Hi Gang,
Well, it has been quite a while since I did a TOTW, might as well dive on in again!
While researching tunes for this week, I was reading the list of previous TOTW submissions and I was struck by the fact that the very first CH tune I ever attempted to play wasn’t on the list. That’s all I needed to make my decision for me…
I guess we should start with the Fiddler’s Companion entry:
JAKE GILLY/GILLIE. AKA and see "Old Jake Gilly," "Granny, Will Your Dog Bite? [1]" Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; West Virginia, southwestern Virginia. D Major/Mixolydian. Standard tuning. AABBCCBB. The tune appears from Patrick, Franklin and Floyd Counties in southwestern Virginia, north into West Virginia. Recorded by Kanawha County fiddler Clark Kessinger in the late 1920's. One of Kessinger’s parts appears related to the second strain of the Arkansas “Searcy County Rag,” recorded in 1929 by Ashley’s Melody Men. Floyd County, Va., fiddler Sam McNeil recorded it in 1930 with the Floyd County Ramblers (it was issued inexplicably under the title "Granny Will Your Dog Bite"). Blanton Owen and Tom Carter (1978) say that many older fiddlers from the region suspected the tune "The Eighth of January" was fashioned from this tune, although for some the resemblance is difficult to discern. "Old Jake Gilly" is a related melody. Source for notated version: Sam McNeil (Va.) [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 121. Rounder 0057, Sam McNeil (Floyd County, Va.) ‑ "Old Originals, vol. 1" (1978).
I learned it out of Miles Krassen’s seminal book, “Clawhammer Banjo”, pub. 1974. My copy was purchased in the mid 1980’s…and I still work out of it, ragged and torn though it may be. It is presented there in “Double D” tuning, that is, aDADE and it is the first tune in the book.
Krassen’s notes for this tune say that the tune is basically a variation on the “8th of January”. I’m not so sure of the connection…though I can hear a little of “8th” in there. His version is based on Oscar Wright’s playing (which can be heard on youtube here: https://youtu.be/IAvFb5jTObM ). He also mentions that the Kessinger Brothers’ 1928-29 recording “…fiddled a somewhat different tune of the same name.” I hear the same tune…but played as a country rag. Same tune but syncopated! This may be my favorite variation.
Here’s the Floyd County Ramblers playing it: https://youtu.be/j6-kGb8BTGg?list=PLCF305DB4B174D155 I love this version too. Just a subtle variation.
See http://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/music.asp?id=45862 for Bob Lanham’s recording of the Krassen book tunes…including “Old Jack Gillie” (the only place I’ve seen “Jack” instead of “Jake” is in the Krassen book).
There are a couple of other youtube versions out there and I’m sure that there are many BHO members who have recorded themselves giving it a go.
I hope you enjoy!