Soppin’ the Gravy is a popular old-time fiddle breakdown. Here Matthew plays a Texas-Style fiddling arrangement of it that he is improvising on the spot.
Because he is improvising around the melody, rather than just around the chords, this type of improvised fiddling is often called controlled improvisation.
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Sopping the Gravy according to Fiddler’s Companion
SOPPING THE GRAVY [1]. AKA — “Soppin’ Up the Gravy.” Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; Missouri, Texas. D Major. Standard tuning. One part (Phillips/1989). See also the related “Acorn Hill (Breakdown).” Source for notated version: Bartow Riley [Phillips/1989]; Art Stamper (Mo.) [Phillips/1994]. Phillips (Fiddlecase Tunebook), 1989; Pg. 39. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 228. Arhoolie C‑334, Alison Krauss ‑ “Masters of the Folk Violin” (1989). Kanawha 315, Bartow Riley. Voyager 309, Benny & Jerry Thomasson — “The Weiser Reunion” (1993).
SOPPING THE GRAVY [2]. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Texas. D Major. Standard tuning. AB (Silberberg): AABB (Phillips). Some similarities to version #1. Sources for notated versions: Bob Wills (Texas) [Phillips]; Mel Durham [Silberberg]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; pg. 228. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 147.
SOPPING THE GRAVY [3]. Old-Time, Breakdown. D Major. Standard tuning. AABBCC. Source for notated version: Floyd Engstrom [Silberberg]. Silberberg (93 Fiddle Tunes I Didn’t Learn at the Tractor Tavern), 2004; pg. 42.
Excellent.. Just 2/3 minutes too short.
I hear you. Matthew really puts some cool licks in there.