourite singers ever, shame cordelias dad arn't still going.
@Marvin the Maniacal Dancing Ape it was very common in Old Time Fiddle for the fiddler to sing and play at the same time, even while holding the fiddle under the neck, check out the singing playing combo of Bruce Molsky, Tommy Jarrell, and Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show for more examples.
Yeah, that was our "night off-" it was a great time though. Not long after that some friends started a Sacred Harp singing at the Living Room- check it out if you haven't already.
it was such a surprise/treat for me and my kids to hear you play Friendship that day . what a wonderful day on the mountain. did your friend hand you your fiddle after you climbed the tree? cool video thank you.
God gifted talent! Just wondering how you "convert" a normal song, esp. my fav. "Go Rest High On That Mountain" (Vince Gill), how do you do that in the "shape note" fashion & would it still sound similiar?
It was a fun tour. The venues were mostly too big though- stadiums and things. The big exception was Red Rocks in CO, which is so pretty that the size doesn't matter.
Beautiful version of this song! Are you using standard tuning on your fiddle in this song or some open tuning ? ... Will you come to play to Italy one day? Thanks for your music and songs!
Of course, Dr. Stanleys' voice makes his versions incomparable, but I think the sawin' fiddle makes this arrangement my favorite, over any a cappella versions. Well that and bein' in a tree. And I wouldn't have wanted Dr. Stanley to do that.
+Marvin The Maniacal Dancing Ape People have been playing fiddle and singing for centuries, successfully. Perhaps his method of holding his instrument has something to do with it, but I strongly doubt he was the first.
Tim Eriksen Music Sorry, no video yet. I've heard that the Appalachian folk melody of this song might have medieval roots- it certainly sounds like a lot of medieval songs. I really like your stuff. Thanks. If you want to hear something weird, this is another thing I do: polymetric music on the double harp. soundcloud.com/scott-wallace-189088488/truckin cheers from sunny Vienna, Scott
"Medieval roots"? Musically or lyrically? Or thematically? I mean, it's certainly plausible, for any or all aspects of the song. I love the way these songs have mutated, been transformed and altered by performer and circumstance over time. We tend to think of these as mostly derived from British Isles trad tunes, but going farther back there's surely continental influence as well.
Damn dont mean to sound weird but you sound so much like my papaw but he was a dobro player. I listen to you on a bout daily basis. Sorry im prtty damn piss drunk thanks
So all this just for the church to burn down, then Daniel, Taylor, John and Angela all died in the ruined house, then I found out nobody actually died up untill Anthony killed himself. What a game.
