I first heard this tune on Matt Wyatt’s album, The Goodbye Waltz – back porch fiddling. I asked Matt about it, and he learned it off of a recording of Benny Thommasson playing it. I have added a little bit of my own variation to it. According to my sources, it’s an old fiddle tune that is known by other names that are just as politically incorrect.
I think it’s a particularly fun tune to play and since it’s a Bb hornpipe, I guess that’s no surprise.
As as Side note, I highly recommend Matt Wyatt’s Album for some really fun fiddle playing, with Justin Branum playing some great rhythm guitar behind him. Matt’s chuckles when he plays something clever really adds to the happy nature of this album.
Get sheet music to this tune here
Hell Among the Moonshiners According to the Fiddler’s Companion
HELL AMONG THE MOONSHINERS. AKA and see “(Big) Chief Sitting Bull,” “Indian on a See Saw.” Old-Time, Hornpipe. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Gary Lee Moore (Seattle, Washington) [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 195.
Lovely musical performance !
Thanks, Michael! I really like this tune.