I remember hearing a story that Chief Sitting Bull was the first fiddle tune that Benny Thomasson taught to Mark O’Connor. I don’t know if this is a true story, but I would bet that Mark O’Connor could verify this for me.
It’s a fun tune to play and I have definitely heard Mark play it more than once. It was on his Appalachian Waltz album with Edgar Meyer and Yo Yo Ma.
I’m playing it tonight here at the Huntsville, AL airport because my plane was delayed. It was supposed to leave for Denver at 3:15, but it will instead be leaving at 9:30, and if my calculations are correct, that will put me home after the day is done. AND, my rule for Fiddle Tune a Day is that I MUST record a new tune every day, so here it is!
Chief Sitting Bull according to Fiddler’s Companion
CHIEF SITTING BULL. AKA and see “Big Chief Sitting Bull,” “Big Chief Sitting in the Rain,” “Hell Among the Moonshiners.” Old-Time, Breakdown. C Major (‘A’ part), C Minor (‘B’ part) & G Major (‘C’ part). Standard tuning. AA’BB’CC’A”A”. Source for notated version: Dale Morris and Gary Lee Moore [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), 1994; pg. 48.
NOTE FROM VI: This is definitely a very different tune than the one I call Hell Among the Moonshiners.
I have been listening to your “tune -a -day” and have enjoyed it and look forward to each instalment. This is to let you know that your efforts are appreciated. I am a fellow fiddler as well.
William Bechard
Thanks for being a part of this journey, William!