Tim Eriksen: Old New England Fiddle Tune "Soldier's Return"

www.timeriksen.net
It's sugar season! I love the sound of the sap buckets at this time of year, and unintentionally took their lead for the rhythm here. One time when I was touring in England someone told me the tune is also used for Morris dancing and was the first tune taken down by folklorist Cecil Sharp. It also appears as a hymn tune in various shape note books, though I first noticed it in a 19th c. Boston fiddle primer I found in a junk shop many years ago.

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• massachusetts

[NatureLover987]

i'm working on learning this tune by ear... can you help me by telling me what tuning this is?? thanks Tim :)

[batfancy]

@NatureLover987 It's in GDgd. Good luck...

[Anokpoet]

quality stuff as always! The only thing that would make this better was maybe some syrup from those trees on some hot pancakes!

[batfancy]

Yeah- and now it's sugar season again already. I'm looking forward to Outlook Farm and the North Hadley Sugar Shack...

[ottlakerambler]

Now that's what Im talking about. I'm encouraged to get out again with my fiddle and do some more playing in the snow before the melting season really settles in.

[batfancy]

Yeah man! Fiddle aint gonna play itself, and mud season's coming.

[SaraTobias]

Any pointers for beginners?

[nickahruo]

what kind of style are u useing

[daveyfiddler]

Thanks Slidingray,yes,when i think of it I can find a lot crossed from Brit. Isles,the rhythm changes to more upbeat.Just reading about the Scandinavian invasions of these Isles and europe inc. Ireland.A lot of the tunes must be inherited from them way back.must check some out.Some north east English tunes are the same in Norway.ie "Dance to your daddy"Davey fiddler

[slidingray]

@daveyfiddler . There are loads. Soldiers Joy is probably the most famous. It crops up everywhere. Probably of Scottish origin - but really who knows. Its used a lot in Morris and an accepted part of the American tradition.

[daveyfiddler]

Thanks slidingray,Anyother English/American crossover ones to look at ?Daveyfiddler

[slidingray]

@daveyfiddler

For morris its known as "The Blue Eyed Stranger". It can be found on one of the "Morris On" albums. The tune seems to originate from a Scottish air "The Mill, Mill O" which became "The Soldier's Return" when Burns put words to it. Its a bagpipe favourite often played by the Scots Dragoons etc. There are lots of versions of all these tunes on youtube. I prefer this version. Isn't it great the way these tunes get recycled and re-made.

[NatureLover987]

@batfancy thanks :)

[NatureLover987]

i'm working on learning this tune by ear... can you help me by telling me what the tuning is?? thanks tim :)