"Dance of Death" by John Fahey

The first volume of my transcriptions of Blind Joe Death is now available through Mel Bay publishing. Read more about it here and order a limited release directly from me.
www.andrewlardner.com/blind-jo...
This version of "Dance of Death" was recorded on Halloween of 2013.
What you are listening to here is based on the 1964 recording issued on the original LP The Dance of Death & Other Plantation Favorites. An earlier version was recorded in February of 1962 but remains unissued. A second recording exists from the late 80s. "Dance of Death" is unique in Fahey's repertoire being in a G minor tuning ("Impressions of Susan," another one of my favorites, shares this same tuning). This is not fully realized until several minutes in, after an extended intro in G major. "Dance of Death" makes it's way through several themes, including a quote from Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Fahey uses this same quoted melody in later versions of "When the Springtime Comes Again" as well.
The guitar I'm playing here is an especially spectacular 17 inch rosewood Euphonon built by the Larson brothers in 1939, coincidentally, the year of Fahey's birth.
From the liner notes of the 1964 LP:
THE DANCE OF DEATH is a European peasant song sung before lighting the bonfires on many a pestilent occasion. quite naturally no recordings survive of the original 12th century performances but they live on in the folk traditions of Takoma park and in the Etruscan River Valley Basin Delta Region. Joe Death heard the old massa gently strum this piece on an old baby's coffin while watching the mansion burn in 1865. Moved, the youth subtly shifted the rhythm to a more Afrocentric style and using the folk process, which he had learned from his father, he changed the dirge into a dance. Many in Takoma park recall the old darky shuffling his feet and humming the only surviving song from the white slave tradition. The white slaves in America after their liberation by the victorious Bessarabian armies migrated to New York and Berkeley, and their descendants, yet living in their quaint shanties, are known as White Negroes or "hippies". The failure of American society to integrate these people into national life can only have serious consequences in the future, and this piece is included in the hopes of increasing intercultural understanding and friendship of all people.

[@brunofaetten894]

Yeeeees! I just watched another cover of this, and lasted about 20 seconds. This was like a cleansing bath. Completely spot on, very beautiful.

[@crndl1]

You are the real deal. Well done. I've been listening to Mr. Fahey since 1969, and you have really tapped into the music, not just technically which is obvious but the sound and feel. Bravo.

[@billylindros3023]

Wonderful version! I can just about picture Fahey rising from his grave in west Salem at midnight and dancing under a full moon with Blind Joe Death. It amazing how Fahey could produce such great music mostly using only two fretting fingers, coupled with a ponderous right hand. Your playing manifests total confidence, total commitment. Thanks for posting this.

[@ALLANE1952]

Marvelous stuff. At last we have someone who can faithfully reproduce all the subtleties and colours of Fahey's uniques pieces. You have a fine ear my friend. Bravo indeed. I have just about all of Fahey's albums on vinyl where they could be heard at their best. I bought Blind Joe Death in the early seventies....prized possessions.

[@andrewlardner]

ALLANE1952 Thank you for the generous comment. If you play you may be interested in my first Fahey book that was released by Mel bay a few months ago. I too own Fahey's entire catalog on vinyl, prized possessions indeed.

[@ALLANE1952]

I saw it and yes I do. I will be buying...keep up the tremendous work!

[@JasonHerr]

speechless - JF would be proud, this is a great rendition.

[@bufatutuagonistes8876]

What a fantastic performance. Thanks.

[@martinharvey249]

This is lovely. Thank you.

[@jlard1917]

Loved it! I'm going to be listening to this one over, and over. Thanks for the history on this amazing work.

[@sirwhale28]

sublime cover. I've listened to this one a few times and just keep coming back.

[@scaredypicker]

You nailed the feel and the technique. Perfect!

[@jeffreycollins7297]

Guys like you are always welcome at guitar shops. THANKS!

[@johnkiersten]

excellent rendition - well done

[@jonrice2284]

You nailed it. Great playing. Thanks for sharing.

[@bpvdd]

Great cover, just perfect.

[@jlard1917]

Another wonderful performance. Great to see Fahey's works done right. Guitar sounds great too. Like the Kubrickesque bit.

[@StellarFella]

Well done!

[@daniloconti5982]

Amazing, it's basically THE SAME as the original. Great job! :)

[@artredoubt3629]

Wonderful. And very much appreciate all the liner notes. Nothing is simple.

[@2193191]

Superb!

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Scott

[@joaquinodriozola4963]

Wonderful performance

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you

[@CroatAndNettles]

Moving and just right. Many thanks.

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you!

[@specialrider54]

Very fine cover of this lesser known Fahey tune, Andrew.

[@DonnaShaw]

Beautiful! Loved this one! A must share!

[@ripposte]

That was perfect!

[@eliyag1]

Of all the Fahey covers on youtube, yours is the best one and doesn't diminish from the original one. I'd love to see you play When the Catfish is in Bloom!

[@eliyag1]

eliyag1 Also, that Euphonon is nuts!

[@andrewlardner]

eliyag1 Thanks for the comments. Also, big fan of Catfish, his tone on the Oil Slick record for that piece is stellar, if I come up with a guitar that can do it justice I surely will give it a shot.

[@stevegrooms1142]

What a lyrical, confident rendition of this old favorite. I begin to wonder about your collection of guitars. You sure chose the right one for this recording.

[@giampieroburza109]

Awesome, man! 👍

[@mikesweeney263]

Very cool guitar. Such tone!

[@lowlatencylethargy]

Equal parts threatening & bizarre, yet, so much fun. The perfect choice for Halloween. Plus, the colors used on Dance of Death's jacket are Halloween appropriate as well, so there's that... I really appreciate you posting pieces of the uncommon variety (like this and Blue Dot), and remain an utterly dumbstruck admirer of your right hand.

[@bccamden]

Nailed it

[@SingleMalt77005]

Fantastic.

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you

[@mdraney211]

Wunderbar!!

[@jakemetcalfe3091]

Nailed it.

[@rickynyhoff]

well done buddy

[@cranedriver]

Impressive: Cheers.

[@vincenzodellama7158]

Thanks! I would never learn how to play this favorite the right way without your video. :D

[@andrewlardner]

You're very welcome. Feel free to send an email to my website if you have any questions.

[@kennethnick3213]

4:36 Mark part always reminds of the stray cats.

[@charlespeterson3798]

Good work. The tempo is solid without being ponderous and phrasing, nuance and articulation are excellent. You are one of a very few that I consider to be able to conduct a master class on the Maestro. I would quibble with your use of("quote") in reference to Berlioz however. If I sound sound pedantic that comes with any praise of value. Good Luck.

[@andrewlardner]

Thanks Charles. I’m currently reading for the first time through some personal letters from Fahey and I was reminded that I meant to respond to this message. He’s listing his favorite composers and some of their works that he likes in particular and right in the middle of the page is “Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique” When I say he’s quoting Berlioz I mean he’s borrowing a melodic figure that occurred in this work. The musical quote is more direct in the later recording of Dance of Death. Here it is somewhat obscured.

[@LonesomeLeftist]

We badly need a lesson for this on patreon, pretty pls

[@freekvreys792]

love this song! just ordered the book after becoming a patreon a few months ago! is the transcription of 'dance of death' available somewhere? Wishing you a good new year Andrew!

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Freek. There has been talk of including a transcription of this in a future project, but it may be some time unfortunately. Happy new year to you too and as always, thank you for the support.

[@ANCASTEAM]

I see that this video was posted many years ago, but I just happened across it. Amazing work man...immediately bought your blind joe death transcriptions. I have always wanted to play that nasty theme starts around 4:12 , does a transcription of this song exist on your patreon or elsewhere? I've seen the tabs on johnfahey.com but they are nothing close to the quality of your other transcriptions. Thanks for this!

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you for supporting the book ANCASTEAM. I have not transcribed this one, this performance was solely based on memorization from the record.

[@jakebarnes7266]

You honor Fahey!

[@chadfengel]

Excellent.. Good to see a Thumb pick on too. lol

[@MrMichaelFenner]

That beard is just beautiful. Probably more so than the guitar.

[@johngeddes7894]

For a 17” jumbo, I am really partial to any great maple J-200. One with a huge thumpy bass and treble notes that just pop. I have a J-150 that fits that description. Lots of them are duds or just OK. That wont do. A Euphonon is way outta my price leage.

[@randymanske4887]

Quite lovely! "Very Fahey"

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you again Randy

[@MrMarktrumble]

very good. one of my favorites. what is the tuning on the guitar?

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Mark. The tuning is open G minor. Think open G but second string down one half-step.

[@cjsligojones5101]

@@andrewlardner What guitar is that? Great old-timey sound.

[@andrewlardner]

It is a Euphonon

[@cjsligojones5101]

@@andrewlardner Thanks great job on DOD

[@CroatAndNettles]

Since we know Fahey liked Camille Saint-Saëns, who composed an extraordinary Dance of Death (Danse Macarbe), does any one think there's an audible relationship between the two?

[@Ziraffe2]

Very nice performance on a highly interesting guitar. A Larson, , , aha - sounds very good a slightly below 440. Can I ask about the strings. .

[@andrewlardner]

Yes a Euphonon built 1938-1939 by the Larsons, 17” rosewood model. The tuning is g minor so yes below 440. Guitar could be a tiny bit flat but sounds very close to g to me. Strings I’m not picky usually use whatever is laying around medium or light phosphor bronze.

[@docbailey3265]

That’s what I’m talking about.

[@eno8759]

Hey my dude, do you every try some Jack rose ?

[@pupusaslordking5617]

read in his book that he wanted to try a tuning no one would ever be able to find on their own for this one while he was in the studio in italy, i think he writes that he replaced one of the first strings by a larger string or something. I know thats g minor but still i think his version has a small dissonance to it

[@andrewlardner]

Which Fahey book? This was recorded many years prior to the sessions for the movie. I believe Fahey and the director had a big falling out and that’s why this was the only piece used. This is in open g minor, so same as open g but second string down a half step. I think I have the outtakes from the movie recording session somewhere.

[@global_tetrahedron]

i've heard that this piece was largely an improvisation... your take? what do you think? i'm inclined to believe that since i don't believe he ever played it live

[@andrewlardner]

+Steven Palmer Hey Steven, probably comes down to one's definition of improvisation. It would be hard for me to comment one way or another, especially without any other recordings from the same time period to compare it to. I don't think it would be a stretch to say that elements of this composition are improvised though. Thanks for dropping by.

[@TrueManCrowyote]

There is a live outtake from a BBC recording session, I believe. It’s a more truncated version for sure.

[@TrueManCrowyote]

Anyone else wonder if Fahey was influenced by Davy Graham at this time in his career?

[@yeetoo]

Could anybody please tell me what's going on at the nut with the bass strings?

[@andrewlardner]

It is a strip of foam rubber under the strings to keep the overtones coming from behind the nut under control. This particular guitar is very resonant and I remember that day the mics were picking up more than I wanted

[@yeetoo]

Andrew Lardner Ah that makes sense, thanks. Amazing job on this piece

[@gary2892]

Bummer the video is out of sync with the audio, but sounds great otherwise.

[@andrewlardner]

Interesting comment, the video and audio is perfectly in sync on all of our computers here. I have seen similar comments on a very large channel that I manage where there are clearly no sync issues. Sometimes we upload video with high res audio (96k/24bit) and I wonder if some older browsers, sound cards, or OS's have an issue playing back these files. I'd try it out at different resolution settings and on a few different devices and it will probably solve the issue for you.

[@gary2892]

Andrew Lardner It's probably on my end - chrome is a bit of a mess these days.

[@osdesplugados7305]

Anyone else came here looking for Iron Maiden?

[@johngeddes7894]

Like integrative medicine, I am in full support of your endeavors toward social integration. What are we waiting for? Entitlement is said to be a stone in the pathway. Hmmm...

[@Astralpains]

Way too fast..